(illjp  i.  B.  BUI  ffiibrarn 

Nortli  (Harolina  ^tatp 
MniuprBitg 


This  book  was  presented  to 

the  Veterinary  Medical 

Library  by 

Dr.    Robert    A.    Rice 


THIS  BOOK  IS        _         

INDICATED  BELOW  AND 

JECT  TO  AN  OVERDUE  FINE  AS 
POSTED  AT  THE  CIRCULATION 
DESK. 


100M/7-87— 871203 


U.   S.   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTURE, 
BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


D.  E.  SALMON,  D.  V.  M.,  Chief  of  Bureau, 


SPECIAL   REPORT 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE. 


Drs.  PEARSON,  MICHENER,  LAW,  HARBAUGH,  TRUMBOWER,  LIAUTARD, 
HOLCOMBE,  HUIDEKOPER,  STILES,  AND  ADAMS. 


REVISED    EDITION. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT     PRINTING     OFFICE. 
1903. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


U.  S.  Department  of  AGEicui^TtiRE, 

Bureau  of  Animal  Industry, 
Washim/ton,  D.  C,  June  1,  1903. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  the  mimuscript  of  the 
revised  edition  of  the  Special  lleport  on  Diseases  of  the  Horse,  in 
accordance  with  the  following  resolution: 

[PuBBic  Resolution — No.  33.] 

JOIXT  RESOLUTION  providing  for  the  publication  of  two  hundred  thousand  copies  of  the  Special 
Beport  on  Diseases  of  the  Horse. 

Resolved  hy  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in 
Congress  assembled,  That  there  be  printed  and  bound  in  cloth  two  hundred  thousand 
copies  of  the  Special  Eeport  on  the  Diseases  of  the  Horse,  the  same  to  be  first  revised 
and  brought  up  to  date,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  thousand  for  the  use  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
sixty-four  thousand  copies  for  the  use  of  the  Senate,  and  eight  thousand  copies  for 
the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Approved,  June  24,  1902. 

This  report  was  first  issued  in  1890,  and  was  at  once  accorded  a  hearty 
reception  by  the  horse  owners  of  the  country.  The  limited  edition 
that  the  Department  was  able  to  publish  was  ver}^  soon  exhausted,  and 
the  demand  then  turned  upon  members  of  the  National  Legislature. 
The  result  was  that  Congress  has  ordered  reprints  from  time  to  time 
until  the  total  number  of  copies  issued,  not  including  the  number  pro- 
vided for  in  the  above  resolution,  was  but  little  short  of  half  a  million. 

The  manuscript  submitted  herewith  has  been  carefully  revised  either 
b}^  the  authors  of  the  several  articles  or  by  veterinarians  of  wide 
reputation.  An  entirely  new  article  on  "  The  examination  of  a  horse," 
by  Dr.  Leonard  Pearson,  State  veterinarian  of  Pennsj'lvania,  is 
included;  and  the  cha.pter  on  shoeing  in  this  edition  is  written  by 
Dr.  J.  W.  Adams,  professor  of  surgery  and  lecturer  on  shoeing, 
veterinary  department.  University  of  Penns3dvania. 

In  presenting  this  revised  edition,  I  desire  to  make  the  same  observa- 
tions that  were  made  when  the  first  manuscript  was  submitted,  which 
were  as  follows: 

This  report  upon  diseases  of  the  horse  has  been  prepared  with  great  care  by  a 
number  of  the  most  eminent  members  of  the  veterinary  profession  in  the  United 
States.  The  production  of  a  work  of  this  character  is  a  task  of  such  magnitude  that 
it  could  not  be  undertaken  by  any  one  man  with  a  prosi:)ect  of  its  early  completion. 
It  was  deemed  best,  therefore,  to  divide  the  subject  into  sections  and  to  place  the 
preparation  of  each  section  in  the  hands  of  a  veterinarian  whose  practical  experience 

3 


4  LETTEK    OF   TRANSMITTAL. 

and  reputation  would  insure  a  valuable  contribution.  By  adopting  this  i)lau  the 
contents  of  the  volume  have  been  made  ready  for  the  printer  within  a  year  from  the 
time  the  work  waa  begun.  While,  on  account  of  this  method  of  preparation,  there 
may  not  be  quite  the  same  uniformity  of  style  and  treatment  which  would  be 
expected  in  a  volume  written  by  a  single  author,  it  is  hoped  that  this  will  not  be 
found  objectionable,  and  the  speedy  completion  and  the  cooperation  of  authors  who 
have  given  special  attention  to  their  subjects  will  prove  of  great  advantage. 

The  need  of  a  work  on  the  diseases  of  the  horse,  which  could  be  distributed  to 
farmers  as  a  safe  and  scientific  guide  in  the  treatment  of  this  species  of  our  domesti- 
cated animals,  either  when  affected  with  slight  disorders  or  serious  illness,  has  long 
been  felt.  This  obvious  want  has  led  to  the  preparation  of  the  present  volume, 
which  is  designed  as  the  first  of  a  series  to  cover  the  di&eases  of  all  varieties  of  farm 
animals.  The  writer  would  not  advise  the  farmer  in  ordinary  circumstances  to  dis- 
pense with  his  veterinarian,  anymore  than  he  would  advise  him  to  treat  the  diseases 
of  his  own  family,  to  manufacture  his  own  furniture,  or  to  be  his  own  blacksmith. 
There  are,  however,  only  too  many  cases  in  which  the  veterinarian  can  not  be  pro- 
cured in  time  for  success,  if  at  all;  and,  consequentl-y,  the  farmer  who  knows  or  has 
the  means  of  learning  the  nature  of  the  disease  and  the  proper  treatment  will  be 
able  to  save  an  animal  when  otherwise  he  would  lose  one.  It  is  common  for  intelli- 
gent people  to  laugh  at  the  idea  of  attempting  to  make  every  man  his  own  doctor, 
his  own  veterinarian,  or  his  own  carpenter,  and  in  an  ideal  condition  of  society  no 
doubt  this  would  be  absurd.  But  under  the  conditions  Avhich  actually  obtain  on  our 
farms,  the  farmer  Avho  can  use  tools,  if  but  awkwardly,  often  finds  it  extremely  con- 
venient to  temporarily  usurp  the  functions  of  the  carpenter;  and  he  also  finds  that  in 
many  cases  he  must  treat  his  ailing  animals  or  allow  them  to  suffer  without  treat- 
ment. Knowing  this  to  be  the  case,  is  it  not  far  better  for  the  stock  owner  to  have 
at  his  command  the  advice  of  veterinarians  eminent  in  their  profession  than  for  him 
to  follow  the  absurd,  often  barbarous,  methods  of  treatment  which  have  been  handed 
down  by  tradition  from  the  empiricism  and  ignorance  of  long-past  ages? 

It  is  an  extremely  diflficult  matter  to  divest  medical  literature  of  technical  terms 
and  expressions  more  or  less  incomprehensible  to  the  general  reader.  This  has 
made  scientific  medicine  a  sealed  book  to  the  masses  of  our  people,  and  there  is  no 
subject  of  which  they  are  more  ignorant.  An  attempt  has  been  made  in  this  work 
to  present  the  matter  in  as  simple  language  as  possible,  and  while  some  of  the  authors 
have  been  more  happy  than  others  in  this  respect,  it  is  believed  that  no  great  diffi- 
culty  will  be  met  with  in  any  of  the  articles. 

While  the  subject  has  been  treated  in  language  of  a  more  or  less  popular  style  and 
the  book  is  intended  as  a  guide  to  the  farmer,  its  intrinsic  scientific  value  should  not 
be  entirely  lost  sight  of.  In  many  respects  it  is  a  notable  contribution  to  existing 
knowledge,  and  it  will  be  prized  by  the  veterinarian  not  less  than  by  the  farmer.  No 
doubt  there  are  some  defei-ts  in  this  first  edition  which  the  experience  of  the  future 
will  enable  us  to  remedy,  but  as  a  whole  the  book  is  one  which  can  not  fail  to  be  of 
numense  service  in  educating  horse  owners  and  in  hastening  the  adoption  of  humane 
and  scientific  treatment  in  the  disorders  which  afflict  man's  most  patient  and  faithful 
servant.   . 

The  illustrations  have  been  very  carefully  drawn  by  Mr.  Haines,  the  greater  part 
of  the  subjects  being  selected  by  Dr.  Cooper  Curtice.  In  cases  where  they  have  been 
copied  due  credit  has  been  given  on  the  plates,  but  it  should  be  stated  here  that  we 
are  indeljtcd  to  Dr.  John  S.  Billings,  of  the  Army  Medical  Museum,  for  the  use  of 
the  Auzoux  models  and  a  number  of  specimens  of  diseased  feet  from  which  drawiuo^s 
were  made.  " 

Very  rospectfully,  ^  D.  E.  Salmon, 

Cli  ief  of  Bureau  of  An  Imal  Industry. 
Hon.  James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


The  examination  of  a  sick  horse,  Page. 

By  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  S.,  V.  M.  D 9 

Methods  of  administering  medicines, 

By  Ch.  B.  Michener,  V.  S 28 

Diseases  of  the  digestive  organs, 

By  Ch.  B.  Michener,  V.  S 34 

Diseases  of  the  urinary  organs. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  0.  V.  S 75 

Diseases  of  the  respiratory  organs, 

By  W.  H.  Harbaugh,  V.  S 10-i 

Diseases  of  tJte  generaiive  organs. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  V.  S 142 

Dif;eases  of  the  nervous  system, 

ByM.  R.  Trumbower,  V.  S 190 

Diseases  of  the  heart,  blood  vessels,  and^  lymphatics, 

ByM.  R.  Trumbower,  V.  S ^25 

Diseases  of  the  eye. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  V.  S 251 

Lameness, 

By  A.  Liautaed,  M.  D.,  V.  S 274 

Diseases  of  the  fetlock,  ankle,  and  foot, 

By  A.  A.  HoLCOMBE,  D.  V.  S 369 

Diseases  of  the  skin. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  V.  S 431 

Wounds  and  their  treatment, 

By  Ch.  B.  Michener,  V.  S 459 

General  diseases, 

By  Rush  Shippen  Huidekoper,  M.  D.,  Vet 482 

Surra, 

By  Ch.  Wardell  Stiles,  Ph.  D 546 

SItoeing, 

By  John  W.  Adams,  A.  B.,  V.  M.  D.  = 552 

5 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page. 

Plate       I.  Digestive  apparatus 74 

II.  Bots 74 

III.  Intestinal  worms 74 

I V.  Longitudinal  section  through  kidney 76 

V.  JMicroscopivO  anatomy  of  kidney RS 

YI.  Microscopic  anatomy  of  kidney SS 

YII.  Calculi  and  instrument  for  removal 88 

VIII.  Position  of  the  left  lung 128 

IX.  Instruments  used  in  difficult  labor 128 

X.  Normal  presentations 166 

XI.  Abnormal  presentations 166 

XII.  Abnormal  presentations 166 

XIII.  Abnormal  presentations - 176 

XIV.  Abnormal  presentations 176 

XV.  Anterior  presentations 176 

XVI.  Tlie  nervous  system 192 

XVII.  Interior  of  chest,  showing  position  of  h.eart  and  diaphragm 228 

XVIII.  Circulatory  apparatus 228 

XIX.  Theoretical  section  of  the  horse' s  ej-e 256 

XX.  Skeleton  of  the  horse ^..  288 

XXI.  Superficial  layer  of  nniscles 288 

XXII.  Splint 288 

XXIII.  Ringbone 304 

XXIV.  Various  types  of  spavin 304 

XXV.  Bono  spavin 336 

XXVI.  Bone  spavin  .' 336 

XXVII.  Dislocation  of  shoulder  and  elbo^r,  Bourgelat's  apparatus 336 

XXVIII.  The  sling  in  use '. 336 

XXIX.  Anatomy  of  foot 372 

XXX.  Anatomy  of  foot 372 

XXXI.  Foundered  feet 372 

XXXII.  Ringbone  and  navicular  disease 372 

XXXIII.  Quarter  crack  and  remedies 400 

XXXIV.  Sound  and  contracted  feet 400 

XXXV.  Diseases  of  the  skin 448 

XXXVI.  Mites  that  infest  the  horse 448 

XXXVII.  General  diseases.     Inflammation 4SS 

XXXVIII.  General  diseases.     Inflammation 488 

XXXIX.  Glanders,  nasal  septum  of  horse,  right  side,  shov.ing  acute  lesions.  528 

XL.  Glanders,  middle  region  of  nasal  septum,  leftside,  showing  ulcers.  528 
XLI.  Glanders,  posterior  half  of  nasal  septum,  right  side,    showing 

cicatrices 528 


8  LIST    OF    ILLUSTKATI0N3. 

Page. 

Fio.  1.  Ground  surface  of  a  right  fore  hoof  of  the  "regular"  form 559 

2.  Pair  of  fore  feet  of  regular  form  in  regular  standing  position 560 

3.  Pair  of  fore  feet  of  base-wide  form  in  toe-wide  standing  position 560 

4.  Pair  of  fore  feet  of  base-narrow  fonn  in  toe-narrow  standing  position.  501 

5.  Side  view  of  an  acute-angled  fore  foot,  of  a  regular  fore  foot,  and  of  a 

stumpy  fore  foot 501 

G.  Side  view  of  foot  with  the  foot-axis  broken  backward  as  a  result  of  too 

long  a  toe -. 563 

7.  Left  fore  hoof  of  a  regular  form,  shod  with  a  plain  fullered  sht)e 567 

8.  Side  view  of  hoof  and  fullered  shoe 568 

9.  An  acute-angled  left  fore  hoof  shod  with  a  bar  shoe 570 

10.  A  fairly  formed  right  fore  ice  shoe  for  a  roadster 570 

11.  Left  fore  hoof  of  regular  form  shod  with  a  ruljber  pad  and  "thiee- 

quarter"  shoe 571 

12.  A  narrow  right  fore  hoof  of  the  base-wide  standing  position  shod  with 

a  plain  "dropped  crease"  shoe 571 

13.  Iloof  surface  of  a  right  hind  shoe  to  jirevent  interfering 572 

14.  Ground  surfac-e  of  shoe  shown  in  fig.  13 572 

15.  Side  view  of  a  fore  hoof  shod  so  as  to  quicken  the  "  breaking  over" 

in  a  "forger" 573 

16.  Side  view  of  a  short-toed  liind  hoof  of  a  forger 573 

17.  A  toe-weight  shoe  to  increase  the  length  of  stride  of  fore  feet 574 

18.  Most  common  form  of  punched  heel- weight  shoe  to  induce  high  action 

in  fore  feet 574 


SPECIAL  REPORT 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE. 


THE  EXAMINATION  OF  A  SICK  HORSE. 

By  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  S.,  V.  M.  D., 

Dean  of  the  Veterinary  DejMrtment,  University  of  Pennsyhania,  and  State  Veterina.r'ian  of 

Pennsylvania. 

In  the  examination  of  a  sick  horse  it  is  important  to  have  a  method, 
or  S3^stem.  If  a  definite  plan  of  examination  is  followed  one  may  feel 
reasonably  sure  when  the  examination  is  finished  that  no  important 
point  has  been  overlooked  and  that  the  examiner  is  in  a  position  to 
arrive  at  an  opinion  that  is  as  accurate  as  is  possible  for  him.  Of 
course,  an  experienced  eye  can  see,  and  a  trained  hand  can  feel,  slight 
alterations  or  variations  from  the  normal  that  are  not  perceptible  to 
the  unskilled  observer.  A  thorough  knowledge  of  the  conditions  that 
exist  in  health  is  of  the  highest  importance,  because  it  is  only  by  a 
knowledge  of  what  is  right  that  one  can  surely  detect  a  condition  that 
is  wrong.  A  knowledge  of  anatomy,  or  of  the  structure  of  the  body, 
and  of  physiology,  or  the  functions  and  activities  of  the  body,  lie  at 
the  bottom  of  accuracy  of  diagnosis.  It  is  important  to  remember 
that  animals  of  different  races  or  families  deport  themselves  differ- 
entl}^  under  the  influence  of  the  same  disease  or  pathological  process. 
The  sensitive  and  highly  organized  Thoroughbred  resists  cerebral 
depression  more  than  does  the  Ijnnphatic  draft  horse.  Hence  a  degree 
of  fever  that  does  not  produce  marked  dullness  in  a  Thoroughbred 
may  cause  the  most  abject  dejection  in  a  coarsely  bred  heavy  draft 
horse.  This  and  similar  facts  are  of  vast  importance  in  the  diagnosis 
of  disease  and  in  the  recognition  of  its  significance. 

The  order  of  examination,  as  given  below,  is  one  that  has  proved  to 
be  comparatively  easy  of  application  and  sufiiciently  thorough  for  the 
purpose  of  the  readers  of  this  work.  It  is  recommended  by  several 
writers. 


10  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 


It  is  important  to  know,  first  of  all,  something  of  the  origin  and 
development  of  the  disease,  therefore  the  cause  should  be  looked  for. 
The  cause  of  a  disease  is  important,  not  only  in  connection  with  diag- 
nosis, but  also  in  connection  with  treatment.  The  character  of  food 
tiiat  the  horse  has  liad,  the  use  to  which  he  has  been  put,  and  the  kind 
of  care  he  has  received  should  all  he  inquired  into  closel3\  It  ma}^  be 
found  by  this  investigation  that  the  horse  has  been  fed  on  damaged 
food,  such  as  brewers  grains  or  moldy  silage,  and  this  may  be  suffi- 
cient to  explain  the  profound  depression  and  weakness  that  are  char- 
acteristic of  forage  poisoning.  If  it  is  learned  that  the  horse  has 
been  kept  in  the  stable  without  exercise  for  several  days  and  upon 
full  rations,  and  that  ho  became  suddenly  lame  in  his  back  and  liind 
legs,  and  finally  fell  to  the  ground  from  what  appeared  to  be  partial 
parahsis,  this  knowledge,  taken  in  connection  with  a  few  evident 
symptoms,  will  be  enough  to  establish  a  diagnosis  of  azoturia.  If  it 
is  learned  that  the  horse  has  been  recently  shipped  in  the  cars  or  has 
been  through  a  dealer's  stable,  we  have  knowledge  of  significance  in 
connection  with  the  causation  of  a  possible  febrile  disease,  which  is, 
under  these  conditions,  likeh'  to  prove  to  be  inliucnza,  or  edematous 
pneumonia. 

It  is  also  important  to  know  whether  the  particular  horse  that  is 
under  examination  is  the  only  one  in  the  stable  or  on  the  premises 
that  is  similarly  afflicted.  If  it  is  found  that  several  horses  are 
atflicted  much  in  the  same  way,  we  have  evidence  here  of  a  common 
cause  of  disease  which  may  prove  to  be  of  an  infectious  nature. 

Another  item  of  importance  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the 
case  relates  to  the  treatment  that  the  horse  ma}-  have  had  before  he 
is  examined.  It  sometimes  happens  that  medicine  given  in  excessive 
quantities  produces  symptoms  resembling  those  of  disease,  so  it  is 
ijuportant  that  the  examiner  shall  be  fully  informed  as  to  the  medica- 
tion that  has  been  emploj^ed. 

ATTITUDE    AND    GENERAL    CONDITION. 

Before  beginning  the  special  examination,  attention  should  be  paid 
to  the  attitude  iind  general  condition  of  the  animal.  Sometimes  horses 
assume  positions  that  are  characteristic  of  a  certain  disease.  For 
example,  in  tetanus,  or  lockjaw,  the  muscles  of  the  face,  neck,  and 
shoulders  are  stiff  and  rigid,  as  well  as  the  muscles  of  the  jaw.  This 
condition  produces  a  peculiar  attitude,  that  once  seen  is  subsequently 
recognized  as  rather  characteristic  of  this  disease.  A  horse  with 
tetanus  stands  Avith  his  muscles  tense  and  his  legs  in  a  somewhat  brac- 
ing position,  as  though  ho  were  gathered  to  repel  a  shock.  The  neck 
is  stiff  and  hard,  the  head  is  slightl}^  extended  upon  it,  the  face  is 
drawn,  and  the  nostrils  arc  dilated.     The  tail  is  usually  held  up  a 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  11 

Jittle,  and  when  pressed  down  against  the  thighs  it  springs  bade  to  its 
previous  position.  In  inflammation  of  the  throat,  as  in  pharyngo- 
laryngitis,  the  head  is  extended  upon  the  neck,  and  the  angle  between 
the  jaw  and  the  lower  border  of  the  neck  is  opened  as  far  as  possible 
to  relieve  the  pressure  that  otherwise  would  fall  upon  the  throat. 
In  dumminess,  or  immo]>ility,  the  banging  position  of  the  head  and 
the  stupid  expression  are  rather  characteristic.  In  pleurisy,  perito- 
nitis, and  some  other  painful  diseases  of  the  internal  organs,  the  rigid 
position  of  the  body  denotes  an  effort  of  the  animal  to  avoid  pressure 
upon  and  to  protect  the  inflamed  sensitive  reg-ion. 

The  horse  maj"  be  down  in  the  stall  and  unable  to  rise.  This  condi- 
tion mnj  result  from  paraplegia,  from  azoturia,  from  forage  poison- 
ing, from  tetanus,  or  from  painful  conditions  of  the  bones  or  feet, 
such  as  osteoporosis  or  founder.  Lying  down  at  unusual  times  or  in 
unusual  positions  may  indicate  disease.  The  first  symptom  of  colic 
may  be  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  horse  to  lie  down  at  a  time  or  place 
that  is  unusual  or  inappropriate.  Sometimes  disinclination  to  lie 
doTjn  is  an  indication  of  disease.  Where  there  is  difficulty  in  breath- 
ing, the  horse  knows  that  he  can  manage  himself  better  upon  his  feet 
than  upon  his  breast  or  his  side.  It  happens,  therefore,  that  in  nearly 
all  serious  diseases  of  the  respiratory  tract,  the  horse  stands  persist- 
ently, day  and  night,  until  recovery  has  commenced  and  breathing  is 
easier,  or  until  the  animal  falls  from  sheer  exhaustion.  Where  there 
is  stiffness  and  soreness  of  the  muscles,  as  in  rheumatism,  inflamma- 
tion of  the  muscles  from  overwork,  or  of  the  bones  in  osteoporosis,  or 
of  the  feet  in  founder,  or  where  the  muscles  are  stiff  and  beyond  con- 
trol of  the  animal,  as  in  tetanus,  a  standing  position  is  maintained, 
because  the  horse  seems  to  realize  that  when  he  lies  down  he  will  be 
unable  to  arise. 

Abnormal  attitudes  tire  assumed  in  painful  diseases  of  the  digestive 
organs  (colic).  A  horse  with  colic  may  sit  upon  his  haunches,  like  a 
dog,  or  ma}^  stand  upon  his  hind  feet  and  rest  upon  his  knees  in  front, 
or  ma}^  endeavor  to  balance  himself  upon  his  back,  with  all  four  feet 
in  the  air.  These  positions  are  assumed  because  they  give  relief  from 
pain  by  lessening  pressure,  or  tension,  upon  the  sensitive  structures. 

Under  the  general  condition  of  the  animal  it  is  necessary  to  observe 
the  condition,  or  state,  of  nutrition;  the  conformation,  so  far  as  it  may 
indicate  the  constitution;  and  the  temperament.  By  observing  the 
condition  of  nutrition  one  may  be  able  to  determine  to  a  certain  extent 
the  effect  that  the  disease  has  already  had  upon  the  animal  and  to  esti- 
mate the  amount  of  strength  that  remains  a^d  that  will  be  available 
for  the  repair  of  the  diseased  tissues.  A  good  condition  of  nutrition 
is  shown  by  the  rotundity  of  the  bodv,  the  pliabilit}^  and  softness  of 
the  skin,  and  the  tone  of  the  hair.  If  the  subcutaneous  fat  has  disap- 
peared and  the  muscles  are  wasted,  allowing  the  bon}^  prominences  to 


12  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Stand  out;  if  the  skin  is  tight  and  inelastic  and  the  coat  dry  and  harsh, 
we  have  evidence  of  a  low  state  of  nutrition.     This  ma}'  have  resulted 
from  a  severe  and  long-continued  disease  or  from  lack  of  proper  food 
and  care.     Where  an  animal  is  emaciated— that  is,  becomes  thin— there 
is  fii'ht  a  loss  of  fat  and  later  the  muscles  shi-ink.     B}'  observing  the 
amount  of  shrinkage  in  the  muscles  one  has  some  indication  as  to  the 
duration  of  the  unfavorable  conditions  that  the  animal  has  lived  under. 
By  constitution  we  understand  the  innate  ability  of  the  animal  to 
withstand  disease  or  unfavorable  conditions  of  life.     The  constitution 
depends  largely  upon  the  conformation.     The  type  of  construction 
that  usually  accompanies  the  best  constitution  is  deep  broad  chest, 
allowing  plenty  of  room  for  the   lungs  and  heart,  indicating  that 
these  vital  organs  are  well  developed;  capacious  abdomen,  allowing- 
sufficient  space  for  well-developed  organs  of  digestion;  the  loins  should 
be  short— that  is,  the  space  should  be  short  between  the  last  rib  and 
the  point  of  the  hip;  the  head  and  neck  should  be  well  molded,  with- 
out superlluous  or  useless  tissue;  this  gives  a  clear-cut  throat.     The 
cars,  eyes,  and  face  should  have  an  expression  of  alertness  and  ffood 
breeding.     The  muscular  development  should  be  good;  the  shoulders, 
forearms,  croup,   and  thighs  must  have  the  appearance  of  strength. 
The  Avithcrs  are  sharp,  which  means  that  they  are  not  loaded  with  use- 
less, superfluous  tissue;  the  legs  are  straight   and  their  axes  are  par- 
allel; the  knees  and  hocks  are  low,  which  means  that  the  forearms  and 
thighs  are  long  and  the  cannons  relatively  short.     The  cannons  are 
T)road  from  in  front  to  behind,  and  relatively  thin  from  side  to  side. 
This  means  that  the  bony  and  tendinous  structures  of  the  legs  are 
well  developed  and  well  placed.     The  hoofs  are  compact,  tense,  firm 
structures,  and  their  soles  are  concave  and  frogs  large.     Such  a  horse 
is  likely  to  have  a  good  constitution  and  to  be  able  to  resist  hard  work 
fatigue,  and  disease  to  a  maximum  degree.     On  the  other  hand,  a  poor 
constitution  is  indicated  by  a  shallow,   narrow  chest,  small  bones, 
long  loins,  coarse  neck  and  head,  with  thick  throat,  small,  bony,  and 
muscular  development,  short  thighs  and  forearms,  small  joints,  long, 
round  cannons,  and  hoofs  of  open  texture  with  flat  soles. 

Tlie  temperament  is  indicated  by  the  manner  in  which  the  horse 
responds  to  external  stimuli.  When  the  horse  is  spoken  to,  or  when 
he  sees  or  feels  anything  that  stimulates  or  gives  alarm,  if  he  responds 
actively,  quickly,  and  intelligently,  he  is  said  to  be  of  lively,  or  nerv- 
ous, temperament.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  responds  in  a  slow, 
sluggish  manner,  he  is  said  to  have  a  sluggish,  or  lymphatic,  tempera- 
ment. The  temperame^nt  is  indicated  by  the  gait,  by  the  expression 
of  the  face,  and  by  the'carriage  of  the  head  and  ears.  The  nature  of 
the  temperament  should  be  taken  into  consideration  in  an  endeavor  to 
ascertain  the  severity  of  a  given  case  of  illness,  because  the  general 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  13 

expression  of  an  animal  in  disease  as  well  as  in  health  depends  to  a 
large  extent  on  the  temperament. 

THE    SKIX    AND   THE    VISIBLE    MUCOUS   MEMBRANES. 

The  condition  of  the  skin  is  a  fair  index  to  the  condition  of  the 
animal.  The  effect  of  disease  and  emaciation  upon  the  pliability  of  the 
skin  ha\^e  been  referred  to  above.  There  is  no  part  of  the  body  that 
loses  its  elasticity  and  tone  as  a  result  of  disease  sooner  than  the  skin. 
The  practical  herdsman  or  flockmaster  can  gain  a  great  deal  of  infor- 
mation as  to  the  condition  of  an  animal  merely  by  grasping  the  coat 
and  looking  at  and  feeling  the  skin.  Similarh^,  the  condition  of  the 
animal  is  shown  to  a  certain  extent  by  the  appearance  of  the  mucous 
membranes.  For  example,  when  the  horse  is  anemic  as  a  result  of 
disease  or  of  inappropriate  food  the  mucous  membranes  become  pale. 
This  change  in  the  nuicous  membranes  can  be  seen  most  readily  in  the 
lining  of  the  ej'elids  and  in  the  lining  of  the  nostril.  For  convenience 
of  examination  the  e3^elids  can  readily  be  everted.  Paleness  means 
weak  circulation  or  poor  blood.  Increased  redness  occurs  physioiogic- 
alh'  in  painful  conditions,  excitement,  and  following  severe  exertion. 
Under  such  conditions  the  increase  of  circulation  is  transitoiy.  In 
fevers  there  is  an  increased  redness  in  the* mucous  membrane,  and  this 
continues  so  long  as  the  fever  lasts.  In  some  diseases  red  spots  or 
streaks  form  in  the  mucous  membrane.  This  usually  indicates  an 
infectious  disease  of  considerable  severity,  and  occurs  in  blood  poison- 
ing, purpura  hemorrhagica,  hemorrhagic  septicemia,  and  in  urticaria. 
When  the  liver  is  deranged  and  does  not  operate,  or  when  the  red- 
l)lood  corpuscles  are  broken  down,  as  in  serious  cases  of  influenza, 
there  is  a  yellowish  discoloration  of  the  mucous  membrane.  The 
mucous  membranes  become  bluish  or  blue  when  the  blood  is  imper- 
fectly oxidized  and  contains  an  excess  of  carbon  dioxide.  This  condi- 
tion exists  in  any  serious  disease  of  the  respiratoiy  tract,  as  pneumonia, 
and  in  heart  failure. 

The  temperature  of  the  skin  A'aries  with  the  temperature  of  the 
liod}'.  If  there  is  fever  the  temperature  of  the  skin  is  likely  to  be 
increased.  Sometimes,  however,  as  a  result  of  poor  circulation  and 
irregular  distribution  of  the  blood,  the  body  may  be  warmer  than 
normal,  while  the  extremities  (the  legs  and  ears)  may  be  cold.  Where 
the  general  surface  of  the  bod}^  becomes  cold  it  is  evident  that  the 
small  blood  vessels  in  the  skin  have  contracted  and  are  keeping  the 
blood  away,  as  during  a  chill,  or  that  the  heart  is  weak  and  is  unable 
to  pump  the  blood  to  the  surface,  and  that  the  animal  is  on  the  verge 
of  collapse. 

The  skin  is  moist,  to  a  certain  degree,  at  all  times  in  a  healthy  horse. 
This  moisture  is  not  in  the  form  of  a  perceptible  sweat,  but  it  is  enough 
to  keep  the  skin  pliable  and  to  cause  the  hair  to  hav^e  a  soft,  healthy 


14  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

feel.  In  some  chronic  diseased  conditions  and  in  fever,  the  skin 
becomes  dry.  In  this  case  the  hair  has  a  harsh  feel  that  is  quite  dif- 
ferent from  the  condition  observed  in  health,  and  from  the  fact  of  its 
being  so  dry  the  individual  hairs  do  not  adhere  to  one  another,  thoy 
stand  apart,  and  the  animal  has  what  is  known  as  '"a  staring  coat.'' 
When,  during  a  fever,  sweating  occurs,  it  is  usualh'  an  indication  that 
the  crisis  is  passed.  Sometimes  sweating  is  an  indication  of  pain.  A 
horse  with  tetanus  or  azoturia  sweats  profusely  Horses  sweat 
freely  when  there  is  a  serious  impediment  to  respiration;  the}^  sweat 
under  excitement,  and,  of  course,  from  the  well-known  physiological 
causes  of  heat  and  work.  Local  sweating,  or  sweating  of  a  restricted 
area  of  the  body,  denotes  some  kind  of  nerve  interference. 

Swellings  of  the  skin  usuall}^  come  from  w^ounds  or  other  external 
causes  and  have  no  special  connection  with  the  diagnosis  of  intei-nal 
diseases.  There  are,  however,  a  number  of  conditions  in  which  the 
swelling  of  the  skin  is  a  symptom  of  a  derangement  of  some  other  part 
of  the  body.  For  example,  there  is  the  well-known  "stocking,"  or 
swelling  of  the  legs  about  the  fetlock  joints,  in  influenza.  There  is 
the  soft  swelling  of  the  hind  legs  that  occurs  so  often  in  draft  horses 
when  standing  still  and  that  comes  from  previous  inllammation  (lym- 
phangitis) or  from  iusufficieiit  heart  power.  Dropsy,  or  edema  of  the 
skin,  ma}^  occur  beneath  the  chest  or  abdomen  from  heart  insulE- 
ciency  or  from  chronic  collection  of  fluid  in  the  chest  or  abdomen 
(hydrothorax,  ascites,  or  anemia).  In  anasarca  or  purpura  hemor- 
rhagica large  soft  swellings  appear  on  anj^  part  of  the  skin,  but 
usually  on  the  legs,  side  of  the  bodj",  and  about  the  head. 

Gas  collects  under  the  skin  in  some  instances.  This  comes  from  a 
local  inoculation  with  an  organism  which  produces  a  fermentation 
beneath  the  skin  and  causes  the  liberation  of  gas  which  inflates  the 
skin,  or  the  gas  maj^  be  air  that  enters  through  a  wound  penetrating 
some  air-containing  organ,  as  the  lungs.  The  condition  here  described 
is  known  as  emi)hyseina.  Emphj^sema  may  follow  the  fracture  of  a 
rib  when  the  end  of  a  bone  is  forced  inward  and  caused  to  penetrate 
the  lung,  or  it  may  occur,  when,  as  a  result  of  an  ulcerating  process, 
an  organ  contiiining  air  is  perforated.  This  accident  is  more  common 
in  cattle  than  it  is  in  horses.  Emphysema  is  recognize  d  by  the  fact 
that  the  swelling  that  it  causes  is  not  hot  or  sensitive  on  pressure.  It 
emits  a  peculiar  crackling  sound  when  it  is  stroked  or  pressed  upon. 

Wounds  of  the  skin  may  be  of  importance  in  the  diagnosis  of 
internal  disease.  Wounds  over  the  bony  prominence,  as  the  point 
of  the  hip,  the  point  of  the  shoulder,  and  the  greatest  convexity  of 
the  ribs,  occurs  when  a  horse  is  unable  to  stand  for  a  long  time  and, 
through  continually  lying  upon  his  side,  has  shut  off  the  circulation 
to  the  portion  of  the  skin  that  covers  parts  of  the  body  that  carry  the 
greatest  weight,  and  in  this  way  has  caused  them  to  mortify.     Little, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  15 

round,  soft,  dough-like  swellings  occur  on  the  skin  and  may  be 
scattered  freely  over  the  surface  of  the  body  when  the  horse  is 
afflicted  with  urticaria.  Similar  eruptions,  but  distributed  less  gen- 
erail}^,  about  the  size  of  a  silver  dollar,  may  occur  as  a  symptom  of 
dourine,  or  colt  distemper.  Hard  lumps,  from  which  radiate  weJt- 
like  swellings  of  the  lymphatics,  occur  in  glanders,  and  blisterlike 
eruptions  occur  around  the  mouth  and  pasterns  in  horsepox. 

THE    ORGANS    OF   CIRCULATION. 

The  first  item  in  this  portion  of  the  examination  consists  in  taking 
the  pulse.  The  pulse  may  be  counted  and  its  character  may  be 
determined  at  any  point  where  a  large  artery  occupies  a  situation 
close  to  the  skin  and  above  a  hard  tissue,  such  as  a  bone,  cartilage,  or 
tendon.  The  most  convenient  place  for  taking  the  pulse  of  the  horse 
is  at  the  jaw.  The  external  maxillary  artery  runs  from  between  the 
jaws,  around  the  lower  border  of  the  jawbone  and  up  on  the  outside 
of  the  jawbone  to  the  face.  It  is  located  immediately  in  front  of  the 
heavy  muscles  of  the  cheek.  Its  throb  can  be  felt  most  distinctly 
just  before  it  turns  around  the  16wer  border  of  the  jawbone.  The 
balls  of  the  first  and  second  or  of  the  second  and  third  fingers  should 
be  pressed  lightly  on  the  skin  over  this  arteiy  when  its  pulsations  are 
to  be  studied. 

The  normal  pulse  of  the  healthy  horse  varies  in  frequency  as  follows: 

Stallion 28  to  32  beats  per  minute. 

Gelding 33  to  38  beats  per  minute. 

Mare 34  to  40  beats  per  minute. 

Foal  2  to  3  years  old 40  to  50  beats  per  minute. 

Foal  6  to  12  months  old 45  to  60  beats  per  minute. 

Foal  2  to  4  weeks  old 70  to  90  beats  per  minute. 

The  pulse  is  accelerated  hy  the  digestion  of  rich  food,  by  hot 
weather,  exercise,  excitement,  and  alarm.  It  is  slightly  more  rapid 
in  the  evening  than  it  is  in  the  morning.  Well-bred  horses  have  a 
slightly  more  rapid  pulse  than  sluggish,  cold-blooded  horses.  The 
pulse  should  be  regular;  that  is,  the  separate  beats  should  follow  each 
other  after  intervals  of  equal  length,  and  the  beats  should  be  of  equal 
fullness,  or  volume. 

In  disease,  the  pulse  may  become  slower  or  more  xapid  than  in 
health.  Slowing  of  the  pulse  msij  be  caused  by  old  age,  great  exhaus- 
tion, or  excessi^'e  cold.  It  maj'-  be  due  to  depression  of  the  central 
nervous  sj'stem,  as  in  dumminess,  or  be  the  result  of  the  administra- 
tion of  drugs,  such  as  digitalis  or  strophantus.  A  rapid  pulse  is 
almost  alwa3^s  found  in  fever,  and  the  more  severe  the  infection  and 
the  weaker  the  heart,  the  more  rapid  is  the  pulse.  Under  these  con- 
ditions, the  beats  may  rise  to  80,  90,  or  even  120  per  minute.  When 
the  pulse  is  above  100  per  minute  the  outlook  for  recoveiy  is  not 


16  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

promising,  and  espcc-iiill}'  if  this  s>'raptoin  accompanies  hioh  tempera- 
ture or  occurs  late  in  an  infectious  disease.  In  nearl>'  all  of  the  dis- 
eases of  the  heart  and  in  anemia  the  pulse  becomes  rapid.  . 

The  pulse  is  irregular  in  diseases  of  the  heart,  and  especially  where 
the  valves  are  affected.  The  irregularit}-  may  consist  in  varying  inter- 
vals between  the  beats  or  the  dropping  of  one  or  more  beats  at  regu- 
lar or  irregular  intervals.  The  latter  condition  sometimes  occurs  in 
chronic  diseases  of  the  brain.  The  pulse  is  said  to  be  weak,  or  soft, 
when  the  beats  are  indistinct,  because  little  blood  is  forced  through 
the  artery  by  each  contraction  of  the  heart.  This  condition  occurs 
when  there  is  a  constriction  of  the  vessels  leading  from  the  heart  and 
it  occurs  in  certain  infectious  and  febrile  diseases,  and  is  an  indication 
of  heart  weakness. 

In  examining  the  heart  itself  it  is  neccssar}-  to  recall  that  it  lies  in 
the  anterior  portion  of  the  chest  slightly  to  the  left  of  the  median  line 
and  that  it  extends  from  the  third  to  the  sixth  rib.  It  extends  almost 
to  the  breastbone,  and  a  little  more  than  half  of  the  distance  between 
the  breastbone  and  the  backbone.  In  contracting,  it  rotates  slightlj^ 
on  its  axis,  so  that  the  point  of  the  heart,  which  lies  below,  is  pressed 
against  the  left  chest  wall  at  a  place  immediateh^  above  the  point  of 
the  elbow.  The  heart  has  in  it  four  chambers — two  in  the  left  and 
two  in  the  right  side.  The  upper  chamber  of  the  left  side  (left  auri- 
cle) receives  the  blood  as  it  comes  from  the  lungs,  passes  it  to  the 
lower  chamber  of  the  left  side  (left  ventricle),  and  from  here  it  is  sent 
with  great  force  (for  this  chamber  has  ver^-  strong,  thick  walls)  through 
the  aorta  and  its  branches  (the  arteries)  to  all  parts  of  the  body.  The 
blood  returns  through  the  veins  to  the  upper  chamber  of  the  right 
side  (right  auricle),  passes  then  to  the  lower  chamber  of  the  right  side 
(right  ventricle),  and  from  this  chamber  is  forced  into  the  lungs  to  be 
oxidized.  The  openings  between  the  chambers  of  each  side  and  into 
the  aorta  arc  guarded  by  valves. 

If  the  horse  is  not  too  fat,  one  may  feel  the  impact  of  the  apex  of 
the  heart  against  the  chest  wall  with  each  contraction  of  the  heart,  b}' 
placing  the  hand  on  the  left  side  back  of  the  fifth  ril)  and  above  the 
point  of  the  elbow.  The  thinner  and  the  better  bred  tlie  horse  is  the 
more  distinctly  this  impact  is  felt.  If  the  animal  is  excited,  or  if  he 
has  just  been  exercised,  the  impact  is  stronger  than  when  the  horse  is 
at  rest.     If  the  horse  is  weak,  the  impact  is  reduced  in  force. 

The  examination  of  the  heart  with  the  ear  is  an  important  matter  in 
this  connection.  Certain  sounds  are  produced  by  each  contraction  of 
the  normal  heart.  It  is  customary  to  divide  these  into  two,  and  to 
call  them  the  first  and  second  sounds.  These  two  sounds  are  heard 
during  each  pulsation  and  any  deviation  of  the  normal  indicates  some 
alteration  in  the  structure  or  the  functions  of  the  heart.  In  making 
this  examination,  one  may  appl}'  the  left  ear  over  the  heavy  muscles 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  17 

of  the  shoulder  back  of  the  shoulder  joint,  and  just  above  the  point  of 
the  elbow,  or,  if  the  sounds  are  not  heard  distinctly,  the  left  fore  leg 
ma}^  be  drawn  forward  by  an  assistant  and  the  right  ear  placed  against 
the  lower  portion  of  the  chest  wall  that  is  exposed  in  this  manner. 

The  first  sound  of  the  heart  occurs  while  the  heart  muscle  is  con- 
tracting and  while  the  blood  is  being  forced  from  the  heart  and  the 
valves  are  rendered  taut  to  prevent  the  return  of  the  blood  from  the 
lower  to  the  upper  chambers.  The  second  sound  follows  quickly  after 
the  first  and  occurs  during  rebound  of  blood  in  the  arteries,  causing 
pressure  in  the  aorta  and  tensions  of  the  valves  guarding  its  opening 
into  the  left  ventricle.  The  first  sound  is  of  a  high  pitch  and  is  longer 
and  more  distinct  than  the  second.  Under  the  influence  of  disease 
these  sounds  may  be  altered  in  various  ways.  It  is  not  profital^lcy 
in  a  work  such  as  this,  to  describe  the  details  of  these  alterations. 
Those  who  are  interested  will  find  this  subject  fully  discussed  in  the 
veterinary  text-books. 

TEMPERATURE. 

The  temperature  of  the  horse  is  determined  roughly  by  placing  the 
fingers  in  the  mouth  or  between  the  thighs  or  by  allowing  the  horse 
to  exhale  against  the  cheek  or  back  of  the  hand.  In  accurate  examina- 
tion, however,  these  means  of  determining  temperature  are  not  relied 
upon,  but  recourse  is  had  to  the  use  of  the  thermometer.  The  ther- 
mometer used  for  taking  the  temperature  of  a  horse  is  a  self -registering 
clinical  thermometer,  similar  to  that  used  by  physicians,  but  larger,, 
being  from  5  to  6  inches  long.  The  temperature  of  the  animal  is- 
measured  in  the  rectum. 

'  The  normal  temperature  of  the  horse  varies  somewhat  under  differ- 
ent conditions.  It  is  higher  in  the  J^oung  animal  than  in  the  old,  and 
is  higher  in  hot  weather  than  in  cold.  The  weather  and  exercise 
decidedly  influence  the  temperature  physiologically.  The  normal 
temperature  varies  from  99.5°  to  101°  F.  If  the  temperature  rises  to 
102.5°  the  horse  is  said  to  have  a  low  fever;  if  the  temperature  reaches 
101°  the  fever  is  moderate;  if  it  reaches  106°  it  is  high,  and  above  this 
point  it  is  regarded  as  very  high.  In  some  diseases,  such  as  tetanus 
or  sunstroke,  the  temperature  goes  as  high  as  108°  or  110°.  In  the 
ordinary  infectious  diseases  it  does  not  often  exceed  106°.  A  tempera- 
ture of  107.5°  and  above  is  very  dangerous  and  must  be  reduced 
promptly  if  the  horse  is  to  be  saved. 

THE    ORGANS   OF    RESPIRATION. 

In  examining  this  system  of  organs  and  their  functions  it  is  custom- 

ar}^  to  begin  hy  noting  the  frequency  of  the  respiratory  movements. 

This  point  can  be  determined  b}^  observing  the  motions  of  the  nostrils 

or  of  the  flanks;  on  a  cold  day  one  can  see  the  condensation  of  the 

11381—03 2 


18  BUKEAU    OF    A^^IXAL    IliDUSTKY. 

moisture  of  the  warm  air  as  it  comes  from  the  luno-s.  The  normal 
rate  ot  respiration  for  a  health}'  horse  at  rest  is  from  S  to  16  per  min- 
ute. The  rate  is  faster  in  3'oung  animals  than  in  old,  and  is  increased 
by  work,  hot  weather,  overfilling  of  the  stomach,  pregnane}",  lyinj*' 
upon  the  side,  etc.  Acceleration  of  the  respiratory  rate  where  no 
physiological  cause  operates  is  due  to  a  variety  of  conditions.  Among 
these  is  fever;  restricted  area  of  active  lung  tissue,  from  filling  of  poi 
tions  of  the  lungs  with  inflammatory  exudate,  as  in  pneumonia;  com 
pression  of  the  kings  or  loss  of  elasticity;  pain  in  the  muscles  con- 
trolling the  respiratory  movements;  excess  of  carbon-dioxide  in  the 
blood;  and  constriction  of  the  air  passages  leading  to  the  lungs. 

Difficult  or  labored  respiration  is  known  as  dyspnea.  It  occurs 
when  it  is  difficult,  for  any  reason,  for  the  animal  to  obtain  the 
amount  of  oxygen  that  it  requires.  This  may  be  due  to  filling  of  the 
lungs,  as  in  pneumonia;  to  painful  movements  of  the  chest,  as  in  rheu- 
matism or  pleurisy;  to  tumors  of  the  nose  and  paralysis  of  the  throat, 
swellings  of  the  throat,  foreign  bodies,  or  weakness  of  the  respiratory 
passages,  fluid  in  the  chest  cavity,  adhesions  between  the  lungs  and 
chest  walls,  loss  of  elasticity  of  the  lungs,  etc.  Where  the  difficulty- 
is  great  the  accessory  muscles  of  respiration  are  brought  into  play. 
In  great  dyspnea  the  horse  stands  with  his  front  feet  apart,  with  his 
neck  straight  out,  and  his  head  extended  upon  his  neck.  The  nostrils 
are  widely  dilated,  the  face  has  an  anxious  expression,  the  eyeballs  pro- 
trude, the  up-and-down  motion  of  the  larynx  is  aggravated,  the  ampli- 
tude of  the  movement  of  the  chest  walls  increas'ed,  and  the  flanks 
heave. 

The  expired  air  is  of  about  the  tcm.perature  of  the  body.  It  contains 
considerable  moisture,  and  it  should  come  with  ec^ual  force  from  each 
nostril  and  should  not  have  an  unpleasant  odor.  If  the  stream  of  air 
from  one  nostril  is  stronger  than  from  the  other,  there  is  an  indication 
of  an  obstruction  in  a  nasal  chamber.  If  the  air  possesses  a  bad  odor, 
it  is  usually  an  indication  of  putrefaction  of  a  tissue  or  secretion  in 
some  part  of  the  respiratory  tract.  A  bad  odor  is  found  where  there 
is  necrosis  of  the  bone  in  the  nasal  passages  or  in  chronic  catarrh. 
An  ulcerating  tumor  of  the  nose  or  throat  may  cause  the  breath  to 
have  an  offensive  odor.  The  most  offensive  breath  occurs  av here  there 
is  necrosis,  or  gangrene,  of  the  lungs. 

In  some  diseases  there  is  a  discharge  from  the  nose.  In  order  to 
determine  the  significance  of  the  discharge  it  should  be  examined 
closely.  One  should  ascertain  whether  it  comes  from  one  or  both 
nostrils.  If  but  from  one  nostril,  it  probably  originates  in  the  head. 
The  color  should  be  noted.  A  thin,  watery  discharge  may  be  composed 
of  serum,  and  it  occurs  in  the  earlier  stages  of  coryza  or  nasal  catarrh. 
An  opalescent,  slightly  tinted  discharge  is  composed  of  mucus  and 
indicates  a  little  more  severe  irritation.     If  the  discharge  is  sticky  and 


DiSEASEb    OF   TKE    HOESE.  19 

pns-like,  a  deeper  difficulty  or  more  advanced  irritation  is  indicated. 
If  the  discharge  contains  flakes  and  clumps  of  more  or  less  dried, 
agglutinated  particles,  it  is  probable  that  it  originates  within  a  cavity 
of  the  head,  as  the  sinuses  or  guttural  pouches.  The  discharge  of 
glanders  is  of  a  peculiar  sticky  nature  and  adheres  tenaciousl}^  to  the 
wings  of  the  nostrils.  The  discharge  of  pneumonia  is  of  a  somewhat 
red  or  reddish  brown  color,  and,  on  this  account,  has  been  described  as 
a  pruFxe-juice  discharge.  Tlie  discharge  may  contain  blood.  If  the 
blood  appears  as  clots  or  as  streaks  in  the  discharge,  it  probably 
originates  at  some  point  in  the  upper  part  of  the  respiratory  tract. 
If  the  blood  is  in  the  form  of  a  fine  froth,  it  comes  from  the  lungs. 

In  examining  the  interior  of  the  nasal  passage  one  should  remem- 
ber that  the  nomial  color  of  the  mucous  membrane  is  a  rosy  pink  and 
that  its  surface  is  smooth.  If  ulcers,  nodules,  swellings,  or  tumors 
are  found,  these  indicate  disease.  The  ulcer  that  is  characteristic  of 
glanders  is  described  fully  in  connection  with  the  discussion  of  that 
disease. 

Between  the  lower  jaws  there  are  several  clusters  of  Ij-mphatic 
giiiiids.  These  glands  are  so  small  and  so  soft  that  it  is  difficidt  to 
find  them  by  feeling  through  the  skin,  but  when  a  suppurative  dis- 
ease exists  in  the  upper  part  of  the  respiratory  tract  these  glands 
become  swollen  and  easy  to  feel.  They  may  become  soft  and  break 
down  and  discharge  as  abscesses;  this  is  seen  constantly  in  strangles. 
On  the  other  hand,  tlic}''  may  become  indurated  and  hard  from  the  pro- 
liferation of  -connective  tissue  and  attach  themselves  to  the  jawbone, 
to  the  tongue,  or  to  the  skin.  This  is  seen  in  chronic  glanders.  If 
the  glands  are  swollen  and  tender  to  pressure,  it  indicates  that  the  dis- 
ease causing  the  enlargement  is  acu^e;  if  they  are  hard  and  insensi- 
tive, the  disease  causing  the  enlargement  is  chronic. 

The  manner  in  which  the  horse  coughs  is  of  importance  in  diagno- 
sis. The  cough  is  a  forced  expiration,  following  immediately  upon  a 
forcible  separation  of  the  vocal  cords.  The  purpose  of  the  cough  is 
to  remove  some  irritant  substance  from  the  respiratory  passages,  and 
it  occurs  when  irritant  gases,  such  as  smoke,  ammonia,  sulphur  vapor, 
or  dust,  have  been  inhaled.  It  occurs  from  inhalation  of  cold  air  if 
the  respiratory  passages  are  sensitive  from  disease.  In  laryngitis, 
bronchitis,  and  pneumonia,  cough  is  very  easil}'  excited,  and  occurs 
mereh"  from  accumulation  of  mucus  and  inflammatorj-  product  upon 
the  irritated  respiratory  mucous  membrane.  If  one  wishes  to  deter- 
mine the  character  of  the  cough,  it  can  easily  be  excited  by  pressing 
upon  the  larynx  with  the  thumb  and  finger.  The  larynx  should  be 
pressed  from  side  to  side  and  the  pressure  removed  the  moment  the 
horse  commences  to  cough.  A  painful  cough  occurs  in  pleurisy,  also 
in  laryngitis,  bronchitis,  and  bronchial  pneumonia.  Pain  is  shown  by 
the  effort  the  animal  exerts  to  repress  the  cough.     The  cough  is  not 


20  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

painful,  as  a  rule,  in  the  chronic  diseases  of  the  respiratory  tract. 
The  force  of  the  cough  is  considerable  when  it  is  not  especially  pain- 
ful and  when  the  lungs  are  not  seriously  involved.  When  the  lungs 
are  so  diseased  that  they  can  not  be  filled  with  a  large  volume  of  air, 
and  in  heaves,  the  cough  is  weak,  as  it  is  also  in  w^eak,  debilitated 
animals.  If  mucus  or  pus  is  coughed  out,  or  if  the  cough  is  accom- 
panied by  a  gurgling  sound,  it  is  said  to  be  moist;  it  is  dry  when 
those  characteristics  are  not  present — that  is,  when  the  air  in  passing 
out  passes  over  surface  not  loaded  with  secretion. 

In  the  examination  of  the  chest  we  resort  to  percussion  and  aus- 
cultation. When  a  cask  or  other  structure  containing  air  is  tapped 
upon,  or  percussed,  a  hollow  sound  is  given  forth.  If  the  cask  con- 
tains fluid,  the  sound  is  of  a  dull  and  of  quite  a  different  character. 
Similarly,  the  amount  of  air  contained  in  the  lungs  can  be  estimated 
by  tapping  upon,  or  percussing,  the  walls  of  the  chest.  Percussion  is 
practiced  wutli  the  fingers  alone  or  with  the  aid  of  a  special  percussion 
hammer  and  an  object  to  strike  upon  known  as  a  pleximeter.  If  the 
fingers  are  used,  the  middle  finger  of  the  left  hand  should  be  pressed ' 
firmly  against  the  side  of  the  horse  and  should  be  struck  with  the 
ends  of  the  fingers  of  the  right  hand  bent  at  a  right  angle  so  as  to 
form  a  hammer.  The  percussion  hammer  sold  by  instrument  makers 
is  made  of  rubber  or  has  a  rubber  tip,  so  that  when  the  pleximeter, 
which  is  placed  against  the  side,  is  struck  the  impact  will  not  be 
accompanied  by  a  noise.  After  experience  in  this  method  of  exami- 
nation one  can  determine  with  a  considerable  degree  of  accuracy 
whether  the  lung  contains  a  normal  amount  of  air  or  not.  If,  as  in 
pneumonia,  air  has  been  displaced  by  inflammatory  product  occupy- 
ing the  air  space,  or  if  fluid  collects  in  the  lower  part  of  the  chest, 
the  percussion  sound  becomes  diill.  If,  as  in  cmph3^sema  or  in  pneu- 
mothorax, there  is  an  excess  of  air  in  the  chest  cavity,  the  percussion 
sound  becomes  abnormally  loud  and  clear. 

Auscultation  consists  in  the  examination  of  the  lungs  with  the  ear 
applied  closely  to  the 'chest  wall.  As  the  air  goes  in  and  out  of  the 
lungs  a  certain  soft  sound  is  made  which  can  be  heard  distincth^, 
especially  upon  inspiration.  This  sound  is  intensified  by  anything 
that  accelerates  the  rate  of  respiration,  such  as  exercise.  This  soft, 
rustling  sound  is  known  as  vesicular  murmur,  and  wherever  it  is 
heard  it  signifies  that  the  lung  contains  air  and  is  functionally  active. 
The  vesicular  murmur  is  weakened  when  there  is  an  inflammatory 
infiltration  of  the  lung  tissue  or  when  the  lungs  are  compressed  by 
fluid  in  the  chest  cavity.  The  vesicular  murmur  disappears  when  air 
is  excluded  by  the  accumulation  of  inflammatory  product,  as  in  pneu- 
monia, and  when  the  lungs  are  compressed  by  fluid  in  the  chest 
cavity.     The  vesicular  murmur  becomes  rough  and  harsh  in  the  early 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  21 

stages  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  and  this  is  often  the  first  sign  of 
the  beginning  of  pneumonia. 

By  appl3"ing  the  ear  over  the  lower  part  of  the  windpipe  in  front  of 
the  breastbone  a  somewhat  harsh,  blowing  sound  may  be  heard.  This 
is  known  as  the  bronchial  murmur  and  is  heard  in  normal  conditions 
near  the  lower  part  of  the  trachea  and  to  a  limited  extent  in  the  ante- 
rior portions  of  the  lungs  after  sharp  exercise.  When  the  bronchial 
murmur  is  heard  over  other  portions  of  the  lungs,  it  may  signify  that 
the  lungs  are  more  or  less  solidified  by  disease  and  the  blowing,  bron- 
chial murmur  is  transmitted  through  this  solid  lung  to  the  ear  from  a 
distant  part  of  the  chest.  The  bronchial  murmur  in  an  abnormal 
place  signifies  that  there  exists  pneumonia  or  that  the  lungs  are  com- 
pressed by  fluid  in  the  chest  cavity. 

Additional  sounds  are  heard  in  the  lungs  in  some  diseased  conditions. 
For  example,  when  fluid  collects  in  the  air  passages  and  the  air  is 
forced  through  it  or  is  caused  to  pass  through  tubes  containing  secre- 
tions or  pus.  Such  sounds  are  of  a  gurgling  or  bubbling  nature  and 
are  known  as  mucous  rales.  Mucous  rales  are  spoken  of  as  being  large 
or  small  as  they  are  distinct  or  indistinct,  depending  upon  the  quan- 
tity of  fluid  that  is  present  and  the  size  of  the  tube  in  which  this  sound 
is  produced.  Mucous  rales  occur  in  pneumonia  after  the  solidified 
parts  begin  to  break  down  at  the  end  of  the  disease,  They  occur  in 
bronchitis  and  in  tuberculosis,  where  there  is  an  excess  of  secretion. 

Sometimes  a  shrill  sound  is  heard,  like  the  note  of  a  whistle,  fife,  or 
flute.  This  is  due  to  a  dry  constriction  of  the  bronchial  tubes  and  it 
is  heard  in  chronic  bronchitis  and  in  tuberculosis. 

A  friction  sound  is  heard  in  pleuris}^  This  is  due  to  the  rubbing 
together  of  roughened  surfaces,  and  the  sound  produced  is  similar  to  a 
dry  rubbing  sound  tliat  is  caused  b}^  rubbing  the  hands  together  or  by 
rubbing  upon  each  other  two  dr}?^  rough  pieces  of  leather. 

THE    EXAMINATION    OF   THE    DIGESTIVE    TRACT. 

The  first  point  in  connection  with  the  examination  of  the  organs  of 
digestion  is  the  appetite  and  the  manner  of  taking  food  and  drink.  A 
healthy  animal  has  a  good  appetite.  Loss  of  appetite  does  not  point 
to  a  special  diseased  condition,  but  comes  from  a  variety  of  causes. 
Some  of  these  causes,  indeed,  may  be  looked  upon  as  being  ph3\sio- 
logical.  Excitement,  strange  surroundings,  fatigue,  and  hot  weather 
may  all'  cause  loss  of  appetite.  Where  there  is  cerebral  depression, 
fever,  profound  weakness,  disorder  of  the  stomach,  or  mechanical 
difliculty  in  chewing  or  swallowing,  the  appetite  is  diminished  or 
destroyed.  Sometimes  there  is  an  aj^petite  or  desire  to  eat  abnormal 
things,  such  as  dirty  bedding,  roots  of  grass,  soil,  etc.  This  desire 
usually  comes  from  a  chronic  disturbance  of  nutrition. 


22  BUliEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

Thirst  is  diminished  in  a  good  man}'^  mild  diseases  unaccompanied 
by  distinct  fever.  It  is  seen  where  there  is  great  exhaustion  or 
depression  or  profound  brain  disturbance.  Thirst  is  increased  after 
profuse  sweating,  in  diabetes,  diarrhea,  in  fever,  at  the  crisis  of  infec- 
tious diseases,  and  when  the  mouth  is  dry  and  hot. 

Some  diseases  of  the  mouth  or  throat  make  it  difficult  for  the  horse 
to  chew  or  swallow  his  food.  Where  difficulty  in  this  respect  is  expe- 
rienced, the  following-named  conditions  should  be  borne  in  mind  and 
carefully  looked  for:  Diseases  of  the  teeth,  consisting  in  deca}'-,  frac- 
ture, abscess  formation,  or  overgrov/th;  inflammatory  conditions,  or 
wounds  or  tumors  of  the  tongue,  cheeks,  or  lips;  paral^'sis  of  the 
muscles  of  chewing  or  swallowing;  foreign  bodies  in  upper  part  of 
the  mouth  between  the  molar  teeth;  inflammation  of  throat.  Diffi- 
culty in  swallowing  is  sometimes  shown  by  the  symptom  known  as 
"•quidding."  Quidding  consists  in  dropping  from  the  mouth  well- 
chewed  and  insalivated  boluses  of  food.  A  mouthful  of  hay,  for 
example,  after  being  ground  and  masticated,  is  carried  to  the  back 
part  of  the  mouth.-  The  horse  then  linds  that  from  tenderness  of  the 
throat,  or  from  some  other  cause,  swallowing  is  difficult  or  painful, 
and  the  bolus  is  then  dropped  from  the  mouth.  Another  quantity  of 
hay  is  similarly  prepared,  only  to  bo  dropped  in  turn.  Sometimes 
quidding  is  due  to  a  painful  tooth,  the  bolus  being  dropped  from  the 
mouth  when  this  tooth  is  struck  and  during  the  pang  that  follows. 
Quidding  may  be  practiced  so  persistently  that  a  considerable  pile  of 
boluses  of  food  accumulate  in  the  manger  or  on  the'  floor  of  the  stall. 
In  pharyngitis  one  of  the  symptoms  is  a  return  through  the  nose  of 
fluid  that  the  horse  attempts  to  swallow. 

In  some  brain  diseases,  and  particularly  in  chronic  internal  hydro- 
cephalus, the  horse  has  a  most  peculiar  manner  of  swallowing  and  of 
taking  food.  A  similar  condition  is  seen  in  liyperemia  of  the  brain. 
In  eating  the  horse  will  sink  his  muzzle  into  the  grain  in  the  feed 
box  and  eat  for  a  while  without  raising  the  head.  Long  pauses  are 
made  while  the  food  is  in  the  mouth.  Sometimes  the  horse  will  eat 
very  rapidl}^  for  a  little  while  and  then  slowly;  the  jaws  may  be 
brought  together  so  forcibly  that  the  teeth  gnash.  In  eating  hay 
the  horse  will  stop  at  times  with  hay  protruding  from  the  mouth  and 
stand  stupidlj^  as  though  he  has  forgotten  what  he  was  about. 

In  examining  the  mouth  one  should  first  look  for  swellings  or  for 
evidence  of  abnormal  conditions  upon  the  exterior;  that  is,  the  front 
and  sides  of  the  face,  the  jaws,  and  about  the  muzzle.  By  this  means 
wounds,  fractures,  tumors,  abscesses,  and  disease  accompanied  by 
eruptions  about  the  muzzle  may  be  detected.  The  interior  of  the 
mouth  is  examined  by  holding  the  head  up  and  inserting  the  fingers 
through  the  interdental  space  in  such  a  wa}""  as  to  cause  the  mouth  to 
open.     The  mucous  membrane  should  be  clean  and  of  a  light-pink  color, 


DISEASES    OF    THE   HOKSE.  23 

excepting  on  the  back  of  the  tongue,  where  the  color  is  a  yellowish 
gray.  As  abnormalities  of  this  region,  the  chief  are  diffuse  inflamma- 
tion, characterized  by  redness  and  catarrhal  discharge;  local  inflamma- 
tion, as  from  eruptions,  ulcers,  or  wounds;  necrosis  of  the  lower  jaw- 
bone in  front  of  the  first  back  tooth;  and  swellings.  Foreign  bodies 
are  sometimes  found  embedded  in  the  mucous-membrane  lining  of  the 
mouth  or  lodged  between  the  teeth. 

The  examination  of  the  pharynx  and  of  the  esophagus  is  made  chiefly 
by  pressing  upon  the  skin  covering  these  organs  in  the  region  of  the 
throat  and  along  the  left  side  of  the  neck  in  the  jugular  gutter.  Some- 
times, when  a  more  careful  examination  is  necessary,  an  esophageal 
tube  or  probang  is  passed  through  the  nose  or  mouth  down  the  esoph- 
agus to  the  stomach. 

Vomiting  is  an  act  consisting  in  the  expulsion  of  all  or  part  of  the 
contents  of  the  stomach  through  the  mouth  or  nose.  This  act  is  more 
difficult  for  the  horse  than  for  most  of  the  other  domestic  animals, 
because  the  stomach  of  the  horse  is  small  and  does  not  lie  on  the  floor 
of  the  abdominal  cavity,  so  that  the  abdominal  walls  in  contracting  do 
not  bring  pressure  to  bear  upon  it  so  directly  and  forcibly,  as  is  the 
case  in  many  other  animals.  Beside  this,  there  is  a  loose  fold  of 
mucous  membrane  at  the  point  where  the  esophagus  enters  the  stom- 
ach, and  this  forms  a  sort  of  valve  which  does  not  interfere  with  the 
passage  of  food  into  the  stomach,  but  does  interfere  with  the  exit  of 
food  through  the  esophageal  opening.  Still,  vomiting  is  a  sj-mptom 
that  is  occasionally  seen  in  the  horse.  It  occurs  when  the  stomach  is 
very  much  distended  with  food  or  with  gas.  Distention  stretches  the 
mucous  membrane  and  eradicates  the  valvular  fold  referred  to,  and 
also  makes  it  possible  for  more  pressure  to  be  exerted  upon  the  stom- 
ach through  the  contraction  of  the  abdominal  muscles.  Since  the  dis- 
tention to  permit  vomiting  must  be  extreme,  it  not  infrequently  hap- 
pens that  it  leads  to  rupture  of  the  stomach  walls.  This  has  caused 
the  impression  in  the  minds  of  some  that  vom'.ting  can  not  occur  in 
the  horse  without  rupture  of  the  stomach,  but  this  is  incorrect,  since 
many  horses  vomit  and  afterwards  become  entirely  sound.  After 
rupture  of  the  stomach  has  occurred  vomiting  is  impossible. 

In  examination  of  the  abdomen  one  should  remember  that  its  size 
depends  largely  upon  the  breed,  sex,  and  conformation  of  the  animal, 
and  also  upon  the  manner  in  which  the  animal  has  l)een  fed  and  the 
use  to  which  it  has  been  put.  A  pendulous  abdomen  ma}^  be  the  result 
of  an  abdominal  tumor  or  of  an  accumulation  of  fluid  in  the  abdominal 
cavity;  or,  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  merely  be  an  indication  of  preg- 
nancy, or  of  the  fact  that  the  horse  has  been  fed  for  a  long  time  on 
bulk}^  and  innutritions  food.  Pendulous  abdomen  occurring  in  a  work 
horse  kept  on  a  concentrated  diet  is  an  abnormal  condition.  The 
abdonlen  may  increase  suddenlj^  in  volume  from  accumulation  of  gas 


24  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

in  t3'mpanic  colic.  The  abdomen  becomes  small  and  the  horse  is  said 
to  be  "tucked  up"  from  long-continued  poor  appetite,  as  in  diseases 
of  the  digestive  tract  and  in  fever.  This  condition  also  occurs  in 
tetanus  from  the  contraction  of  the  abdominal  walls  and  in  diarrhea 
from  emptiness. 

In  applying  the  ear  to  the  flank,  on  either  the  right  or  left  side, 
certain  bubbling  sounds  ma}^  be  heard  that  are  known  as  peristaltic 
sounds,  because  thej'  arc  produced  by  peristalsis,  or  worm-like  con- 
traction of  the  intestines.  These  sounds  are  a  little  louder  on  the 
right  side  than  on  the  left  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  large  intes- 
tines lie  in  the  right  flank.  Absence  of  peristaltic  sounds  is  always  an 
indication  of  disease,  and  suggests  exhaustion  or  paralysis  of  the  intes- 
tines. This  ma}"  occur  in  certain  kinds  of  colic  and  is  an  unfavorable 
symptom.  Increased  sounds  are  heard  where  the  intestines  are  con- 
tracted more  violently  than  in  health,  as  in  spasmodic  colic,  and  also 
where  there  is  an  excess  of  fluid  or  gas  in  the  intestinal  canal. 

The  feces  show,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  thoroughness  of  digestion. 
They  should  show  that  the  food  has  been  well  ground,  and  should,  in 
the  horse,  be  free  from  offensive  odor  or  coatings  of  mucus.  A  coat- 
ing of  mucus  shows  intestinal  catarrh.  Blood  on  the  feces  indicates 
severe  inflammation.  Very  light  color  and  bad  odor  may  come  from 
inactive  liver.     Parasites  are  sometimes  in  the  dung. 

Rectal  examination  consists  in  examination  of  the  organs  of  the 
pelvic  cavity  and  posterior  portion  of  the  abdominal  cavity  b}'  the 
hand  inserted  into  the  rectum.  This  examination  should  be  attempted 
by  a  veterinarian  only,  and  is  useless  except  to  one  who  has  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  the  parts  concerned. 

THE    EXAMINATION    OF   THE    NERVOUS    SYSTEM, 

The  great  brain,  or  cerebrum,  is  the  seat  of  intelligence,  and  it  con- 
tains the  centers  that  control  motion  in  many  parts  of  the  bod3\ 
The  front  portion  of  the  brain  is  believed  to  be  the  region  that  is  most 
important  in  governing  the  intelligence.  The  central  and  posterior 
portions  of  the  cerebrum  contain  the  centers  for  the  voluntary  motions 
of  the  face  and  of  the  front  and  hind  legs.  The  growth  of  a  tumor  or 
an  inflammator}"  change  in  the  region  of  a  center  governing  the  motion 
of  a  certain  part  of  the  body  has  the  effect  of  disturbing  motion  in 
that  part  by  causing  excessive  contraction  known  as  cramps,  or 
inal)ility  of  the  muscles  to  contract,  constituting  the  condition  known 
as  paralysis.  The  nerve  paths  from  the  cerebrum,  and  hence  from 
these  centers  to  the  spinal  cord  and  thence  to  the  muscles,  pass  beneath 
the  small  brain,  or  the  cerebellum,  and  through  the  medulla  oblongat^i 
to  the  spinal  cord.  Interference  with  these  paths  has  the  effect  of 
disturbing  motion  of  the  parts  reached  by  them.     If  all  of  the  paths 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  25 

on  one  side  are  interfered  with,  the  result  is  paralysis  of  one  side  of 
the  body. 

The  small  brain,  or  cerebellum,  governs  the  regularity,  or  coordi- 
nation, of  movements.  Disturbances  of  the  cerebellum  cause  a  totter- 
ing, uncertain  gait.  In  the  medulla  oblongata,  which  lies  between  the 
spinal  cord  and  the  cerebellum,  are  the  centers  governing  the  circula- 
tion and  breathing. 

The  spinal  cord  carries  sensor}^  messages  to  the  brain  and  motor 
impressions  from  the  brain.  The  anterior  portions  of  the  cord  con- 
tain the  motor  paths,  and  the  posterior  portions  of  the  cord  contain 
the  sensory  paths. 

Paralysis  of  a  single  member  or  a  single  group  of  muscles  is  known 
as  monoplegia  and  results  from  injury  to  the  motor  center  or  to  a 
nerve  trunk  leading  to  the  part  that  is  involved.  Paral3^sis  of  one- 
half  of  the  bod}'  is  known  as  hemiplegia  and  results  from  destruction 
or  severe  disturbances  of  the  cerebral  hemisphere  of  the  opposite  side 
of  the  bod}'  or  from  interference  with  nerve  paths  between  the  cere- 
bellum, or  small  brain,  and  the  spinal  cord.  Paralysis  of  the  poste- 
rior half  of  the  bod}'  is  known  as  paraplegia  and  results  from  derange- 
ment of  the  spinal  cord.  If  the  cord  is  pressed  upon,  cut,  or  injured, 
messages  can  not  be  transmitted  beyond  that  point,  and  so  the  poste- 
rior part  becomes  paralyzed.     This  is  seen  when  the  back  is  fractured. 

Abnormal  mental  excitement  may  be  due  to  congestion  of  the  brain 
or  to  inflammation.  The  animal  so  afflicted  becomes  vicious,  pays  no 
attention  to  commands,  cries,  runs  about  in  a  circle,  stamps  with  the 
feet,  strikes,  kicks,  etc.  This  condition  is  usually  followed  by  a  dull, 
stupid  state,  in  which  the  animal  stands  with  his  head  down,  dull  and 
irresponsive  to  external  stimuli.  Cerebral  depression  also  occurs  in 
the  severe  febrile  infectious  diseases,  in  chronic  hydrocephalus,  in 
chronic  diseases  of  the  liver,  in  poisoning  with  a  narcotic  substance^ 
and  with  chronic  catarrh  of  the  stomach  and  intestines. 

Fainting  is  a  symptom  that  is  not  often  seen  in  horses.  When  it 
occurs  it  is  shown  by  unsteadiness  of  gait,  tottering,  and,  finally,  inabil- 
ity to  stand.  Th§  cause  usually  lies  in  a  defect  of  the  small  brain,  or 
cerebellum.  This  defect  may  be  merely  in  respect  of  the  blood  supply, 
to  congestion,  or  to  anemia,  and  in  this  case  it  is  likely  to  pass  away  and 
may  never  return,  or  it  may  be  due  to  some  permanent  cause,  as  a 
tumor  or  an  abscess7  or  it  may  result  from  a  hemorrhage,  from  a  defect 
of  the  valves  of  the  heart,  or  from  poisoning. 

Loss  of  consciousness  is  known  as  coma.  It  is  caused  by  hemorrhage 
in  the  brain,  by  profound  exhaustion,  or  may  result  from  a  saturation 
of  the  system  with  the  poison  of  some  disease.  Coma  may  follow 
upon  cerebral  depression,  which  occurs  as  a  secondary  state  of  inflam- 
mation of  the  brain. 


26  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

AYhere  the  sensibility"  of  a  part  is  increased  the  condition  is  known 
as  hypcrasthesia,  and  where  it  is  lost — that  is,  where  there  is  no  feeling 
or  knowledge  of  pain — the  condition  is  known  as  anasthesia.  The 
former  usually  ac(-onipanies  some  chronic  diseases  of  the  spinal  cord  or 
the  earlier  stages  of  irritation  of  a  nerve  trunk,  Hypcrasthesia  is 
difficult  to  detect  in  a  nervous,  irritable  animal,  and  sometimes  even  in 
a  horse  of  less  sensitive  temperament.  An  irritable,  sensitive  spot  may 
be  found  surrounded  by  skin  that  is  not  sensitive  to  pressure.  This  is 
sometimes  a  s^miptom  of  beginning-  of  inflammation  of  the  brain. 
Anasthesia  occurs  in  connection  with  cerebral  and  spinal  paralysis, 
section  of  a  nerve  trunk  leading  to  apart,  in  severe  mental  depression, 
and  in  narcotic  poisoning. 

URINARY    AND    SEXUAI.    ORGANS. 

In  considering  the  examination  of  the  urinary  and  sexual  organs 
we  may  consider,  at  the  beginning,  a  false  impi'ession  that  prevails  to 
an  astonishing  extent.  Many  horsemen  are  in  the  habit  of  pressing 
upon  the  back  of  a  horse  over  the  loins  or  of  sliding  the  ends  of  the 
fingers  along  on  either  side  of  the  median  line  of  this  region.  If  the 
horse  depresses  his  back  it  is  at  once  said  "his  kidneys  arc  weak." 
Nothing  could  be  more  absurd  or  further  from  the  truth.  Any 
health}"  horse — any  horse  with  normal  sensation  and  with  a  normally 
flexible  back — will  cause  it  to  sink  when  manipulated  in  this  way.  If 
the  kidneys  are  inflamed  and  sensitive,  the  back  is  held  more  rigidly 
and  is  not  depressed  under  this  pressure. 

To  examine  the  kidncj^s  b}^  pressui-e  the  pressure  should  be  brought 
to  bear  over  these  organs.  The  kidneys  lie  beneath  the  ends  of  the 
transverse  processes  of  the  vertcbra3  of  the  loins  and  beneath  the  hind- 
most ribs.  If  the  kidneys  are  acutely  inflamed  and  especially  sensitive, 
pressure  or  light  blows  applied  here  may  cause  the  horse  to  shrink. 

The  physical  examination  of  the  sexual  and  generative  oigans  is 
made  in  large  part  through  the  rectum,  and  this  portion  of  the  exami- 
nation should  be  carried  out  by  a  veterinarian  onl}".  By  this  means 
it  is  possible  to  discover  or  locate  cysts  of  the  kidneys,  urinary 
calculi  in  the  ureters,  bladder,  or  upper  urethra,  malformations,  and 
acute  inflammations  accompanied  by  pain.  The  external  genital  organs 
are  swollen,  discolored,  or  show  a  discharge  as  a  result  of  local  disease 
or  from  disease  higher  in  the  tract. 

The  manner  of  urinating  is  sometimes  of  considerable  diagnostic 
importance.  Painful  urination  is  shown  by  frequent  attempts,  during 
which  but  a  small  quantity  of  urine  is  passed;  by  groaning,  by  con- 
strained attitude,  etc.  This  condition  comes  from  inflammation  of  the 
bladder  or  urethra,  urinarj-  calculi  (stones  of  the  bladder  or  urethra), 
hemorrhage,  tumors,  bruises,  etc.  The  urine  is  retained  from  spasms 
of  the  nmsclc  at  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  from  calculi,  infl;uumatory 
growths,  tumors,  and  paralysis  of  the  bladder. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  27 

The  urine  dribbles  without  control  when  the  neck  of  the  bladder  is 
weakened  or  parah'zed.  This  condition  is  seen  after  the  bladder  is 
weakened  from  long-continued  retention  and  where  there  is  a  uartial 
paralj^sis  of  the  hind  quarters. 

Horses  usuall}^  void  urine  five  to  seven  times  a  da}',  and  pass  from  4 
to  7  quarts.  DiseajSe  may  be  shown  b}'^  increase  in  the  number  of  void- 
ings  or  of  the  quantity.  Frequent  urination  indicates  an  irritable  or 
painful  condition  of  the  bladder  or  urethra  or  that  the  quantit}'  is 
excessive.  In  one  form  of  chronic  inflammation  of  the  kidneys  (inter- 
stitial nephritis)  and  in  pol^mria  the  quantity"  may  be  increased  to  20 
or  30  quarts  dail.y.  Diminution  in  the  quantity'  of  urine  comes  from 
profuse  sweating,  diarrhea,  high  fever,  weak  heart,  diseased  and  non- 
secreting  kidneys,  or  an  obstruction  to  the  flow. 

The  urine  of  the  health}"  horse  is  a  pale  or  at  times  a  slightly  red- 
dish yellow.  The  color  is  less  intense  when  the  quantity  is  large,  and 
is  more  intense  Avhcn  the  quantity  is  diminished.  Dark-brown  urine 
is  seen  in  azoturia  and  in  severe  acute  muscular  rheumatism.  A 
brownish  green  color  is  seen  in  jaundice.  Red  color  indicates  admix- 
ture of  blood  from  a  bleeding  point  at  some  part  of  the  urinary  tract, 
usually  in  the  kidneys. 

The  urine  of  the  healthy  horse  is  not  clear  and  transparent.  It  con- 
tains mucus  which  causes  it  to  be  slightly  thick  and  string}^,  and  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  undissolved  carbonates,  causing  it  to  be  cloud3\  A 
sediment  collects  when  the  urine  is  allowed  to  stand.  The  urine  of  the 
horse  is  normall}'  alkaline.  If  it  becomes  acid  the  bodies  in  suspen- 
sion are  dissolved  and  the  urine  is  made  clear.  The  urine  ma}^  be 
unusually  cloudy  from  the  addition  of  abnormal  constituents,  but  to 
determine  their  character  a  chemical  or  microscopic  examination  is 
necessary.  Red  or  reddish  flakes  or  clumps  in  the  urine  are  always 
abnormal,  and  denote  a  hemorrhage  or  suppuration  in  the  urinary 
tract. 

The  normal  specific  gravit}'  of  the  urine  of  the  horse  is  about  l.OiO. 
It  is  increased  when  the  urine  is  scanty  and  decreased  when  the  quan- 
tit}'  is  excessive. 

Acid  reaction  of  the  urine  occurs  in  chronic  intestinal  catarrh,  in 
high  fever,  and  during  starvation.  Chemical  and  microscopic  tests 
and  examinations  are  often  of  great  importance  in  diagnosis,  but 
require  special  apparatus  and  skill. 

Other  points  in  the  examination  of  a  sick  horse  require  more  discus- 
sion than  can  be  afforded  in  this  connection,  and  require  special  train- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  examiner.  Among  such  points  ma}'  be  mentioned 
the  examination  of  the  organs  of  special  sense,  the  examination  of  the 
blood,  the  microscopic  examination  of  the  secretions  and  excretions, 
bacteriological  examinations  of  the  secretions,  excretions,  and  tissues, 
specific  reaction  tests,  and  diagnostic  inoculation. 


METHODS  OF  ADiMINISTERING  MEDICINES. 

By  Cji.  B.  Michener,  V.  S. 
[Revised  in  1903  by  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  ?.,  V.  M.  D.J 

Medicine  may  enter  the  body  through  any  of  the  followino-  desig- 
nated channels:  First,  by  the  mouth;  second,  by  the  air  pas.sages;  third, 
by  the  skin;  fourth,  by  the  tissue  beneath  the  skin  (hypodermic  meth- 
ods); fifth,  by  the  rectum;  sixth,  by  the  gcnito-urinary  passages; 
and,  seventh,  by  the  blood  (intravenous  injections). 

(1)  By  the  mouth. — Medicines  can  be  given  by  the  mouth  in  the 
form  of  solids,  as  powders  or  pills;  liquids,  and  pastes,  or  electuaries. 

Solids  administered  as  2Jov;ders  should  be  as  finely  pulverized  as 
possible,  in  order  to  secure  rapid  solution  and  absorption.  Their 
action  is  in  this  way  facilitated  and  intensified.  Powders  must  be 
free  from  any  irritant  or  caustic  action  upon  the  mouth.  Those  that 
arc  without  any  disagreeable  taste  or  smell  are  readily  eaten  with  the 
feed  or  tjiken  in  the  drinking  water.  When  placed  with  the  feed  they 
should  first  be  dissolved  or  suspended  in  water  and  thus  spi'inkled  on 
the  feed.  If  mixed  dr}^  the  hor.se  will  often  leave  the  medicine  in  the 
bottom  of  his  manger.  Nonirritant  powders  may  be  given  in  cap- 
sules, as  balls  are  given. 

Pills,  or  "  Ja//.s',"  when  properl}'  made,  are  cylindrical  in  shape,  2 
inches  in  length  and  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
They  should  be  fresh,  but  if  necessary  to  keep  them  some  time  they 
should  be  made  up  with  glycerin,  or  some  such  agent,  to  prevent 
their  becoming  too  hard.  Ver}-  old,  hard  balls  are  sometimes  passed 
whole  witn  the  manure  without  being  acted  upon  at  all.  Paper  is 
sometimes  wrapped  around  balls  when  given,  if  they  are  so  stick}^  as 
to  adhere  to  the  fingers  or  the  balling  gun.  Paper  used  for  this  \)\\.v- 
pose  should  be  thin  but  firm,  as  the  tougher  tissue  papers.  Balls  arc 
preferred  to  drenches  when  the  medicine  is  extremely  disagreeable  or 
nauseating;  when  the  dose  is  not  too  large;  when  the  horse  is  difiicult 
to  drench;  or  when  the  medicine  is  intended  to  act  slowly.  Certain 
medicines  can  not  or  should  not  be  made  into  balls,  as  medicines 
requiring  to  be  given  in  large  doses,  oils,  caustic  substances,  unless  in 
small  dose  and  diluted  and  thoroughly  mixed  with  the  vehicle,  deli- 
quescent, or  efflorescent  salts.  Substances  suitable  for  balls  can  be 
made  up  by  the  addition  of  honey,  sirup,  soap,  etc.,  when  required 

28 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  29 

for  immediate  use.  Gelatin  capsules  of  different  sizes  are  now  obtain- 
able and  are  a  convenient  means  of  giving  medicines  in  bail  form. 

Liquids  may  be  given  as  drenches  when  the  dose  is  large,  or  they 
ma}^,  when  but  a  small  quantity  is  administered,  be  injected  into  the 
mouth  with  a  hard-rubber  syringe  or  be  poured  upon  the  tongue  from 
a  small  phial. 

Pastes,  or  electuaries^  are  medicines  mixed  with  licorice-root  powder, 
ground  flaxseed,  molasses,  or  sirup  to  the  consistency  of  hone}',  or  a 
"■  soft  solid."  The.y  are  intended,  chiefl}^,  to  act  locally  upon  the 
mouth  and  throat.  They  are  given  b}^  being  spread  upon  the  tongue, 
gums,  or  teeth  with  a  wooden  paddle  or  strong  long-handled  spoon. 

When  balls  are  to  be  given  we  should  observe  the  following  direc- 
tions: In  shape  the^^  should  be  cylindrical,  of  the  size  above  men- 
tioned, and  soft  enough  to  be  easily  compressed  by  the  fingers.  If 
made  round  or  egg-shaped,  if  too  long  or  too  hard,  they  are  liable  to 
become  fixed  in  the  gullet  and  cause  choking.  Balls  may  be  given 
with  the  "balling-gun-''  (obtainable  at  any  veterinary  instrument 
maker's)  or  b}^  the  hand.  If  given  by  the  hand  a  mouth  speculum  or 
gag  ma}^  be  used  to  prevent  the  animal  from  biting  the  hand  or  crush- 
ing the  ball.  Alwa3^s  loosen  the  horse  before  attempting  to  give  a 
ball;  if  tied  he  may  break  his  halter  and  injure  himself  or  the  one 
giving  the  ball.  With  a  little  practice  it  is  much  easier  to  give  a  ball 
without  the  mouth  gag,  as  the  horse  always  fights  more  or  less  against 
having  his  mouth  forced  open.  The  tongue  must  be  firmlj^  grasped 
with  the  left  hand  and  gentl}'  pulled  forward;  the  ball,  slightly  moist- 
ened, is  then  to  be  placed  with  the  tips  of  the  fingers  of  the  right  hand 
as  far  back  into  the  mouth  as  possible;  as  the  tongue  is  loosened  it  is 
drawn  back  into  the  mouth  and  carries  the  ball  backward  with  it. 
The  mouth  should  be  kept  closed  for  a  minute  or  two.  We  should 
always  have  a  pail  of  water  at  hand  to  offer  the  horse  after  balling. 
This  precaution  will  often  prevent  him  from  coughing  out  the  ball  or 
its  becoming  lodged  in  the  gullet. 

It  is,  very  often,  impossible  to  get  balls  properly  made,  or  to  induce 
owners  or  attendants  to  attempt  to  give  them,  and  for  these  reasons 
medicines  by  the  mouth  are  mostly  given  in  the  form  of  liquids. 
When  medicine  is  to  be  given  as  a  drench  we  must  be  careful  to  use 
enough  water  or  oil  to  dissolve  or  dilute  it  thoroughl}^;  more  than  this 
makes  the  drench  bulky  and  is  unnecessary.  Insoluble  medicines,  if 
not  irritant  or  corrosive,  may  be  given  simply  suspended  in  water; 
the  bottle  to  be  well  shaken  immediately  before  giving  the  drench. 
The  bottle  used  for  drenching  purposes  should  be  clean,  strong,  and 
smooth  about  its  neck;  it  should  be  without  shoulders,  tapering,  and 
of  a  size  to  suit  the  amount  to  be  given.  A  horn  or  tin  bottle  may  be 
better,  because  they  arc  not  so  easily  broken  by  the  teeth.  If  the  dose 
is  a  small  one  the  horse's  head  may  be  held  up  by  the  left  hand,  while 


30  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTEY. 

the  medicine  is  poured  into  the  mouth  by  the  right.  The  left  thumb 
is  to  be  placed  in  the  angle  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  the  fingers  spread 
out  in  such  a  numner  as  to  support  the  lower  lip.  Should  the  dose  be 
large,  the  horse  ugl}',  or  the  attendant  unable  to  support  the  head  as 
directed  above,  the  head  is  then  to  be  held  up  by  running  the  tines  of 
a  long-handled  wooden  fork  under  the  noseband  of  the  halter  or  the 
halter  strap  or  a  rope  may  be  fastened  to  the  noseband  and  thrown 
over  a  limb,  beam,  or  through  a  pulley  suspended  from  the  ceiling. 
Another  way  of  supporting  the  head  is  to  i)lace  a  loop  in  the  end  of  a 
rope,  and  introduce  this  loop  into  the  mouth  just  behind  the  upper 
front  teeth  or  tusks  of  the  upper  jaw,  the  free  end  to  be  run  through 
a  pulley,  as  before  described,  and  held  by  an  assistant.  It  is  never  to 
be  fastened,  as  the  horse  might  in  that  case  do  himself  serious  injur3^ 
The  head  is  to  be  elevated  just  enough  to  prevent  the  horse  from 
throwing  the  liquid  out  of  his  mouth.  The  line  of  the  face  should  be 
hori:iontal,  or  only  the  least  bit  higher.  If  the  head  is  drawn  too  high 
the  animal  can  not  swallow  with  ease  or  even  with  safety.  (If  this  is 
doubted,  just  fill  your  mouth  with  water,  throw  back  the  Iiead  as  far 
as  possible,  and  then  try  to  swallow\)  The  person  giving  the  drench 
should  stand  on  some  object  in  order  to  reach  the  horse's  mouth — on 
a  level,  or  a  little  above  it.  The  bottle  or  horn  is  then  to  be  intro- 
duced at  the  side  of  the  mouth,  in  front  of  the  molar  teeth,  in  an 
upward  direction.  This  will  cause  the  horse  to  open  his  mouth,  w^hen 
the  base  of  the  bottle  is  to  be  elevated,  and  about  4  ounces  of  the 
liquid  allowed  to  escape  on  the  tongue  as  far  back  as  possible,  care 
being  taken  not  to  get  the  neck  of  the  bottle  between  the  back  teeth. 
The  bottle  is  to  be  immediatelj'^  removed,  and  if  the  horse  does  not 
swallow  this  can  be  encouraged  by  rubbing  the  fingers  or  neck  of  the 
bottle  against  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  occasionallj'  remoWng  them. 
As  soon  as  this  is  swallowed  repeat  the  operation  until  he  has  taken 
all  the  drench.  If  coughing  occurs,  or  if,  hj  any  mishap,  the  bottle 
should  be  crushed  in  the  mouth,  lower  the  head  immediately. 

Do  not  rub,  pinch,  or  pound  the  throat  nor  draw  out  the  tongue 
when  giving  a  drench.  These  processes  in  no  way  aid  the  horse  to 
swallow  and  oftener  do  harm  than  good.  In  drenching,  swallowing 
may  be  hastened  by  pouring  into  the  nose  of  the  horse,  while  the  head 
is  high,  a  few  teaspoonfuls  of  clean  water,  but  drenches  must  never  he 
given  tJtrough  the  nose.  Large  quantities  of  medicine  given  by  pour- 
ing into  the  nose  arc  liable  to  strangle  thcani'mal,  or,  if  the  medicine 
is  irritating,  it  sets  up  an  inflannnation  of  the  nose,  fauces,  windpipe, 
and  sometimes  the  lungs. 

Cattle  are  easily  drenched  by  holding  them  by  the  nose  with  the 
left  hand,  while  the  medicine  is  poured  into  the  mouth  with  the  right. 
Balls  are  not  to  be  given  to  cattle,  for  they  are  likel}''  to  become 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  31 

embedded  in  the  great  mass  of  food  iu  the  stomach  and  act  tardil}'  if 
at  all. 

(2)  Medicines  are  administered  to  the  lungs  and  upper  air  i)assages 
b}^  insufflation,  inhalation,  injection,  and  nasal  douche. 

Insulation  consists  of  blowing  an  impalpable  powder  directly  into 
the  nose.     It  is  but  rarely  resorted  to. 

Gaseous  and  volatile  medicines  are  given  hy  inhalation,  as  is, also 
medicated  steam,  or  vapor.  Of  the  gases  used  there  may  be  men- 
tioned, as  the  chief  ones,  sulphurous  acid  gas  and,  occasionally,  chlo- 
rine. The  animal  or  animals  are  to  be  placed  in  a  tight  room,  v/here 
these  gases  are  generated  until  the  atmosphere  is  sufficiently  impreg- 
nated with  them.  Volatile  medicines — as  the  anesthetics  (ether,  chloro- 
form, etc.) — are  to  be  given  by  the  attending  surgeon  only.  Medi- 
cated vapors  are  to  be  inhaled  by  placing  a  bucket  containing  hot 
water,  vinegar  and  water,  scalded  hay  or  bran,  to  which  carbolic  acid, 
iodipe,  creolin,  compound  tincture  of  benzoin,  or  other  medicines 
have  been  added,  in  the  bottom  of  a  long  grain  bag.  The  horse's  nose 
is  to  be  inserted  into  the  top  of  the  bag,  and  he  thus  inhales  the 
"medicated  steam."  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  have  this  hot  enough 
to  scald  the  animal.  The  vapor  from  scalding  bran  or  hay  is  often 
thus  inhaled  to  favor  discharges  in  sore  throat  or  "distemper." 

Injections  are  made  into  the  trachea  by  means  of  a  hypodermic 
syringe.  This  method  of  medication  is  used  for  the  purpose  of  treat- 
ing local  diseases  of  the  trachea  and  upper  bronchial  tubes.  It  has 
also  been  used  as  a  mode  of  administering  remedies  for  their  constitu- 
tional effect,  but  is  now  rarely  used  for  this  purpose. 

The  nasal  douche  is  employed  by  the  veterinarian  in  treating  some 
local  diseases  of  the  nasal  chambers.  Special  appliances  and  profes- 
sional knowledge  are  necessary  when  using  liquid  medicines  by  this 
method.  It  is  not  often  resorted  to,  even  by  veterinary  surgeons, 
since,  as  a  rule,  the  horse  objects  ver\^  strongly  to  ^lis  mods  of  medi- 
cation. 


(3)  Br  THE  SKix. — Medicines  are  often  administered  to  our 


la  r- 


covered  animals  by  the  skin,  yet  care  must  be  taken  in  applying  some 
medicines — as  tobacco  water,  carbolic-acid  solutions,  strong  creolin 
solutions,  mercurial  ointment,  etc. — over  the  entire  body,  as  poison- 
ing and  death  follow  in  some  instances  from  absorption  through  the 
skin.  For  the  same  reasons  care  must  also  be  exercised  and  poisonous 
medicines  not  applied  over  very  large  raw  or  abraded  surfaces.  With 
domestic  animals  medicines  are  only  to  be  applied  by  the  skin  to  a'la,y 
local  pain  or  cure  local  disease. 

(4)  Bt  the  tissue  beneath  the  SKIX  (hypodeematic  method). — 
Medicines  are  frequently  given  by  the  hypodermic  sj'ringe  under  the 
skin.     It  is  not  safe  for  any  but  medical  or  veterinary  practitioners 


32  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

to  use  this  form  of  medication,  since  the  medicines  thus  given  are  pow- 
erful poisons.  There  are  many  precautions  to  be  observed,  and  a 
knowledge  of  anatomy  is  indispensable.  One  of  the  chief  precautions 
has  to  do  with  the  sterilization  of  the  syringe.  If  it  is  not  sterile  an 
abscess  may  be  produced. 

(5)  By  the  kectum. — Medicines  may  be  given  by  the  rectum  when 
they  can  not  be  given  b}"  the  mouth,  or  when  they  are  not  retained  in 
the  stomach;  when  we  want  a  local  action  on  the  last  gut;  when  it  is 
desired  to  destroy  the  small  worms  infesting  the  large  bowels  or  to 
stimulate  the  peristaltic  motion  of  the  intestines  and  cause  evacuation. 
Medicines  are  in  such  cases  given  in  tlic  form  of  suppositories  or  as 
liquid  injections  (enemas).     Foods  may  also  be  given  in  this  way. 

Suppositories  are  conical  bodies  made  up  of  oil  of  theobroma  and 
opium  (or  whatever  medicine  is  indicated  in  special  cases),  and  are 
introduced  into  the  rectum  or  vagina  to  allay  irritation  and  pain  of 
these  parts.     They  are  not  much  used  in  ti  eating  horses. 

Enemas^  when  given  for  absorption,  should  be  small  in  quantity, 
neutral  or  slightly  acid  in  reaction,  and  of  a  temperature  of  from  90^ 
to  100°  F.  Th.  se,  like  foods  given  by  the  rectum,  should  be  intro- 
duced only  after  the  last  bowel  has  been  emptied  by  the  hand  or  by 
copious  injections  of  tepid  water.  Enemas,  or  cl^'sters,  if  to  aid  the 
action  of  physics,  should  be  in  quantities  sufficient  to  distend  the 
bowel  and  cause  the  animal  to  eject  them.  Simple  water,  salt  and 
water,  or  soap  and  water,  in  quantities  of  a  gallon  or  more,  may  be 
given  every  half  hour.  It  is  best  that  the  horse  retain  them  for  some 
little  time,  as  the  liquid  serves  to  moisten  the  dung  and  favor  a  pas- 
sage. Stimulating  enemas,  as  gl3'cerin,  should  be  administered  after 
those  already  mentioned  have  emptied  the  last  bowel,  with  the  pur- 
pose of  still  further  increasing  the  natural  motion  of  the  intestines  and 
aiding  the  purging  medicine. 

Liquids  ma}-^  be  thrown  into  the  rectum  b}'  the  means  of  a  large 
syringe  or  a  pump.  A  very  good  "irrigator"  can  be  bought  of  any 
tinsmith  at  a  trifling  cost,  and  should  be  constantly  at  hand  on  every 
stock  farm.  It  consists  of  a  funnel  about  6  inches  deep  and  7  inches 
in  diameter,  which  is  to  be  furnished  with  a  prolongation  to  which  a 
piece  of  rubber  hose,  such  as  small"  garden  hose,  4  feet  long  may  lie 
attached.  The  hose,  well  oiled,  is  to  be  inserted  gently  into  the  rec- 
tum about  2  feet.  The  liquid  to  be  injected  may  then  be  poured  in 
the  funnel  and  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  will  force  it  into  the 
bowels.  This  appliance  is  better  than  the  more  complicated  and 
expensive  ojics. 

Ordinary  cold  water  or  even  ice-cold  water  is  highly  recommended 
by  many  as  a  rectal  infection  for  horses  overcome  by  the  excessive 
heat  of  summer,  and  may  be  given  by  this  simple  pipe. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  35 

(6)  By  the  genito-urinart  passages.^ — This  method  of  medicatioD. 
is  especially  useful  in  treating  local  diseases  of  the  genito-urinaiy 
organs.  It  finds  its  chief  application  in  the  injection  and  cleansing  of 
the  uterus  and  vagina.  For  this  purpose  a  large  syringe  or  the 
irrigator  described  above  maj^  be  used. 

(7)  By  the  blood. — Injections  directly  into  veins  are  to  be  prac- 
ticed by  medical  or  veterinar}^  practitioners  onl}^,  as  are  probably 
some  other  means  of  giving  medicines — intratracheal  injections,  etc, 

1438  J:— 03 3 


DISEASES  OF  THE  DIGESTIVE  ORGANS. 

By  Cii.  B.  MicnENEij,  V.  S. 
[Revised  in  1903  by  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  S.,  V.  M.  D.] 

It  will  uot  prove  an  easy  task  to  write  "a  plain  account  of  the  com- 
mon diseases,  with  directions  for  preventive  measures,  hygienic  care, 
and  the  simpler  forms  of  medical  treatment,"  of  the  digestive  organs 
of  the  horse.  This  study  includes  a  careful  consideration  of  the  food 
and  drink  of  our  animals,  their  quality,  c[uantit3',  analyses,  etc.  This, 
of  itself,  is  material  for  a  book.  Being  limited  as  to  space,  the 
endeavor  must  be  made  to  give  simpl}^  an  outline — to  state  the  most 
important  facts— leaving  man}'  gaps,  and  continually  checking  the  dis- 
position to  write  anything  like  a  full  description  as  to  cause,  preven- 
tion, and  modes  of  treatment  of  disease. 

These  articles  are  addressed  entirely  to  farmers  and  stock  owners, 
and  I  must  ask  nw  professional  brethren  to  bear  this  in  mind  when 
they  are  disposed  to  complain  of  a  want  of  scientific  treatment  of  the 
subjects. 

WATER. 

It  is  generally  held,  at  least  in  practice,  that  any  water  that  stock 
can  be  induced  to  drink  is  sufficiently  pure  for  their  use.  This  prac- 
tice occasions  losses  that  would  startle  us  if  statistics  were  at  hand, 
"SVater  that  is  impure  from  the  presence  of  decomposing  organic  mat- 
ter, such  as  is  found  in  wells  and  ponds  in  close  proximit}'  to  manure 
heaps  and  cesspools,  is  frequently  the  cause  of  diarrhea,  dysentery, 
and  man}'  other  diseases  of  stock,  while  water  that  is  impregnated 
with  dili'erent  poisons  and  contaminated  with  specific  media  of  conta- 
gion produces  death  in  very  many  instances. 

Considering  first  the  quantity  of  water  required  by  the  horse,  it  may 
be  stated  that  when  our  animals  have  access  to  water  continually  thej 
never  drink  to  excess.  AVere  the  horse  subjected  to  ship  voyages  or 
any  other  circumstances  where  he  must  depend  upon  his  attendant  for 
the  supply  of  water,  it  may  be  roughly  stated  that  each  horse  requires 
a  daily  average  of  about  8  gallons  of  water.  This  will  vary  some- 
what upon  the  character  of  his  food;  if  upon  green  food,  less  water 
will  be  needed  than  when  fed  upon  dr}'-  hay  and  grain. 

The  time  of  giving  water  should  be  carefully  studied.  At  rest,  the 
34 


DISEASES*  OF    THE    HORSE.  35 

horse  should  receive  water  at  least  three  times  a  Sny,  when  at  work, 
more  f  requentl3\  The  rule  should  be  to  give  in  small  quantities  and 
often.  There  is  a  popular  fallacy  that  if  a  horse  is  warm  he  should 
not  he  allowed  to  drink,  man}^  claiming  that  the  first  swallow  of  water 
"founders"  the  animal  or  produces  colic.  This  is  erroneous.  No 
matter  how  warm  a  horse  may  be,  it  is  alwaj^s  entirel}^  safe  to  allow 
him  from  six  to  ten  swallows  of  water.  If  this  is  given  on  going  into 
the  stable,  he  should  be  given  at  once  a  pound  or  two  of  ha}"  and 
allowed  to  rest  about  an  hour  before  feeding.  If  water  be  now  offered 
him  it  will  in  many  cases  be  refused,  or  at  least  he  will  drink  but 
sparingly.  The  danger,  then,  is  not  in  the  "  first  swallow"  of  water, 
but  is  due  to  the  excessive  quantity  that  the  animal  will  take  when 
warm  if  he  is  not  restrained. 

Water  should  never  be  given  to  horses  when  it  is  ice  cold.  It  may 
not  be  necessary  to  add  hot  water,  but  we  should  be  careful  in  placing 
water  troughs  about  our  barns  to  have  them  in  such  position  that  the 
sun  maj"  shine  upon  the  water  during  the  winter  mornings.  Y\^ater, 
even  though  it  be  thus  cold,  seldom  produces  serious  trouble  if  the 
horse  has  not  been  deprived  for  a  too  great  length  of  time. 

In  reference  to  the  purity  of  water.  Smith,  in  his  "  Veterinary  Hy- 
giene," classes  spring  water,  deep-well  water,  and  upland  surface  water 
as  inJiolesome,'  stored  rain  water  and  surface  water  from  cultivated  land, 
as  suspicious;  river  water  to  which  sewage  gains  access  and  shallow- 
well  water,  as  dangerous.  The  water  that  is  used  for  drinking  purposes 
for  stock  so  largely  throughout  some  States  can  not  but  be  impure.  I 
refer  to  those  sections  where  there  is  an  impervious  claj"  subsoil.  It 
is  the  custom  to  scoop,  or  hollow  out,  a  large  basin  in  the  pastures. 
During  rains  these  basins  become  filled  with  water.  The  clay  subsoil, 
being  almost  impervious,  acts  as  a  jug,  and  there  is  no  escape  for  the 
water  except  by  evaporation.  Such  water  is  stagnant,  but  would  be 
kept  comparatively  fresh  by  subsequent  rains  were  it  not  foi;  the  fact 
that  much  organic  matter  is  carried  into  it  by  surface  drainage  during 
each  succeeding. storm.  This  organic  matter  soon  undergoes  decom- 
position, and,  as  the  result,  we  find  diseases  of  different  kinds  much 
more  prevalent  where  this  water  is  di'unk  than  where  the  water  supply 
is  wholesome.  Again,  it  must  not  be  lost  sight  of  that  stagnant  sur- 
face water  is  much  more  certainly  contaminated  than  is  running  water 
by  one  diseased  animal  of  the  herd,  thus  endangering  the  remainder. 

The  chief  impurities  of  water  may  be  classed  as  organic  and  inorganic. 
The  organic  impurities  are  either  animal  or  vegetable  substances.  The 
salts  of  the  metals  are  the  inorganic  impurities.  Lime  causes  hardness 
of  water,  and  occasion  will  be  taken  to  speak  of  this  when  describing 
intestinal  concretions.  Salts  of  lead,  iron,  and  copper  are  also  fre- 
cjuentl}'  found  in  water,  and  will  be  referred  to  hereafter. 

About  the  onlj-  examination  of  water  that  can  be  made  by  the  aver- 


36  BUREAU    OF    ANIilAE    INDUSTEY. 

age  stock  raiser  is  to  observe  its  taste,  color,  smell,  ami  clearness. 
Pure  water  is  clear  and  is  without  taste  or  smell. 

Chemical  and  microscopic  examination  will  frequently  be  necessary 
in  order  to  detect  the  presence  of  certain  poisons,  bacteria,  etc.,  and 
can,  of  course,  be  conducted  by  experts  only. 

FOODS   AND    FEEDING. 

In  this  phice  one  can  not  attempt  anything  like  a  comprehensive 
discussion  of  the  subject  of  foods  and  feeding,  and  I  must  content 
myself  with  merely  giving  a  few  facts  as  to  the  different  kinds  of 
food,  preparation,  digestibility,  proper  time  of  feeding,  quality,  and 
quantity.  Improper  feeding  and  watering  will  doubtless  account  for 
over  one-half  of  the  digestive  disorders  met  with  in  the  horse,  and 
hence  the  reader  can  not  fail  to  see  how  ver}'  important  it  is  to  have 
some  proper  ideas  concerning  these  subjects. 

KIXDS    OK    K(  on. 

In  this  country  horses  are  fed  chiefly  upon  hay,  grass,  corn  fodder, 
roots,  oats,  corn,  wheat,  and  r3'^e.  Many  think  that  they  could  be  fed 
on  nothing  else.  Stewart,  in  "The  Stable  Book,"  gives  the  following 
extract  from  Loudon's  Encyclopedia  of  Agriculture,  which  is  of  inter- 
est at  this  point: 

In  some  sterile  countries  they  [horses]  are  forced  to  subsist  on  dried  fish,  and 
even  on  vegetable  mold;  in  Arabia,  on  milk,  flesli  balls,  eggs,  broth.  In  India 
horses  are  variously  fed.  The  native  grasses  are  judged  very  nutritious.  Few,  per- 
haps no,  oats  are  grown;  barley  is  rare,  and  not  commonly  given  to  horses.  In 
Bengal  a  vetch,  something  like  the  tare,  is  used.  On  the  western  side  of  India  a 
sort  of  pigeon  pea,  called  gram  {Cicer  arietinum)  forms  the  ordinary  food,  with  grass 
while  in  season,  and  hay  all  the  year  round.  Indian  corn  or  rice  is  seldouT  given. 
In  the  West  Indies  maize,  guinea  corn,  sugar-corn  tops,  and  sometimes  molasses  are 
given.  In  the  INIahratta  country  salt,  pepper,  and  other  spices  are  made  into  balls, 
with  flour  and  butter,  and  these  are  supposed  to  produce  animation  and  to  tine  the 
coat.  Broth  made  from  sheep's  head  is  sometimes  given.  In  France,  Spain,  and 
Italy,  besides  the  grasses,  the  leaves  of  limes,  vines,  the  tops  of  acacia,  and  the  seeds 
of  the  carob  tree  are  given  to  horses. 

For  information  as  to  the  nutritive  value,  chemistry,  and  classifica- 
tion of  the  different  kinds  of  food,  I  will  refer  the  reader  to  Jordan's 
or  Armsby's  book  on  feeding  aiiimals,  or  to  "Smith's  Veterinary 
Hygiene." 

We  can  not,  however,  leave  aside  entirely  here  a  consideration  of 
the  digestibility  of  foods;  and  by  this  we  mean  the  readiness  with 
which  foods  undergo  those  changes  in  the  digestive  canal  that  tit 
them  for  absorption  and  deposition  as  integral  parts  of  the  animal 
econom3^ 

The  age  and  health  of  the  animal  will,  of  course,  modif}^  the  digesti- 
bility of  foods,  as  will  also  the  manner  and  time  of  harvesting,  pre- 
serving, and  preparing  the  foods. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  37 

In  the  horse  digestion  takes  place  principally  in  the  intestines,  and 
here,  as  in  all  other  animals  and  with  all  foods,  it  is  found  that  a 
certain  part  only  of  the  provender  is  digested;  another  portion  is 
undigested.  This  proportion  of  digested  and  undigested  food  must 
claim  passing  notice  at  least,  for  if  the  horse  receives  too  much  food, 
or  bulky  food  containing  much  indigestible  waste,  a  large  portion  of 
food  must  pass  out  unused,  entailing  not  only  the  loss  of  this  unused 
food,  but  also  calling  for  an  unnecessary  expenditure  of  vital  force 
on  the  part  of  the  digestive  organs  of  the  horse.  It  is  thus  that,  in 
fact,  too  much  food  ma}-  make  an  animal  poor. 

In  selecting  food  for  the  horse  we  should  remember  the  anatomical 
arrangement  of  the  digestive  organs,  as  well  as  the  physiological  func- 
tions performed  by  each  one  of  them.  Foods  must  be  wholesome, 
clean,  and  sweet,  the  hours  of  feeding  regular,  the  mode  of  prepara- 
tion found  by  practical  experience  to  be  the  best  must  be  adhered  to, 
and  cleanliness  in  preparation  and  administration  must  be  observed. 

The  length  of  time  occupied  by  stomach  digestion  in  the  horse  varies 
with  the  different  foods.  Hay  and  straT>^  pass  out  of  the  stomach  more 
rapidh^  than  oats.  It  would  seem  to  follow,  then,  that  oats  should  be 
given  after  ha}-,  for  if  reversed  the  ha}^  would  cause  the  oats  to  be  sent 
onward  into  the  intestines  before  being  fully  acted  upon  by  the  stomach, 
and  as  a  result  produce  indigestion.  Experience  confirms  this.  There 
is  another  good  reason  why  hay  should  be  given  first,  particularly  if 
the  horse  is  very  hungry  or  if  exhausted  from  overwork,  namely,  it 
requires  more  time  in  mastication  (insuring  proper  admixture  of 
saliva)  and  can  not  be  bolted,  as  are  the  grains.  In  either  instance 
water  must  not  be  given  soon  after  feeding,  as  it  washes  or  sluices  the 
food  from  the  stomach  before  it  is  fitted  for  intestinal  digestion. 

The  stomach  begins  to  empty  itself  ver_y  soon  after  the  commence- 
ment of  feeding,  and  continues  rapidly  while  eating.  Afterwards  the 
passage  is  slower,  and  several  hours  are  required  before  the  stomach  is 
entirely  empty.  The  nature  of  the  work  required  of  the  horse  must 
guide  us  in  the  selection  of  his  food.  Rapid  or  severe  labor  can  not 
be  performed  on  a  full  stomach.  For  such  labor  food  must  be  given 
in  small  quantity  and  about  two  hours  before  they  go  to  work.  Even 
horses  intended  for  slow  work  must  never  be  engorged  with  bulky, 
innutritions  food  immediately  before  going  to  labor.  The  small  stom- 
ach of  the  horse  would  seem  to  lead  us  to  the  conclusion  that  this  ani- 
mal should  be  fed  in  small  quantities  and  often,  which,  in  reality, 
should  be  done.  The  dispropoi'tion  between  the  size  of  the  stomach 
and  the  amount  of  water  drank  tells  us  plainly  that  the  horse  should 
always  be  watered  before  feeding.  One  of  the  common  errors  of 
feeding,  and  the  one  that  produces  more  digestive  disorders  than  any 
other,  is  to  feed  too  soon  after  a  hard  dai/s  ivorl'.  This  must  never  be 
done.     If  a  horse  is  completeh^  jaded,  it  will  be  found  beneficial  to 


38  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

give  him  an  alcoholic  stimulant  on  going  into  the  stable.  A  small 
quantity  of  haj'  may  then  be  given,  but  his  grain  should  be  withheld 
for  one  or  two  hours.  These  same  remarks  will  apply  with  equal  force 
to  the  horse  that  for  an}'  reason  has  been  fasting  for  a  long  time.  After 
a  fast,  feed  less  than  the  horse  would  eat;  for  if  allowed  too  much  the 
stomach  becomes  engorged,  its  walls  paralyzed,  and  "colic"  is  almost 
sure  to  follow.  The  horse  should  be  fed  three  or  four  times  a  day. 
It  will  not  answer  to  feed  him  entirch'  upon  concentrated  food.  Bulky 
food  must  be  given  to  detain  the  grains  in  their  passage  through  the 
intestinal  tract;  bulk  also  favors  distention,  and  thus  mechanically  aids 
absorption.  For  horses  that  do  slow  work  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
time,  chopped  or  cut  hay  fed  with  crushed  oats,  ground  corn,  etc.,  is 
the  best  manner  of  feeding,  as  it  gives  the  required  bulk,  saves  time, 
and  half  the  labor  of  feeding. 

Sudden  changes  of  diet  arc  always  dangerous.  When  desirous  of 
changing  the  food,  do  so  very  gradually.  If  a  horse  is  accustomed  to 
oats,  a  sudden  change  to  a  full  meal  of  corn  will  almost  always  sicken 
him.  If  we  merely  intend  to  increase  the  quantity  of  the  usual  feed, 
this  also  must  be  done  gradually.  The  quantity  of  food  given  must 
always  be  in  proportion  to  the  amouut  of  labor  to  be  performed.  If 
a  horse  is  to  do  a  small  amount  of  work,  or  rest  entirely  from  v>'ork 
for  a  few  days,  see  that  he  receives  a  proportionate  amount  of  feed. 
If  this  should  be  observed  even  on  Saturday  night  and  Sunda}',  there 
would  be  fewer  cases  of  "Monday  morning  sickness,"  such  as  colics 
and  Ivmphangitis. 

Foods  should  also  be  of  a  more  laxative  nature  when  the  lior.se  is  to 
stand  for  some  daj's. 

Musty  or  moldy  foods. — Above  all  things,  avoid  feeding  musty  or 
mold}'  foods.  These  are  A'cry  frequent  causes  of  disease  of  different 
kinds.  Lung  trouble,  such  as  bronchitis  and  "heaves,"  often  follows 
the  use  of  such  food.  The  digestive  organs  alwaj's  suffer  from  moldy 
or  musty  foods.  Must}^  hay  is  generall}-  considered  to  produce  dis- 
order of  the  kidneys;  a,nd  all  know  of  the  danger  to  pregnant  animals 
from  feeding  upon  ergotized  grasses  or  grains.  It  has  often  been 
said  to  produce  that  peculiar  disease  known  variousl}'  as  cerebro- 
spinal meningitis,  putrid  sore  throat,  or  choking  distemper. 

Leavijig  these  somewhat  general  considerations,  I  will  refer  briefly 
to  the  different  kinds  of  foods: 

Hay. — The  best  hay  for  horses  is  timoth}'.  It  should  l)c  about  one 
year  old,  of  a  greenish  color,  crisp,  clean,  fresh,  and  possessing  a  sweet, 
pleasant  aroma.  Even  this  good  hay,  if  kept  for  too  great  a  length 
of  time,  loses  part  of  its  nourishment,  and,  while  it  may  not  be  posi- 
tively injurious,  it  is  hard,  dry,  and  indigestible.  New  hay  is  difficult 
to  digest,  produces  much  salivation  (slobbering)  and  occasional  purging 
and  irritation  of  the  skin.  If  fed  at  all,  it  should  be  mixed  with 
old  hay. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  39 

Second  crop,  or  aftermath. — This  is  not  considered  good  ha}'  for 
horses,  but  it  is  prized  by  some  farmers  as  a  good  food  for  milch 
cows,  the  claim  being  made  that  it  inci-eases  the  flow  of  milk.  The 
value  of  hay  depends  upon  the  time  of  cutting,  as  well  as  care  in  the  cur- 
ing. Hay  should  be  cut  when  in  full  flower,  but  before  the  seeds  fall; 
if  left  longer,  it  becomes  dry  and  woody  and  lacks  in  nutrition.  An 
essential  point  in  making  hay  is  that  when  the  crop  is  cut  it  should 
remain  as  short  a  time  as  possible  in  the  field.  If  left  too  long  in  the 
sun  it  loses  color,  flavor,  and  dries  or  wastes.  Smith  asserts  that  one 
hour  more  than  is  necessary  in  the  sun  causes  a  loss  of  15  to  20  per 
cent  in  the  feeding  value  of  hay.  It  is  impossible  to  state  any  fixed 
time  that  hay  must  have  to  cure,  this  depending,  of  course,  upon  the 
weather,  thickness  of  the  crop,  and  many  other  circumstances;  but  it 
is  well  known  that,  in  order  to  preserve  the  color  and  aroma  of  hay, 
it  should  be  turned  or  tedded  frequently  and  cured  as  quicJdy  aspos- 
sihle.  On  the  other  hand,  ha}^  spoils  in  the  mow  if  harvested  too  green, 
or  when  not  sufficiently  dried.  Mow-burnt  hay  produces  disorder  of 
the  kidneys  and  bowels  and  causes  the  horse  to  fall  off  in  condition. 

The  average  horse  on  grain  should  be  allowed  from  10  to  12  pounds 
of  good  hay  a  day.  It  is  a  mistake  of  many  to  think  that  horses  at 
light  work  can  be  kept  entirel}^  on  h^ij.  Such  horses  soon  become 
pot-bellied,  fall  off  in  flesh,  and  do  not  thrive.  The  same  is  true  of 
colts;  unless  the  latter  are  fed  with  some  grain  they  grow  up  to  be 
long,  lean,  gawky  creatures,  and  never  make  as  good  horses  as  those 
accustomed  to  grain  with,  or  in  addition  to,  their  hay. 

Straw. — The  straws  are  not  extensively  fed  in  this  country,  and 
when  used  at  all  the}^  should  be  cut  and  mixed  with  haj-  and  ground 
or  crushed  grain.  Wheat,  rye,  and  oats  straw  are  the  ones  most 
used,  and  of  these  oats  straw  is  most  easilj^  digested  and  contains  the 
most  nourishment.  Pea  and  bean  straw  are  occasionally  fed  to 
horses,  the  pea  being  preferable,  according  to  most  writers. 

Chaff. — Wheat  and  rye  chaff  should  never  be  used  as  a  food  for 
horses.  The  beards  frequently  become  lodged  in  the  mouth  or  throat 
and  are  productive  of  more  or  less  serious  trouble.  In  the  stomach 
and  intestines  they  often  serve  as  the  nucleus  of  the  "soft  concre- 
tions," which  are  to  be  described  when  treating  of  obstructions  of  the 
digestive  tract. 

Oats  chaff,  if  fed  in  small  quantities  and  mixed  with  cut  hay  or  corn 
fodder,  is  very  much  relished  by  horses.  It  is  not  to  be  given  in  large 
quantities,  as  I  have  repeatedly  witnessed  a  troublesome  and  some- 
times fatal  diarrhea  following  the  practice  of  allowing  horses  or  cattle 
free  access  to  a  pile  of  oats  chaff. 

Grains. — Oats  take  precedence  of  all  grains  as  a  food  for  horses,  as 
the  ingredients  necessary  for  the  complete  nutrition  of  the  bod}-  exist 
in  them  in  the  best  proportions.  Oats  are,  besides,  more  easily 
digested  and   a  larger  proportion  absorbed  and  converted  into   the 


40  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTEY. 

various  tissues  of  the  bod}'.  Care  must  be  taken  iu  selecting  oats. 
According  to  Stewart,  the  best  oats  are  one  year  old,  plump,  short, 
hard,  clean,  bright,  and  sweet.  New  oats  are  indigestible.  Kiln- 
dried  oats  are  to  be  refused,  as  a  rule,  f»r  even  though  originallv^good 
this  drying  process  injures  them.  Oats  that  have  sprouted  or  fer- 
mented are  injurious  and  should  never  be  fed.  Oats  are  to  be  given 
either  whole  or  crushed — whole  in  the  majority  of  instances;  crushed 
to  old  horses  and  those  having  defective  teeth.  Horses  that  bolt  their 
feed  are  also  best  fed  upon  crushed  oats  and  out  of  a  manger  large 
enough  to  permit  of  spreading  the  grain  iu  a  thin  layer. 

The  average  horse  requires,  in  addition  to  the  allowance  of  hay 
above  mentioned,  about  12  cjuarts  of  good  oats  daih'.  The  best  oats 
are  those  cut  about  one  week  l)ef()re  being  f ulh'  ripe.  Not  only  is  the 
grain  richer  in  nutritive  materials  at  this  time,  but  there  is  also  less 
waste  from  "scattering*'  than  if  left  to  become  dead  ripe.  Moldy 
oats,  like  ha}'  and  straw,  not  only  produce  serious  digestive  disorders, 
but  have  been  the  undoubted  cause  of  outbreaks  of  that  dread  disease 
in  horses,  already  referred  to,  characterized  by  inability  to  eat  or 
drink,  sudden  paralysis,  and  death. 

Wheat  and  rye. — These  grains  are  not  to  be  used  as  food  for 
horses  except  in  small  quantities,  bruised  or  crushed,  and  fed  mixed 
with  other  grains  or  ha}".  If  fed  alone,  in  any  considerable  quantities, 
they  are  almost  certain  to  produce  digestive  disorders,  laminitis 
(founder),  and  similar  troubles.  They  should  never  constitute  more 
than  one-fourth  of  the  grain  allowance,  and  should  always  be  ground 
or  crushed. 

Bran. — The  bran  of  wheat  is  the  one  most  used,  and  its  value  as  a 
feeding  stuff  is  variously  estimated.  It  is  not  to  be  depended  upon  if 
given  alone,  but  may  be  fed  Avith  other  grains.  It  serves  to  keep  the 
bowels  open.  Sour  bran  is  not  to  be  given.  It  disorders  the  stomach 
and  intestines  and  may  even  produce  serious  results. 

Maize  (corn).— This  grain  is  not  suitable  as  an  exclusive  food  for 
young  horses,  as  it  is  deficient  in  salts.  It  is  fed  whole  or  ground. 
Corn  on  the  cob  is  commonly  used  as  the  food  for  horses  affected  with 
"  lampas."  If  the  corn  is  old  and  is  to  be  fed  in  this  manner  it  should 
be  soaked  in  pure,  clean  water  for  ten  or  twelve  hours.  Corn  is  bet- 
ter given  ground,  and  fed  in  quantities  of  from  1  to  2  quarts  at  a 
meal  mixed  with  crushed  oats  or  wheat  bran.  Be  very  particular  in 
giving  corn  to  a^  horse  that  is  not  accustomed  to  its  use.  It  must  be 
commenced  in  small  quantities  and  very  gradually  increased.  I  know 
of  no  grain  more  likely  to  produce  what  is  called  acute  inaigestion 
than  corn  if  these  directions  are  not  observed. 

Linseed. — Ground  linseed  is  occasionally  fed  with  other  foods  to 
keep  the  bowels  open  and  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  skin.  It  is 
of  particular  service  during  convalescence,  when  the  bowels  are  slug- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  41 

gish  in  their  action.  Linseed  tea  is  very  often  given  in  irritable  or 
inflamed  conditions  of  the  digestive  organs. 

Potatoes. — These  are  used  as  an  article  of  food  for  the  horse  in 
man}"  sections.  If  fed  raw  and  in  large  quantities  they  often  produce 
indigestion.  Their  digestibility  is  favored  by  steaming  or  boiling. 
They  possess,  in  common  with  other  roots,  slight  laxative  properties. 

Beets. — These  arc  not  much  used  as  food  for  horses. 

Caekots. — These  make  a  most  excellent  food,  particularly  during 
sickness.  They  improve  the  appetite  and  slighth"  increase  the  action 
of  the  bowels  and  kidneys.  They  possess  also  certain  alterative  prop- 
erties. The  coat  becomes  smooth  and  gloss}-  when  carrots  are  fed. 
Some  veterinary  writers  claim  that  chronic  cough  is  cured  by  giving 
carrots  for  some  time.  The  roots  may  be  considered,  then,  as  an 
adjunct  to  the  regular  regimen,  and  if  fedin  small  quantities  are  highly 
beneficial. 

Grasses. — Grass  is  the  natural  food  of  horses.  It  is  composed  of 
a  great  variety  of  plants,  differing  widely  as  to  the  amount  of  nourish- 
ment contained,  some  being  almost  entirely  without  value  as  foods  and 
only  eaten  when  there  is  nothing*  else  obtainable,  while  others  are 
positively  injurious,  or  even  poisonous.  None  of  the  grasses  are  suf- 
ficient to  keep  the  horse  in  condition  for  work.  Horses  thus  fed 
arc  "soft,''  sweat  easily,  purge,  and  soon  tire  on  the  road  or  when  at 
hard  work.  To  growing  stock,  grass  is  indispensable,  and  there  is 
little  or  no  doubt  but  that  it  acts  as  an  alterative  when  given  to  horses 
accustomed  to  grain  and  hay.  It  must  be  given  to  such  horses  in 
small  quantities  at  first.  The  stomach  and  intestines  underg-o  rest, 
and  recuperate  if  the  horse  is  turned  to  grass  for  a  time  each  jear. 
It  is  also  certain  that  during  febrile  diseases  grass  acts  almost  as  a 
medicine,  lessening  the  fever  and  favoring  recover3^  Wounds  heal 
more  rapidh"  than  when  the  horse  is  on  grain,  and  some  chronic  dis- 
orders (chronic  cough,  for  instance)  disappear  entirely  when  at  grass. 
In  my  experience,  grass  does  niore  good  when  the  horse  crops  it  him- 
self. This  may  be  due  to  the  sense  of  freedom  he  enjoj'S  at  pasture, 
to  the  rest  to  his  feet  and  limbs,  and  for  many  other  similar  reasons. 
"When  cut  for  him  it  should  be  fed  fresh  or  when  but  slightly  wilted. 

PREPARATION    OF    FOODS. 

Foods  are  prepared  for  feeding  for  any  of  the  following  reasons:  To 
render  the  food  more  easil}^  eaten;  to  make  it  more  digestible;  to 
economize  in  amount;  to  give  it  some  new"  propert}^;  and  to  preserve 
it.  We  have  already  spoken  of  the  preparation  of  drjdng,  and  need 
not  revert  to  this  again,  as  it  only  serves  to  preserve  the  different  foods. 
Drying  does,  however,  change  some  of  the  properties  of  food,  /.  (?., 
removes  the  laxative  tendenc}"  of  most  of  them. 

The  different  grains  are  more  easily  eaten  when  ground,  crushed,  or 


42  BUREAU    OF   ANIMAL   INDUSTRr. 

even  boiled.  Rye  or  wheat  should  never  be  given  whole,  and  even  of 
corn  it  is  found  that  there  is  less  waste  when  ground;  and,  in  common 
with  all  grains,  it  is  more  easily  digested  than  when  fed  whole. 

Hay  and  fodder  arc  economized  when  cut  in  short  pieces.  Not  only 
will  the  horse  eat  the  necessary  amount  in  a  shorter  time,  but  it  will  be 
found  that  there  is  less  waste,  and  the  mastication  of  the  grains  (whole 
or  crushed)  fed  with  them  is  insured. 

Keference  has  alread}'  been  made  to  those  horses  that  bolt  their  food, 
and  we  need  only  remark  here  that  the  consequences  of  such  ravenous 
eating  may  be  prevented  if  the  grains  are  fed  with  cut  ha}^,  straw,  or 
fodder.  Long  or  uncut  hay  should  also  be  fed,  even  though  a  certain 
amount  of  hay  or  straw  is  cut  and  fed  mixed  with  grain. 

One  objection  to  feeding  cut  hay  mixed  with  ground  or  crushed  grains, 
and  wetted,  must  not  be  overlooked  during  the  hot  months.  Such  food 
is  apt  to  undergo  fermentation  if  not  fed  directly  after  it  is  mixed;  and 
the  mixing  trough  even,  unless  frequentl}"^  scalded  and  cleaned,  becomes 
sour  and  enough  of  its  scrapings  are  given  with  the  food  to  produce 
flatulent  (wind)  colic.  A  small  amount  of  salt  should  always  be  mixed 
with  such  food.  Bad  hay  should  never  be  cut  simply  because  it  insures 
a  greater  consumption  of  it;  bad  foods  are  dear  at  any  price  and  should 
never  l^e  fed. 

I  have  before  spoken  of  the  advantage  of  boiling  roots.  Not  only 
does  this  render  them  less  liable  to  produce  digestive  disorders,  but  it 
also  makes  them  clean.  Boiling  or  steaming  grains  is  to  be  recom- 
mended when  the  teeth  are  poor,  or  when  the  digestive  organs  are  weak. 
Of  ensilage  as  a  food  for  horses  I  have  no  experience,  but  am  inclined 
to  think  that  (and  this  opinion  is  based  upon  the  imperfect  manner  in 
which  the  crop  is  often  stored)  disordered  digestion  would  be  more 
frequent  were  it  extensivel}'  fed. 

DISEASES    OF   THE    TEETH. 

Dentition. — This  covers  the  period  during  which  the  young  horse  is 
cutting  his  teeth — from  birth  to  the  age  of  five  3"ears.  With  the  horse 
more  difficulty  is  experienced  in  cutting  the  second,  or  permanent,  teeth 
than  with  the  first,  or  milk,  teeth.  There  is  a  tendenc}'  among  farmers 
and  many  veterinarians  to  pa}^  too  little  attention  to  the  teeth  of  young- 
horses.  Percivall  relates  an  instance  illustrative  of  this  that  is  best 
told  in  his  own  words: 

I  was  requested  to  give  my  opinion  concerning  a  horse,  then  in  his  fifth  year,  who 
had  fed  so  sparingly  for  the  last  fortnight,  and  so  rapidly  declined  in  condition  in 
consequence,  that  his  owner,  a  veterinary  surgeon,  was  under  no  light  apprehensions 
about  his  life.  He  had  himself  examined  his  mouth  without  having  discovered  any 
defect  or  disease,  though  another  veterinary  surgeon  was  of  opinion  that  the  diffi- 
culty or  inability  manifested  in  mastication,  and  the  consequent  cudding,  arose  from 
preternatural  bluntness  of  the  surfaces  of  the  molar  teeth,  which  were,  in  conse- 
quence, filed,  but  without  beneficial  result.     It  was  after  this  that  1  saw  the  horse, 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOKSE.  43 

and  I  confess  I  was,  at  my  first  examination,  quite  as  much  at  a  loss  to  offer  any  sat- 
isfactory interpretation  as  others  had  been.  While  meditating,  however,  after  my 
inspection,  on  the  apparently  extraordinary  nature  of  the  case,  it  struck  me  that  I 
bad  not  seen  the  tusks.  I  went  back  into  the  stable  and  discovered  two  little  tumors, 
red  and  hard,  in  the  situation  of  the  inferior  tusks,  which,  when  pressed,  gave  the 
animal  insufferable  pain.  I  instantly  took  out  my  pocketknife  and  made  crucial 
incisions  through  them  both,  down  to  the  coming  teeth,  from  which  moment  the 
horse  recovered  his  appetite  and,  by  degrees,  his  wonted  condition. 

The  mouths  of  3"oung  horses  should  be  examhied  from  time  to  time 
to  see  if  one  or  more  of  the  milk  teeth  are  not  remaining  too  long-,  caus- 
ing the  second  teeth  to  grow  in  crooked,  in  which  case  the  first  teeth 
should  be  removed  with  the  forceps. 

Irregularities  of  teeth. — There  is  quite  a  fashion  of  late  j^ears,  espe- 
cially in  large  cities,  to  have  horses'  teeth  regularly  "•  floated,"  or 
"rasped,"  by  "veterinary  dentists."  In  some  instances  this  is  very 
beneficial,  while  in  most  cases  it  is  entirely  unnecessar3^  From  the 
character  of  the  food,  the  rubbing,  or  grinding,  surface  of  the  horse's 
teeth  should  be  rough.  Still,  we  must  remember  that  the  upper  jaw  is 
somewhat  wider  than  the  lower,  and  that,  from  the  fact  of  the  teeth 
not  being  perfectly  apposed,  a  sharp  ridge  is  left  unworn  on  the  inside 
of  the  lower  molars  and  on  the  outside  of  the  upper,  which  maj^  excori- 
ate the  tongue  or  cheeks  to  a  considerable  extent.  This  condition  can 
readily  be  felt  by  the  hand,  and  these  sharp  ridges  when  found  should 
be  rasped  down  by  a  guarded  rasp.  In  some  instances  the  first  or  last 
molar  tooth  is  unnaturally  long,  owing  to  the  fact  that  its  fellow  in  the 
opposite  jaw  has  been  lost  or  does  not  close  perfectly  against  it.  Should 
it  be  the  last  molar  that  is  thus  elongated  it  will  require  the  aid  of  the 
veterinary  surgeon,  who  has  the  necessary  forceps  or  chisel  for  cutting 
it.  The  front  molar  may  be  rasped  down,  if  much  patience  is  taken. 
In  decay  of  the  teeth  it  is  quite  common  to  find  the  tooth  correspond- 
ing to  the  decayed  one  on  the  opposite  jaw  very  much  elongated, 
sometimes  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mouth  can  not  be  perfectly  closed. 
Such  teeth  must  also  be  shortened  by  the  tooth  forceps,  chisel,  tooth 
saw,  or  rasp.  In  all  instances  where  horses  "  quid"  their  food,  where 
they  are  slobbering,  or  where  they  evince  pain  in  mastication,  shown 
by  holding  their  head  to  one  side  while  chewing,  the  teeth  should  be 
caref  ull}'  examined.  Horses  whose  teeth  have  unduly  sharp  edges  are 
likely  to  drive  badl}';  they  pull  to  one  side,  do  not  bear  on  the  bit,  or 
bear  on  too  hard  and  "big,"  toss  the  head,  and  start  suddenly  when  a 
tender  spot  is  touched.  If,  as  is  mostly  the  case,  all  the  symptoms  are 
referable  to  sharp  corners  or  projections  of  the  teeth,  these  must  be 
removed  by  the  rasp.  If  decaj^ed  teeth  are  found,  or  other  serious 
difiiculty  detected,  or  if  the  cause  of  the  annoying  symptoms  is  not 
discovered,  an  expert  should  be  called. 

Toothache. — This  is  rare  in  the  horse  and  is  mostly  witnessed  where 
there  is  decay  of  a  tooth  or  inflammation  about  its  root.     Toothache 


44  BL^REAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

is  to  be  discovered  in  the  horse  by  the  pain  expressed  h\  him  while 
feeding  or  drinking  cold  water.  I  have  seen  horses  affected  with 
toothache  that  would  suddenly  stop  chewing,  throw  the  head  to  one 
side,  and  slightly  open  the  mouth.  They  behave  as  though  some 
sharp  body  had  punctured  the  mouth.  If  upon  examination  there  is 
no  foreign  bod}'  found  we  must  then  carefull}^  examine  each  tooth. 
If  this  can  not  be  done  with  the  hand  in  the  mouth  we  can,  in  most 
instances,  discover  the  aching  tooth  by  pressing  each  tooth  from 
without.  By  tapping  the  teeth  in  succession  with  a  hard  object,  such 
as  a  small  hammer,  the  dne  that  is  tender  ma}'  bo  located.  The  horse 
•will  llinch  when  the  sore  tooth  is  pressed  or  tapped  upon.  In  most 
cases  there  is  nothing  to  T)e  done  but  extract  the  decayed  tooth,  and 
this,  of  course,  is  onl}-  to  be  attempted  b}'  the  veterinarian. 

There  is  a  deformity^  known  as  parrot-mouth,  that  interferes  with 
prehension,  mastication,  and  indirectly,  with  digestion.  The  upper 
incisors  project  in  front  of  and  beyond  the  lower  ones.  The  teeth  of 
both  jaws  become  unusually  long,  as  they  are  not  worn  down  by  fric- 
tion. Such  horses  experience  much  difficulty  in  grazing.  Little  can 
be  done  except  to  occasionally  examine  the  teeth,  and  if  those  of  the 
lower  jaw  become  so  long  that  the}-  bruise  the  "bars''  of  the  upper 
jaw,  they  must  be  shortened  by  the  rasp  or  saw.  Horses  with  this 
deformity  should  never  be  left  entirel}^  at  pasture. 

DISEASES    OF   THE    MOUTH. 

Lampas. — Larapas  is  the  name  given  to  a  swelling  of  the  mucous 
membrane  covering  the  hard  palate  and  projecting  in  a  more  or  less 
prominent  ridge  immediately  behind  the  upper  incisors.  The  hard 
palate  is  composed  of  spongy  tissue  that  fills  with  blood  when  the 
horse  is  feeding  and  this  causes  the  ridges  to  become  prominent,  and 
they  then  help  to  keep  food  from  dropping  from  the  mouth.  This 
swelling  is  entireh'  natural  and  occurs  in  every  healthy  horse.  Where 
there  is  some  irritation  in  the  mouth,  as  in  stomatitis  or  during  teeth- 
ing, the  prominence  of  the  hard  palate  may  persist,  due  to  the  increased 
blood  supply.  In  such  cases  the  cause  of  the  irritation  should  be 
sought  for  and  removed.  B\'  way  of  direct  treatment,  slight  scarifica- 
tion is  the  most  that  Avill  be  required.  Burning  the  lampas  is  bar- 
barous and  injurious,  and  it  should  never  be  tolerated. 

It  is  quite  a  common  opinion  among  owners  of  horses  and  stablemen 
that  lampas  is  a  disease  that  ver}'  frequently  exists.  In  fact  whenever 
a  horse  fails  to  eat,  and  if  he  does  not  exhibit  very  marked  symptoms 
of  a  severe  illness,  they  say  at  once  "  he  has  the  lampas."  It  is  almost 
impossible  to  convince  them  to  the  contrary,  yet  it  is  not  the  case.  It 
ma}'  be  put  down,  then,  as  an  affliction  of  the  stableman's  imagination 
rather,  than  of  the  horse's  mouth. 

Stomatitis. — This  is  an  inflammation  of  the  nuicous  membrane  lin- 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOKSE.  45 

ing  the  mouth  and  is  produced  hj  irritating-  medicines,  foods,  or  other 
substances.  The  symptoms  are  swelling  of  the  mouth,  which  is  also  hot 
and  painful  to  the  touch;  there  is  a  copious  discharge  of  saliva;  the 
mucous  membrane  is  reddened;  and  in  some  cases  there  are  observed 
vesicles  or  ulcers  in  the  mouth.  The  treatment  is  simple,  soft  feed 
alone  often  being  all  that  is  necessary.  A  bucket  of  fresh  cold  water 
should  be  kept  canstantly  in  the  manger  so  that  the  horse  may  drink 
or  rinse  his  mouth  at  will.  In  some  instances  it  ma}'  be  advisable  to 
use  a  wash  of  chlorate  of  potash,  borax,  or  alum,  about  one-half  ounce 
to  a  pint  of  water.  Ha}',  straw,  or  oats  should  not  be  fed  unless 
steamed  or  boiled.  A  form  of  contagious  stomatitis  sometimes  occurs 
that  is  characterized  by  the  formation  within  the  mouth  of  small 
vesicles,  or  blisters.  In  this  disease  the  horse  should  be  isolated  from 
other  horses,  his  stall,  especially  the  feed  box,  and  his  bit,  should  be 
disinfected. 

Glossitis,  or  inflammation  of  the  tongue,  is  very  similar  to  the  above, 
and  mostly  exists  with  it  and  is  due  to  the  same  causes.  Injuries  to 
the  tongue  maj^  produce  this  simple  inflammation  of  its  covesi^ing  mem- 
brane, or,  if  severe,  may  produce  lesions  much  more  extensive,  such 
as  lacerations,  abscesses,  etc.  These  latter  would  require  surgical 
treatment,  but  for  the  simpler  forms  of  inflammation  of  the  tongue 
the  treatment  recommended  for  stomatitis  should  be  followed. 

Plyalism,  or  salivation,  consists  in  an  abnormal  and  excessive  secre- 
tion of  saliva.  This  is  often  seen  as  a  symptom  of  irregular  teeth; 
inflammation  of  the  mouth  or  tongue,  or  of  the  use  of  such  medicines 
as  lobelia,  mercur}-,  and  man}-  others.  Some  foods  produce  this,  such 
as  clover,  and  particularly  second  crop;  foreign  bodies,  such  as  nails, 
wheat  chaff,  and  corncobs  becoming  lodged  in  the  mouth.  If  the 
cause  is  removed  no  further  attention  is  necessary,  as  a  rule.  Astrin- 
gent washes  may  be  applied  to  the  mouth  as  a  gargle  or  by  means  of 
a  sponge. 

Pharyngitis  is  an  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining 
of  the  phaiynx  or  throat.  It  rarely  exists  unless  accompanied  by 
stomatitis  or  larj^ngitis,  especially  the  latter.  In  those  rare  instances 
in  which  the  inflammation  is  mostly  confined  to  the  pharynx  are  noticed 
febrile  symptoms — difficulty  of  swallowing  either  liquids  or  solids; 
there  is  but  little  cough  except  when  trying  to  swallow;  there  is  no 
soreness  on  pressure  over  larynx  (head  of  the  windpipe).  Increased 
flow  of  saliva,  difficulty  of  swaltowing  liquids  in  particular,  and  cough 
onl}'  when  attempting  to  swallow,  are  the  symptoms  best  marked  in 
pharyngitis.  In  some  cases  the  throat  becomes  gangrenous  and  the 
disease  ends  in  death.  For  treatment  wrap  a  wet  sheet  around  the 
throat  and  cover  this  with  rubber  sheeting  and  a  warm  blanket.  This 
should  be  changed  three  times  dail}^;  or  the  region  of  the  throat  may 
be  rubbed  with  mercurial  ointment  twice  daily  until  the  skin  becomes 


46  EUEEAU    OF    A^^IMAL    IXDUSTRY. 

irritated,  but  no  longer;  chlorate  of  potash  ma}-  be  given  in  quantities 
of  2  drams  four  times  daily,  mixed  with  flaxseed  meal  or  liquorice- 
root  powder  and  honey,  as  an  electuar3\  Soft  foods  should  be  given, 
and  fresh  water  should  be  constantly  before  the  horse. 

Paralysis  of  the  pharynx,  or,  as  it  is  commonh'  called,  "paralysis 
of  the  throat,"  is  a  rare  but  very  serious  disease.  The  symptoms  are 
as  follows:  The  horse  will  constantl}'  try  to  eat  or  drink,  but  will  be 
unab'le  to  do  so;  if  water  be  offered  him  from  a  pail  he  will  apparently 
drink  with  avidity,  but  the  quantit}'  of  water  in  the  pail  will  remain 
about  the  same;  he  will  continue  trying  to  drink  by  the  hour;  if  he 
can  succeed  in  getting  any  fluid  into  the  back  part  of  the  mouth  it 
will  come  out  at  once  through  the  nose.  Foods  also  return  through 
the  nose,  or  are  dropped  from  the  mouth,  quidded.  An  examination 
of  the  mouth  by  inserting  the  hand  fails  to  find  any  obstruction  or  any 
abnormal  condition.  These  cases  go  on  from  bad  to  worse;  the  horse 
constantly  and  rapidly  loses  in  condition,  becomes  verj^  much  emaciated, 
the  eyes  are  hollow  and  lusterless,  and  death  occurs  from  inanition. 

Treatmeyit  is  very  unsatisfactory.  A  severe  blister  should  be  applied 
behind  and  under  the  jaw;  the  mouth  is  to  be  frequently  swabbed  out 
with  alum  or  chlorate  of  potash,  1  ounce  to  a  pint  of  water,  by  means 
of  a  sponge  fastened  to  the  end  of  a  stick.  Str^^chnia  may  be  given 
in  1-grain  doses  two  or  three  times  a  day. 

This  disease  may  be  mistaken  at  times  for  foreign  bodies  in  the 
mouth  or  for  the  so-called  cerebro-spinal  meningitis.  It  is  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  former,  upon  a  careful  examination  of  the  mouth, 
by  the  absence  of  any  offending  body  and  l)}-  the  flabl)y  feel  of  the 
mouth;  and  from  the  latter  by  the  animal  appearing  in  perfect  health 
in  every  j)articular  except  this  inability  to  eat  or  drink. 

Abscesses. — Abscesses  sometimes  form  back  of  the  pharynx  and 
give  rise  to  symptoms  resembling  those  of  larj^ngitis  or  distemper. 
Interference  with  breathing  that  is  of  recent  origin  and  progression, 
without  any  observable  swelling  or  soreness  about  the  throat,  will  make 
one  suspect  the  formation  of  an  abscess  in  this  location.  But  little 
can  be  done  by  the  owner  in  the  way  of  treatment,  save  to  hurry  the 
ripening  of  the  abscess  and  its  discharge,  b}'^  steaming  with  hops,  ha}', 
or  similar  substances  and  by  poulticing  the  throat.  The  operation  for 
opening  an  abscess  in  this  region  necessitates  an  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  comjjlex  anatomy  of  the  throat  region. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    ESOrHAGUS,    OR   GULLET. 

It  is  rare  to  find  diseases  of  this  organ,  except  as  a  result  of  the 
introduction  of  foreign  bodies  too  large  to  pass  or  to  the  exhibition  of 
irritating  medicines.  Great  care  should  be  taken  in  the  administration 
of  irritant  or  caustic  medicines  that  they  be  thoroughly  diluted.  If 
this  is  not  done  erosions  and  ulcerations  of  the  throat  ensue,  and  this 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  47 

again  is  prone  to  be  followed  b}'  constriction  (narrowing-)  of  the  gullet. 
The  mechanical  trouble  of  choking  is  quite  common.  It  may  occur 
when  the  animal  is  suddenly  startled  while  eating  apples  or  roots,  and 
we  should  be  careful  never  to  approach  suddenlj^  or  put  a  dog  after 
horses  or  cows  that  are  feeding  upon  such  substances.  If  left  alone 
these  animals  very  rarely  attempt  to  swallow  the  object  until  it  is  suifi- 
cientl}^  masticated. 

Choking  also  arises  from  feeding  oats  in  a  deep,  narrow  manger  to 
such  horses  as  eat  very  greedil}'  or  bolt  their  food.  Wheat  chaff  is 
also  a  frequent  cause  of  choke.  This  accident  may  result  from  the 
attempts  to  force  eggs  down  without  breaking  or  from  giving  balls 
that  are  too  large  or  not  of  the  proper  shape. 

Whatever  object  causes  the  choking,  it  ma}"  lodge  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  esophagus,  at  its  middle  portion,  or  close  to  the  stomach,  giving 
rise  to  the  designations  of  p/ia?'i/ngeal,  cervical,  and  thoracic  choke. 
In  some  cases  where  the  original  obstruction  is  low  we  find  all  that 
part  of  the  gullet  above  it  to  be  distended  with  food. 

The  sy7n2)toms  vary  somewhat  according  to  the  position  of  the  body 
causing  choke.  In  p^iaryngeal  choke  the  object  is  lodged  in  the  iipi^er 
2)ortioii  of  the  esophagus.  The  horse  will  present  sj^mptoms  of  great 
distress,  hurried  breathing,  frequent  cough,  excessive  flow  of  saliva, 
sweating,  trembling,  or  stamping  with  the  fore  feet.  The  abdomen 
rapidly  distends  with  gas.  The  diagnosis  is  completed  by  manipulat- 
ing the  upper  part  of  the  throat  from  without  and  b^^  the  introduction 
of  the  hand  into  the  back  part  of  the  mouth,  finding  the  body  lodged 
here.  In  cervical  choke  (where  the  obstruction  is  situated  at  any  point 
between  the  throatlatch  and  the  shoulder)  the  protrusion  caused  by 
the  object  can  be  seen  and  the  object  can  be  felt.  The  symptoms  here 
are  not  so  severe;  the  horse  will  be  seen  occasionally  to  draw  himself 
up,  arch  his  neck,  and  make  retching  movements  as  though  he  wished 
to  vomit.  The  abdomen  may  be  tympanitic.  Should  there  be  any 
question  as  to  the  trouble  a  conclusion  may  be  reached  by  pouring 
water  into  the  throat  from  a  bottle.  If  the  obstruction  is  complete 
you  can  see  the  gullet  become  distended  with  each  bottle  of  water  by 
standing  on  the  left  side  of  the  horse  and  watching  the  course  of  the 
esophagus,  just  above  the  windpipe.  This  is  not  always  a  sure  test, 
as  the  obstruction  ma}^  be  an  angular  body,  in  which  case  liquids 
would  pass  it.  Solids  taken  would  sbow  in  these  cases;  but  solids 
should  not,  however,  be  given,  as  the}"  serve  to  increase  the  trouble 
by  rendering  the  removal  of  the  bod}-  more  diflicult. 

In  thoracic  choke  the  symptoms  are  less  severe.  Food  or  water  may 
be  ejected  through  the  nose  or  mouth  after  the  animal  has  taken  a  few 
swallows.  There  will  be  some  symptoms  of  distress,  fullness  of  the 
abdomen,  cough,  and  occasionally  retching  movements.  Sometimes  a 
horse  that  is  choking  is  heard  to  emit  groans.     The  facial  expression 


48  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

always  denotes  great  anxiety  and  the  eyes  are  bloodshot.  The  diag- 
nosis is  complete  if,  upon  jmssing  the  probang  (a  flexible  tube  made 
for  this  purpose),  an  obstruction  is  encountered. 

Treatment . — If  the  choke  is  at  the  beginning  of  the  gullet  {pharyngeal) 
an  effort  must  be  made  to  remove  the  obstacle  through  the  mouth.  A 
mouth-gag,  or  speculum,  is  to  be  introduced  into  the  mouth  to  protect 
the  hand  and  arm  of  the  operator.  Then,  while  an  assistant,  with  his 
hands  grasped  tightl}^  hehiad  the  object,  presses  it  upward  and  forward 
with  all  his  force,  the  operator  must  pass  his  hand  into  the  mouth  until 
he  can  seize  the  obstruction  and  draw  it  outward.  This  mode  of  pro- 
cedure must  not  be  abandoned  with  the  first  failure,  as  we  may  get  the 
obstacle  farther  toward  the  mouth  b}'  continued  efforts.  If  we  fail 
wath  the  hand  force])s  may  be  introduced  through  the  mouth  and  the 
object  seized  when  it  is  just  beyond  the  reach  of  the  fingers.  Should 
our  efforts  entirely  fail  we  must  then  endeavor  to  force  the  obstruction 
downward  by  means  of  the  probang.  This  instrument,  which  is  of  such 
signal  service  in  removing  choke  in  cattle,  is  decidedly  more  dangerous 
to  use  for  the  horse;  and  I  can  not  pass  this  point  without  a  word  of 
caution  to  those  who  have  been  known  to  introduce  into  the  horse's 
throat  such  objects  as  whipstalks,  shovel  handles,  etc.  These  are 
always  dangerous,  and  more  than  one  horse  has  been  killed  by  such 
barbarous  treatment. 

Cervical  choke. — In  this,  as  well  as  in  thoracic  choke,  we  must 
first  of  all  endeavor  to  soften  or  lubricate  the  obstruction  by  pouring 
oil  or  mucilaginous  drinks  down  the  gullet.  After  this  has  been  done 
endeavor  to  move  the  object  by  gentle  manipulations  with  the  hands. 
If  choked  with  oats  or  chaff  (and  these  are  the  objects  that  most  fre- 
quently produce  choke  in  the  horse),  begin  by  gentlv  squeezing  the 
lower  portion  of  the  impacted  mass  and  endeavor  to  work  it  loose  a 
little  at  a  time.  This  is  greath^  favored  at  times  if  we  apply  hot 
fomentations  immediately  about  the  obstruction.  Persist  in  these 
efforts  for  at  least  an  hour  before  deciding  to  resort  to  other  and  more 
dangerous  modes  of  treatment.  If  unsuccessful,  however,  the  pro- 
bang  may  be  used.  In  the  absence  of  the  regular  instrument,  use  a 
piece  of  inch  hose  6  feet  long,  or  a  piece  of  new  three-quarter-inch 
manila  rope  well  wrapped  at  the  end  with  cotton  twine  and  thoroughly 
greased  with  tallow.  The  mouth  is  to  be  kept  open  by  a  gag  of  wood 
or  iron  and  the  head  slightly  raised  and  extended.  The  probang  is 
then  to  be  carefulh'  guided  by  the  hand  into  the  upper  part  of  the 
gullet  and  gentl}-  forced  downward  until  the  obstruction  is  reached. 
Pressure  must  then  be  gradual  and  firm.  Do  not,  at  first,  attempt  too 
much  force,  or  the  esophagus  will  be  ruptured.  Simply  keep  up  this 
firm,  gentle  pressure  until  3'ou  feel  the  object  moving,  after  which 
you  are  to  follow  it  rapidl}^  to  the  stomach.  If  this  mode  of  treatment 
is  unsuccessful,  a  veterinarian  or  physician  is  to  be  called  in,  who  can 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  -19 

remove  the  object  by  cutting  down  upon  it.  This  should  scarce!}-  be 
attempted  bj^  a  novice,  as  a  knowledge  of  the  anatomj-  of  the  parts  is 
essential  to  avoid  cutting  the  large  artery,  vein,  and  nerve  that  are 
closely  related  to  the  esophagus  in  its  cervical  portion. 

Thoracic  choke. — Thoracic  choke  can  be  treated  only  by  means  of 
the  introduction  of  oils  and  mucilaginous  drinks,  and  the  careful  use 
of  the  probang. 

Stricture  of  the  esophagus. — This  is  due  to  corrosive  medicines, 
previous  choking  (accompanied  by  lacerations,  which,  in  healing,  nar- 
row the  passage),  oj  pressure  on  the  gullet  by  tumors.  In  the  majority 
of  cases  of  stricture^  dilatation  of  the  gullet  in  front  of  the  constiicted 
portion  soon  occurs.  This  dilatation  is  due  to  the  frequent  accumula- 
tion of  solid  food  above  the  constriction.  Little  can  be  done  in  either 
of  these  instances  except  to  feed  on  sloppy  or  liquid  food. 

Sacular  dilatation  of  the  esophagus. — This  follows  choking, 
and  is  due  to  stretching  or  rupture  of  the  muscular  coat  of  the  gullet, 
allowing  the  internal,  or  mucous,  coat  to  protrude  through  the  lacer- 
ated muscular  walls.  Such  a  dilatation,  or  pouch,  may  gradually 
enlarge  from  the  frequent  imprisonment  of  food.  When  liquids  are 
taken,  the  solid  materials  are  partiall}'  washed  out  of  the  pouch. 

Symptoms. — Tlie  symptoms  are  as  follows:  The  horse  is  able  to 
swallow  a  few  mouthfuls  of  food  without  apparent  difficult}-;  then  he 
v/ill  stop  feeding,  paw,  contract  the  muscles  of  his  neck,  and  eject  a 
portion  of  the  food  through  his  nose  or  mouth,  or  it  will  gradually 
work  down  to  the  stomach.  As  the  dilatation  thus  empties  itself  the 
symptoms  gradually  subside,  only  to  reappear  when  he  has  again  taken 
solid  food.  Liquids  pass  without  an}^,  or  but  little,  inconvenience. 
Should  this  dilatation  exist  in  the  cervical  region,  surgical  interference 
may  sometimes  prove  effectual;  if  in  the  thoracic  portion,  nothing  can 
be  done,  and  the  patient  rapidly  passes  from  hand  to  hand  by  "swap- 
ping," until,  at  no  distant  date,  the  contents  of  the  sac  become  too  firm 
to  l>e  dislodged  as  heretofore,  and  the  animal  succumbs. 

diseases  of  the  stomach  and  intestines. 

As  a  rule  it  is  most  difficult  to  distinguish  between  diseases  of  the 
stomach  and  of  the  intestines  of  the  horse.  The  reason  for  this  is  that 
the  stomach  is  relatively  small.  It  lies  away  from  the  abdominal  wall, 
and  so  pressure  from  without  can  not  be  brought  to  bear  upon  it  to 
reveal  sensitiveness  or  pain.  Nor  docs  enlargement,  or  distention,  of 
the  stomach  produce  visible  alteration  in  the  form  of  the  abdomen  of 
the  horse.  Moreover,  it  is  a  rule  to  which  there  are  few  exceptions 
that  an  irritant  or  cause  of  disease  of  the  stomach  acts  likewise  upon 
the  intestines,  so  that  it  is  customary  to  find  them  similarly  deranged. 
For  these  reasons  it  is  logical  to  discuss  together  the  diseases  of  the 
14381:— 03 1 


50  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

stomach  and  intestines  and  to  point  out  such  localizations  in  one  organ 
or  another  as  are  of  importance  in  recognizing-  and  treating  the  dis- 
eases of  the  digestive  organs  of  the  horse. 

It  should  be  understood  that  gastritis  signifies  an  inllamrnation  of 
the  stomach  and  eyrtcritts  an  inflammation  of  the  intestines.  The  two 
terms  may  be  used  together  to  signify  a  disease  of  the  stoixiach  and 
intestines,  as  gastro-enteritis. 


The  disease  of  the  horse  that  is  most  frequently  met  with  is  what  is 
termed  "  colic,"  and  many  arc  the  remedies  that  arc  reputed  to  bo  "sure 
cures"  for  this  disease.  Let  us  discover,  then,  vv'hat  the  word  "colic" 
means.  This  term  is  applied  loosely  to  almost  all  diseases  of  the 
organs  of  the  abdopien  that  arc  accompanied  by  pain.  If  the  horse 
evinces  abdominal  pain,  he  is  likely  to  be  put  down  as  suffering  with 
colic,  no  matter  whether  the  difficulty  bo  a  cramj)  of  the  bowel,  an 
internal  hernia,  overloading  of  the  stomach,  or  a  painful  disease  of 
the  bladder  or  liver.  Since  these  conditions  differ  so  much  in  their 
causation  and  their  nature,  it  is  manifestly  absurd  to  treat  them  alike 
and  to  expect  the  same  drugs  or  procedures  to  relieve  theoi  all. 
Therefore  it  is  important  that  the  various  diseased  states  that  arc  so 
roughly  classed  together  as  colic  shall,  so  far  as  ix>ssiblo,  be  separated 
and  individualized  in  order  that  appropriate  treatments  may  be  pre- 
scribed. With  this  object  in  viov/,  colics  will  bo  considered  under 
the  following  headings:  (1)  Engorgement  colic,  (2)  obstruction  colic, 
(8)  tympanitic  colic,  (4)  spasmodic  colic,  (5)  worm  colic. 

The  general  symptoms  of  abdominal  pain,  and  therefore  of  colic, 
are  restlessness,  cessation  of  Avhatever  the  horse  is  about,  lying  down, 
looking  around  toward' the  flank,  kicldng  w^ith  the  hind  feet  upward 
and  forward  toward  the  belly,  jerky  switching  of  the  tail,  stretching 
as  though  to  urinate,  fz-equent  change  of  position,  and  groaning.  In 
the  more  intense  forms  the  horse  plunges  about,  throws  himself  down, 
rolls,  assumes  unnatural  positions,  as  sitting  on  the  haunches,  and 
grunts  Ioudl3\  Usually  the  pain  is  not  constant,  and  during  the  inter- 
missions the  horse  may  eat  and  appear  normal.  During  the  period 
of  pain  sweat  is  poured  out  freely.  Sometimes  the  horse  moves  con- 
stantly in  a  circle.  The  respirations  are  accelerated,  and  usually  there 
is  no  fever. 

(1)  ExGOiiGEMEXT  COLIC. — This  fonii  of  colic  consists  in  an  over- 
lo;iding  of  the  stomach  with  food.  The  horse  may  have  been  overfed 
or  the  food  may  have  collected  in  the  stomach  through  failure  of  this 
organ  to  digest  it  and  pass  it  backward  into  the  intestines.  Even  a 
normal  amount  of  food  that  the  horse  is  unaccustomed  to  may  cause 
diseaice.  Hence  a  sudden  change  of  food  ma.j  produce  engorgement 
colic.     Continued  full  rations  while  tlie  horse  is  resting  for  a  dav  or 


DISEASES    OF    THE    IIOESE.  51 

two  or  working  too  soon  after  feeding  may  serve  as  a  cause.  New 
oats,  corn,  or  hay,  damag-ed  food,  or  food  difGcult  of  digestion,  such  as 
barley  or  beans,  inay  incite  ongorgcment  colic.  This  disease  may  result 
from  having  fed  the  horse  twice  hj  error  or  from  its  having  escaped 
and  taken  an  unrestricted  meal  from  the  grain  bin.  Ground  feeds 
that  pack  together  makhig  a  soii  of  dough  may  cause  engorgem.ent 
colic  if  they  are  not  mixed  with  cut  hay.  Greedy  eaters  are  predis- 
posed to  this  disease. 

Symptoms. — The  horse  shows  the  genei'al  signs  of  abdominal  pain, 
which  may  be  long  contmiied  or  of  short  duration.  Retching  or  vom- 
iting movements  are  made;  these  are  shown  by  labored  breathing, 
upturned  upper  lip,  contraction  of  the  flank,  active  motion  at  the 
throat,  and  drawing  in  of  the  nose  toward  the  breast,  causing  high 
arching  of  the  neck.  The  horse  ma}^  assume  a  sitting  position  on  his 
haunche3,  like  a  dog.  At  times  the  pain  is  ver}^  great  and  the  horse 
makes  the  most  violent  movements,  as  thougli  mad.  At  other  times 
there  is  profound  mental  depression,  the  horse  standing  in  a  sleepy, 
or  dazed,  way  with  the  head  down,  the  eyes  closed,  and  leaning  his 
head  against  the  manger  or  wall.  There  is,  during  the  strug;gles,  pro- 
fuse perspiration.  Following  retching,  gas  may  escape  from  the 
mouth  and  this  may  be  follov/ed  b}"  a  sour  froth  and  some  stomach 
contents.  The  horse  can  not  vomit  except  when  the  stomach  is  vio- 
loutl}^  stretched  and,  if  the  accumulation  of  food  or  gas  is  great  enough 
to  stretch  the  stomach  so  that  vomiting  is  possible,  it  may  be  great 
enough  to  rupture  this  organ.  So  it  happens  not  infrequently  that  a 
horse  will  die  from  ruptured  stomach  after  vomiting.  But  after  the 
stomach  ruptures  vomiting  is  impossible.  The  death  rate  in  this  form 
of  colic  is  high. 

Treatment. — The  bov^els  should  be  stimulated  to  contraction  by  the 
use  of  clysters  of  large  quantities  of  Avater  and  of  glycerin.  Veterina- 
rians use  h^'podermic  injections  of  eserin  or  arecolin  or  intravenous 
injections  of  barium  chloride,  but  these  have  to  be  employed  with 
great  caution.  It  is  not  profitable  to  give  remedies  by  the  stomach, 
for  they  can  not  be  absorbed.  But  small  doses  of  morphine  (5  grains) 
or  of  the  fluid  extract  of  Indian  herpp  (2  drams)  may  be  placed  in  the 
mouth  and  are  absorbed  in  part,  at  least,  without  passing  to  the  stom- 
ach. These  drugs  lessen  pain  and  thus  help  to  overcome  the  violent 
movements  that  are  dangerous,  because  they  may  be  the  means  of 
causing  rupture  of  the  diaphragm  or  stomach.  If  facilities  are  avail- 
able, relief  may  be  afi'orded  bv  passing  an  esophageal  tube  through 
which  some  of  the  gaseous  and  liquid  contents  oL'  the  stomach  may 
escape. 

Rupture  of  the  sfomach. — This  mostly  occurs  as  a  result  of  engorged 
or  tympanitic  stomach  (engorgement  colic)  and  from  the  horse  vio- 
lently throwing  himself  when  so  affected.     It  ma}^  result  from  disease 


52  BUREAU  OF  a:^:imal  industry. 


anything  that  closes  the  opening  of  the  stomach  into  the  intestines, 
and  ver}'  violent  pulling  or  jumping  iuunediately  after  the  animal  has 
oiitou  hc-ailil}'  of  bullvv  food.  These  or  similar  causes  may  lead  to 
this  accident. 

The  st/wptoiiis  of  rupture  of  the  stomach  are  not  constant  or  always 
reliable.  Always  make  inquir^'^  as  to  what  and  how  much  the  horse 
has  been  fed  at  the  last  meal.  Vomiting  may  precede  rupture  of  this 
organ,  as  stated  above.  This  accident  appears  to  be  most  likeh^  to 
occur  in  heav}'  draft  horses.  A  prominent  symptom  observed  (though 
it  ma}'  also  occur  in  diaphragmatic  hernia)  is  where  the  horse,  if  pos- 
sible, gets  the  front  feet  on  higher  ground  than  the  hind  ones  or  sits 
on  his  haunches,  like  a  dog.  This  position  affords  relief  to  some 
extent,  and  it  will  be  maintained  for  some  minutes;  it  is  also  quicklj- 
regained  when  the  horse  has  changed  it  for  some  other.  Colicky 
s3'mpLoms,  of  course,  are  present,  and  these  will  varj^  much  and  pre- 
sent no  diagnostic  value.  As  the  case  progresses  "the  horse  will 
often  stretch  forward  the  fore  legs,  lean  backward  and  downward 
until  the  belly  nearl}"  touches  the  ground,  and  then  rise  up  again  with 
a  groan,  after  which  the  fluid  from  his  nostrils  is  issued  in  increased 
quantity."  The  pulse  is  fast  and  weak,  breathing  hurried,  body 
bathed  in  a  clammy  sweat,  limbs  tremble  violently^  the  horse  reels  or 
staggers  from  side  to  side,  and  death  quickly  ends  the  scene. 

In  the  absence  of  nwy  pathognomonic  symptom  we  must  take  into 
account  the  histor}-  of  the  case;  the  symptoms  of  colic  that  cease  sud- 
denly and  are  succeeded  by  cold  sweats  and  tremors;  the  pulse  quick 
and  small  and  thread}^,  growing  weak  and  more  frequent,  and  at 
length  running  down  and  becoming  altogether  imperceptible;  looking 
back  at  the  Hank  and  groaning;  sometimes  crouching  with  the  hind 
quarters;  with  or  without  eructation  and  vomiting. 

There  is  no  treatmeid  that  can  be  of  an}^  use  whatever.  Could  we 
be  sure  of  our  diagnosis  it  would  be  better  to  destroy'  the  animal  at 
once.  Since,  however,  there  is  alwa3's  the  possil^iiity  of  a  mistake  in 
diagnosis,  we  may  give  powdered  opium  in  1-dram  doses  every  two  or 
three  hours,  with  the  object  of  keeping  the  stomach  as  quiet  as  possible. 

(2)  Obstkuction  colic. — The  stomach  or  bowels  may  be  obstructed 
^>\  accumulations  of  parti}'  digested  food  (fecal  matter),  by  foreign  bod- 
ies, by  displacements,  by  paralysis,  or  b}'  abnormal  growths. 

Impaction  of  the  large  intestines. — This  is  a  very  conmion  bowel 
trouble  and  one  which,  if  not  promptly  recognized  and  properly 
treated,  results  in  death.  It  is  caused  by  overfeeding,  especially  of 
bulky  food  containing  an  excess  of  indigestible  residue;  old,  dry,  hard 
hay,  or  stalks  when  large h'^  fed;  deficiency  of  secretions  of  the  intesti- 
nal tract;  lack  of  water;  want  of  exercise,  medicines,  etc. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  53 

Symptoms. — Impaction  of  the  large  bowels  is  to  be  diagnosed  b}-  a 
slight  abdominal  pain,  which  may  disappear  for  a  day  or  two  to  reap- 
pear with  more  violence.  The  feces  are  passed  somewhat  more  fre- 
quenth",  but  in  smaller  quantities  and  more  dry;  the  abdomen  is  full, 
but  not  distended  with  gas;  the  horse  at  first  is  noticed  to  paw  and 
soon  begins  to  look  back  at  his  sides.  Probably  one  of  the  most  char- 
acteristic symptoms  is  the  position  assumed  when  down.  He  lies  flat 
on  his  side,  head  and  legs  extended,  occasionally  raising  his  head  to 
look  toward  his  flank;  he  remains  on  his  side  for  from  five  to  fifteen 
minutes  at  a  time.  Evidently  this  position  is  the  one  giving  the  most 
freedom  from  pain.  He  rises  at  times,  walks  about  the  stall,  paws, 
looks  at  his  sides,  backs  up  against  the  stall,  which  he  presses  with  his 
tail,  and  soon  lies  down  again,  assuming  his  favored  position.  The 
intestinal  sounds,  as  heard  by  applying  the  ear  to  the  ilank,  are  dimin- 
ished, or  there  is  no  sound,  indicating  absence  of  motion  of  the  bowels. 
The  l)owels  may  cease  entirely  to  move.  The  pressure  of  the  dis- 
tended intestine  upon  the  bladder  ma}"  cause  the  horse  to  make  frec[uent 
attempts  to  urinate.  The  pulse  is  but  little  changed  at  first,  being 
full  and  sluggish;  later,  if  this  condition  is  not  overcome,  it  becomes 
rapid  and  feeble.  Horses  may  suffer  from  impaction  of  the  bowels  for 
a  week,  yet  eventually  recover,  and  cases  extending  two  or  even  three 
weeks  have  ended  favorablv-  As  a  rule,  however,  they  seldom  lust 
o^er  four  or  five  days,  man}-,  in  fact,  dj- ing  sooner  than  'this. 

The  treatnient  consists  of  efforts  to  i)roduce  movement  of  the  bowels 
and  to  prevent  inflammation  of  the  same  from  arising.  A  large 
cathartic  is  to  be  given  as  early  as  possible.  Either  of  the  follow- 
ing arc  recommended:  Powdered  Barbados  aloes  1  ounce,  calomel  2 
drams,  and  powdered  nux  vomica  1  dram;  or  linseed  oil  1  pint  and 
croton  oil  15  drops;  or  from  1  pint  to  1  quart  of  castor  oil  may  be 
given.  Some  favor  the  administration  of  Epsom  or  Glauber's  salts, 
1  pound,  with  one-quarter  pound  of  common  salt,  claiming  that  this 
causes  the  horse  to  drink  largel}"  of  water,  and  thus  mechanically 
softening  the  impacted  mass  and  favoring  its  expulsion.  Whichever 
physic  is  selected,  it  is  essential  that  Vifull  dose  be  given.  This  is 
much  better  than  small  and  repeated  dose:;.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  horses  require  about  twenty-four  hours  in  which  to  respond  to  a 
physic,  and  under  no  circumstances  are  physics  to  be  repeated  sooner 
than  this.  If  aloes  has  been  given  and  has  failed  to  operate  at  the 
proper  time,  oil  or  some  different  cathartic  should  then  be  adminis- 
tered. All'jw  the  horse  all  the  water  he  will  drink.  Calomel  may  be 
administered  in  half-dram  doses,  the  powder  being  placed  on  the 
tongue,  one  dose  every  two  hours  until  four  doses  are  given. 

Enemas  of  glycerin,  2  'o  4  ounces,  are  often  beneficial.  Rubbing 
or  kneading  of  the  abdominal  walls  and  the  application  of  stimulating 
liniments  or  strong  mustard  water  will  also,  at  times,  favor  the  expui- 


54  BUKEAU    OF    AlflMAL    IXDU3TKY. 

sion  of  this  mass.  "S^^alking•  exercise  must  oecasionall}'  be  given.  If 
this  treatment  is  faithfully  carried  out  from  the  start  the  majoritj^  of 
cases  will  terminate  favorabl3\  Where  relief  is  not  obtained  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels  ma}'  ensue,  and  death  follow  from  this  cause. 

Constipation^  or  costlveness. — ^This  is  often  witnessed  in  the  horse, 
and  particularly  in  the  foal.  Many  colts  die  every  year  from  failure 
on  the  part  of  the  attendant  to  note  the  condition  of  the  bowels  soon 
after  birth.  Whenever  the  foal  fails  to  pass  any  feces,  and  in  partic- 
ular if  it  presents  an}'  signs  of  colicky  pains — straining,  etc. — iinme- 
diate  attention  must  be  given  it.  As  a  rule,  it  will  only  l)e  necessary 
to  give  a  few  injections  of  soapy  water  in  the  rectum  and  to  introduce 
the  linger  through  the  aims  to  break  down  any  hardened  mass  of  dung 
found  there.  If  this  is  not  effective,  a  purgative  must  be  given.  Oils 
are  the  best  for  these  young  animals,  and  preferably  castor  oil,  giving 
from  2  to  -1  ounces.  The  foal  should  alwa}- s  get  the  lirst  of  the  moliier's 
milk,  as  this  milk,  for  a  few  days,  possesses  decided  laxative  properties. 
If  a  mare,  while  suckling,  is  taking  laudanum,  morphine,  atropia,  or 
similar  medicines,  the  foa-1  should  be  fed  during  this  time  by  hand  and 
the  mare  millicd  upon  the  ground.  Constipation  in  adult  horses  is 
often  the  result  of  long  feeding  on  dry,  innuferitious  food,  deficiency  of 
intestinal  secretions,  scanty  water  supply,  or  lack  of  exercise.  If  the 
case  is  not  complicated  with  colicky  s^-mptoms.,  a  change  to  light, 
sloppy  diet,*linseed  gruel  or  tea,  with  plenty  of  exercise,  is  all  that  is 
required.  If  colic  exists,  a  cathartic  is  needed.  In  very  many  instances 
tiie  con.-tipated  condition  of  the  bowels  is  due  to  lack  of  intestinal  secre- 
tions, and  when  so  due,  may  be  treated  by  giving  fluid  extract  of  bel- 
ladonna three  times  a  day  in  2-dram  doses,  and  handful  doses  daily  of 
Epsom  salts  in  the 'feed.  It  is  always  best,  when  possible,  to  overcome 
tills  trouble  by  a  change  of  diet  rather  than  by  the  use  of  medicines. 
For  the  relief  of  constipation  such  succulent  foods  as  roots,  grass,  or 
green  forage  arc  recommcndGd.  Silage,  however,  should  be  fed  spar- 
ingly, and  not  at  all  un.less  it  is  in  the  very  best  condition.  Moldy 
siiago  may  cause  fatal  disease. 

Fcreign  hodles  {calouU  (stojies)  in  the  stomach). — There  are  probably 
but  few  symptoms  exhibited  by  the  horse  that  will  lead  one  to  suspect 
the  presence  of  gastric  calculi,  and  possibly  none  by  which  we  can 
unmistakably  assert  their  presence.  Stones  in  the  stomach  have  been 
most  frequently  found  in  millers'  horses  fed  sweepings  from  the  mill. 
A  depraved  and  capricious  appetite  is  common  in  horses  that  have  a 
stone  forming  in  their  stomach.  There  is  a  disposition  to  eat  the 
woodwork  of  the  stable,  earth,  and,  in  fact,  almost  any  substance 
within  their  reach.  This  symptom  must  not,  however,  be  considered 
as  pathognomonic,  since  it  is  observed  v/hen  calculi  are  not  present. 
Occasional  colics  ma}'  result  from  these  "stomach  stones,"  and  when 
these  lodge  at  the  outlet  of  the  stomach  they  may  give  rise  to  symp- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOPcSE.  55 

torus  of  engorged  stomach,  alrcad}-  described.  There  is,  of  course,  no 
treatinent  that  will  prove  effective.  Give  remedies  to  move  the  bowels, 
to  relieve  pain,  and  to  combat  inflammation. 

Intestinal  concretions  [calculi  (stones)  in  tJic  intestines). — These  con- 
cretions are  usually  found  in  the  large  bowels,  though  they  are  occa- 
sionally met  with  in  the  small  intestines.  They  are  of  various  sizes, 
weighing  from  1  ounce  to  25  pounds;  they  may  be  single  or  multiple, 
and  difl'<3r  in  composition  and  appearance,  some  being  soft  (composed 
mostly  of  animal  or  vegetable  matter),  while  others  arc  porous,  or 
honeycombed  (consisting  of  animal  and  mineral  matter),  and  ot]jers  are 
entirely  hard  and  stone-like.  The  hair  balls,  so  common  to  the  stomach 
and  intestines  of  cattle,  are  very  rare  in  the  horse.  Intestinal  calculi 
form  around  some  foreign  bod}^,  as  a  rule= — a  nail  or  piece  of  wood — 
whose  shape  they  may  as.sume  to  a  certain  ext.ent.  Layers  are  arranged 
concentrically  around  such  nucleus  until  the  sizes  above  spoken  of  are 
attained.  These  stones  are  also  often  found  in  miller's  horses,  as  well 
also  as  in  horses,  in  limestone  districts,  where  the  water  is  hard.  When 
the  calculi  attain  a  sufficient  size  and  become  lodged  or  blocked  in  some 
part  of  the  intestines,  they  cause  obstruction,  inflammation  of  the 
bowels,  colicky  symptoms,  and  death.  There  are  no  certain  signs  or 
symptoms  that  reveal  them.  Recurring  colics  of  the  type  of  impaction 
colic,  but  more  severe,  may  lead  one  to  suspect  the  existence  of  thi. 
condition.     Examination  through  the  rectum  may  reveal  the  calculus. 

The  symptoms  will  be  those  of  obstruction  of  the  bowels.  Upon 
postmortem  examinations  these  stones  will  be  discovered  mostly  in  the 
large  bowels;  the  intesiines  will  be  inflamed  or  gangrenous  about 
the  point  of  obstruction.  Sometimes  calculi  have  been  expelled  by  the 
action  of  a  physic,  or  they  may  be  removed  b}'  the  hand  when  found 
to  occupy  the  rectum. 

As  in  concretions  of  the  stomach,  there  can  be  but  little  done  in  the 
way  of  treatment  more  than  to  o-^ercorae  spasm  (if  any  exists),  and 
to  give  physics  with  the  hope  of  dislodging  the  stone  or  stones  and 
carrying  them  on  and  outward. 

Intussuscejytion .^  or  invagination, — This  is  the  slipping  of  a  portion 
of  the  intestine  into  another  portion  immediatel}^  adjoining,  like  a 
partiall}'  turned  glove  linger.  This  may  occur  at  any  part  of  the 
bowels,  but  is  most  frequent  in  the  small  guts.  The  invaginated  por- 
tion may  be  slight — 2  or  3  inches  only — or  extensive,  measuring  as 
man}''  feet.  In  intussusception,  the  inturned  bowel  is  in  the  direction 
of  the  anus.  There  are  adhesions  of  the  intestines  at  this  point,  con- 
gestion, inflammation,  or  even  gangrene.  This  accident  is  most  likely 
to  occur  in  horses  that  arc  suffering  from  spasm  of  the  bowel,  or  in 
those  where  a  small  portion  of  the  gut  is  paralyzed.  The  natural 
worm-like  or  ring-like  contraction  of  the  gut  favors  the  passage  of 
the  contracted  or  paralyzed  portion  into  that  immediately  behind  it. 


56  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

It  ma}"  occur  during  the  existence  of  almost  any  abdominal  trouble,  as 
diarrhea,  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  or  from  injuries,  exposure  to  coid, 
etc.  A  fall  or  leaping  may  give  the  initial  maldircction.  Foals  are 
most  likeh'  to  be  thus  afflicted. 

Sijmptoms. — Unless  the  invaginated  portion  of  the  gut  becomes 
strangulated,  probabl}^  no  symptoms  will  be  appreciable,  except  con- 
stipation. Strangulation  of  the  bowel  may  take  place  suddenly,  and 
the  horse  die  v.ithin  twenty-four  hours,  or  it  ma}'  occur  after  several 
days — a  week  even — and  death  follow  at  this  time.  There  are  no  symp- 
toms positively  diagnostic.  Colicky  pains,  more  or  less  severe  and 
continuous,  are  observed,  and  there  may  be  at  first  diarrhea  followed 
by  constipation.  Severe  straining  occurs  in  some  instances  of  intus- 
susception, and  this  should  be  given  due  credit  when  it  occurs.  As 
death  approaches  the  horse  sweats  profusely,  sighs,  presents  an  anx- 
ious countenance,  the  legs  and  ears  become  cold,  and  there  is  often 
freedom  from  pain  immediately  before  death.  In  some  rare  instances 
the  horse  recovers,  even  though  the  invaginated  portion  of  the  gut 
has  become  strangulated.  In  this  case  the  imprisoned  portion  sloughs 
away  so  gradually  that  a  union  has  taken  place  between  the  intestines 
at  the  point  vfhere  one  portion  has  slipped  into  that  behind  it.  The 
piece  sloughing  off  is  found  passed  with  the  manure.  Such  cases  arc 
exceedingly  rare.  Nonirritating  laxatives,  such  as  castor  oil.  sweet 
oil,  or  calomel  in  small  doses  should  be  given,  and  creolin  in  2-dram 
doses  in  a  pint  of  warm  water.  Soft  feed  and  mucilaginous  and  nour- 
ishing drinks  should  be  given  during  these  attacks.  E.  Mayhew 
jMichener  has  operated  successfully  on  a  foal  with  intussusception  by 
opening  the  abdomen  and  releasing  the  imprisoned  gut. 

Volvulus^  gut-tie,  or  twisting  of  the  howels. — These  are  the  terms 
applied  to  the  bowels  wheji  twisted  or  knotted.  This  accident  is  rather 
a  common  one,  and  frequently  results  from  the  violent  manner  in  Avhich 
a  horse  throws  himself  about  wdien  attacked  by  spasmodic  colic.  The 
symptoms  are  the  same  as  those  of  intussusception  and  obstructions 
of  the  bowels;  the  same  directions  as  to  treatment  are  therefore  to 
be  observed. 

Paralysis  of  the  intestine. — This  occurs  in  old,  debilitated  animals 
that  have  been  fed  on  coarse  innutritious  fodder.  This  produces 
a  condition  of  dilatation  so  pronounced  as  to  make  it  impossible  for 
tlie  intestine  to  advance  its  contents,  and  so  obstruction  results.  The 
symptoms. are  as  in  other  forms  of  obstruction  colic.  The  history  of 
the  case  is  of  much  service  in  diagnosing  the  trouble.  The  treatment 
consists  in  the  administration  of  laxatives.  One  may  give  1  quart  of 
raw  linseed  oil  and  follow  it  the  next  day  with  1  pound  of  Glauber's 
salts  dissolved  in  a  quart  of  warm  water.  Strychnia  may  be  given  in 
doses  of  1  grain  two  or  three  times  daily.  If  the  stagnant  mass  of 
feces  is  in  the  rectum,  it  must  be  removed  with  the  hand. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  57 

Abnormal  growths,  such  as  tumors  or  fibrous  tissue,  producing 
contraction  or  stricture  may  be  causes  of  obstruction.  The  colic 
caused  by  these  conditions  is  chronic.  The  attacks  occur  at  gradually 
shortening  intervals  and  become  progressively  more  severe.  Relief  is 
afforded  by  the  use  of  purgatives  that  render  the  feces  soft  and  thin 
and  thus  enable  them  to  pass  the  obstruction.  But  in  time  the  con- 
tracted place  is  likeh'  to  close  so  far  that  passage  is  impossible  and  the 
horse  will  die. 

(3)  Flatulent  colic  (ty:.ipakitic  colic,  wind  colic,  or  bloat). ^ 
Among  the  most  frequent  causes  of  this  form  of  colic  are  to  be  men- 
tioned sudden  changes  of  food,  too  long  fasting,  food  then  given  vv'hile 
the  animal  is  exhausted,  new  ha}^  or  grain,  large  quantities  of  green 
food,  food  that  has  lain  in  the  manger  for  some  time  and  become  sour, 
indigestible  food,  irregular  teeth,  crib-biting,  and,  in  fact,  an^-thing 
that  produces  indigestion  may  produce  flatulent  colic. 

The  sym2)toms  of  wind  colic  are  not  so  suddenly  developed  nor  so 
severe  as  those  of  cramp  colic.  At  first  the  horse  is  noticed  to  be  dull, 
paws  slightl}^,  and  may  or  may  not  lie  down.  The  pains  from  the 
start  are  continuous.  The  belly  enlarges,  and  by  striking  it  in  front 
of  the  haunches  a  drum-like  sound  results.  If  not  soon  relieved  the 
above  symptoms  are  aggravated,  and  in  addition  there  are  noticed 
difiicult  breathing,  bloodshot  eyes,  and  red  mucous  membranes,  loud 
tumultuous  heart  beat,  profuse  perspiration,  trembling  of  front  legs, 
sighing  respiration,  staggering  from  side  to  side,  and,  finally,  plung- 
ing- forward  dead.  The  diagnostic  symptom  of  flatulent  colic  is  the 
distention  of  the  bowels  with  gas,  detected  by  the  bloated  appearance 
and  resonance  on  percussion. 

The  treatment  for  wind  colic  diflers  very  materially  from  that  of 
cramp  colic.  Absorbents  are  of  some  service,  and  charcoal  may  be 
given  in  any  quantitj'.  Relaxants  and  antispasmodics  are  also  bene- 
ficial in  this  form  of  colic.  Chloral  hydrate  not  only  possesses  these 
qualities,  but  it  also  is  an  antiferment  and  a  pain  reliever.  It  is  then 
particularly  well  adapted  to  the  treatment  of  wind  colic,  and  should 
be  given  in  the  same-sized  doses  and  in  the  manner  directed  for  spas- 
modic colic.  Diluted  alcohol  or  whisk}^  may  be  given,  or  aromatic 
spirits  of  ammonia  in  1-ounce  doses  at  short  intervals. 

A  physic  should  alwa^'S  be  given  in  flatulent  colic  as  early  as  possi- 
ble, the  best  being  Barbados  aloes  in  the  dose  already  mentioned. 
Injections,  per  rectum,  of  turpentine  1  to  2  ounces,  linseed  oil  8  ounces, 
may  be  given  frequently  to  stimulate  the  peristaltic  motion  of  the  bow- 
els and  favor  the  escape  of  wind.  Blankets  wrung  out  of  hot  water  do 
much  to  afi^ord  relief;  they  should  be  renewed  eveiy  five  or  ten  min- 
utes and  covered  with  a  dry  woolen  blanket.  This  form  of  coiic  is 
much  more  fatal  than  cramp  colic,  and  requires  prompf^nd  persistent 
treatment.     It  is  entirely  unsafe  to  predict  the  result,  some  apparently 


58  BUBEACJ    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTET. 

mild  attacks  going  on  to  spced^^  dcatli,  while  others  that  appear  at 
the  onset  to  be  very  severe  yielding  rapidly  to  treatment.  Do  not 
cease  your  efforts  until  you  are  (sure  the  animal  is  dead.  In  these 
severe  cases  puncturing  of  the  bowels  in  the  most  prominent  (dis- 
tended) part  by  means  of  a  small  trocar  and  cannula  or  with  a  needle  of 
a  hypodei-mic  83-ringe,  thus  allowing  the  escape  of  gas,  has  often  saved 
life,  and  such  punctures,  if  made  with  a  clean,  sharp  instrument  that 
is  not  allowed  to  remain  in  the  horse  too  long,  are  accompanied  by 
little  danger  and  do  more  to  quickly  lelieve  the  patient  than  any 
other  treatment. 

(■i)  Spasmodic,  ok  ceamp,  colic. — This  is  the  name  given  to  that 
form  of  colic  produced  by  contraction,  or  spasm,  of  a  portion  of  the 
email  intestines.  It  is  produced  b}^  indigestible  food;  large  drinks  of 
cold  water  when  the  animal  is  warm;  driving  a  heated  horse  through 
deep  streams;  cold  rains;  drafts  of  cold  air,  etc.  Unequal  distribu- 
tion of  or  interference  with  the  nervous  supply  here  produces  cramp 
of  the  bowels,  the  same  as  external  cramps  are  produced.  Spasmodic 
colic  is  much  more  frequently  met  with  in  high-bred,  nervous  hor.;es 
than  in  coarse,  lvm})hatic  ones. 

Symptoms. — These  should  be  carefuib,'  studied  in  order  to  diagnose 
this  from  other  forms  of  colic  requiring  quite  ditlerent  treatment. 
Spasmodic  colic  always  begins  suddenly.  If  feeding,  the  horse  is  seen 
to  stop  abrupt!}-,  stamp  impatientl}^,  and  proljtibly  look  back.  He 
soon  evinces  more  acute  pain,  and  this  is  shown  ])y  pawing,  suddenlv 
13-ing  down,  rolling,  and  getting  up.  During  the  period  of  pain  the 
intestinal  sounds,  as  heard  by  applying  the  ear  over  the  flank,  are 
louder  than  in  health.  There  is  then  an  interval  of  ease;  he  v,^ill 
resume  feeding  and  appear  to  be  entirely  well.  In  a  little  while,  hov/- 
ever,  the  pains  return  and  are  iricreased  in  severity,  onh'^  to  again  pass 
off  for  a  time.  As  the  attack  progresses  these  intervals  of  ease  become 
shorter  and  shorter,  and  pain  may  be  continuous,  though  QXQXi  now 
there  are  exacerbations  of  jjiiin.  Animals  suffering  from  this  form  of 
colic  evince  the  most  intense  pain;  the}'  throw  themselves  down,  roll 
over  and  over,  jump  up,  whirl  about,  drop  down  again,  paw,  or  strike 
rather,  w'ith  the  front  feet,  steam  and  sweat,  and  make  frequent 
attempts  to  pass  their  urine.  Only  a  small  amount  of  water  is  passed 
at  a  time,  and  this  is  due  to  the  bladder  bein^g  so  frequentl}--  emptied. 
These  attempts  to  urinate  are  often  regarded  by  horsemen  as  s^Miip- 
toms  of  trouble  of  the  kidne3's  or  bladder.  In  reality  they  ai"e  only 
one  of  the  many  w^a^^s  in  which  the  horse  expresses  the  presence  of 
pain.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  diseases  of  the  bladder  or  kidney's  of  the 
horse  are  exceedingly  rare. 

To  recapitulate  the  symptoms  of  spasmodic  colic:  Keep  in  mind  the 
history  of  the  case,  the  type  of  horse,  the  suddenness  of  the  attack, 
the  increased  intestinal  sounds,  the  intervals  of  ease  (which  become  of 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  59 

shorter  duration  as  the  ease  progresses),  the  violent  pain,  the  normal 
temperature  and  pulse  during  the  intervals  of  ease,  the  frequent 
attempts  to  urinate,  etc.,  and  there  is  but  little  danger  of  eonfoundir.g 
this  with  other  forms  of  colic. 

Treatment. — Since  the  pain  is  due  to  spasm,  or  cramp,  of  the  bowels, 
medicines  that  overcome  spasms — antispasmodics — ^are  the  ones  indi- 
cated. Chloral  hydrate  may  be  used.  This  is  to  be  given  in  a  dose 
of  1  ounce  in  a  pint  of  water  as  a  drench.  As  this  drug  is  irritant  to 
the  throat  and  stomach,  it  has  to  be  well  diluted.  A  common  and 
good  remedy  is  sulphuric  ether  and  laudanum;  of  each  2  ounces  in  a 
half  pint  of  linseed  oil.  Another  drench  may  be  composed  of  2  ounces 
each  of  sulphuric  ether  and  alcohol  in  8  ounces  of  water.  If  nothing 
else  is  at  hand  give  whisky,  one- half  pint  in  hot  water.  Jamaica 
ginger  is  useful.  If  relief  is  not  obtained  in  one  hour  from  any  of 
the  above  doses,  they  may  then  be  repeated.  The  body  should  be 
warmlj^  clothed  and  perspiration  induced.  Blankets  dipped  in  very 
hot  water  to  which  a  small  quantit}'-  of  turpentine  has  been  added 
should  be  placed  around  the  belly  and  covered  witli  dry  blankets,  or 
the  abdomen  may  be  rubbed  with  stimulating  liniments  or  mustard 
water.  The  difficulty,  however,  of  applying  hot  blankets  and  keeping 
them  in  place  forces  us  in  most  instances  to  dispense  with  them.  If 
the  cramp  is  due  to  irritants  in  the  bowels,  a  cure  is  not  complete  until 
there  is  given  a  cathartic  of  1  ounce  of  aloes  or  1  pint  of  linseed  oil. 
Injections  into  the  rectum  of  warm  soap}^  water  or  salt  and  water  aid 
the  cure. 

Rectal  injections,  el^^sters,  or  enemas,  as  a  rule  should  be  lukewarm, 
and  from  8  to  6  quarts  are  to  be  given  at  a  time.  They  may  be  repeated 
every  half  hour  if  necessary.  Great  care  is  to  Ijc  taken  not  to  injure  the 
rectum  in  giving  such  injections.  A  large  syringe  or  a  i}iece  of  rubber 
hose  4  or  5  feet  long,  with  a  funnel  attached  at  one  end,  affords  the 
best  means  by  which  to  give  them.  The  pipe  of  the  syringe  or  the 
hose  introduced  into  the  rectum  must  bo  blunt,  rounded,  and  smooth. 
It  is  to  be  thoroughly  oiled  and  then  carefully  pushed  through  the 
anus  in  a  slightly  upward  direction.  Much  force  must  be  avoided,  for 
the  rectum  may  be  lacerated  and  serious  complications  or  even  death 
result.  Exercise  will  aid  the  action  of  the  bowels  in  this  and  similar 
colicky  troubles,  but  severe  galloping  or  trotting  is  to  be  avoided. 
If  the  horse  can  have  a  loose  box  or  padciock,  it  is  the  best,  as  he  will 
then  take  what  exercise  he  wants.  If  the  patient  be  exti^cmely  violent, 
it  is  often  wise  to  restrain  him  by  leading  him  with  a  halter,  since 
rupture  of  the  stomach  or  displacement  of  the  bowels  ma}^  result  and 
complicate  the  trouble. 

(5)  Worm  colic. — Parasites  of  many  kinds  reside  in  the  intestinal 
canal  of  horses.  There  are  three  kinds  of  tapeworms,  one  long  round- 
worm, and  several  kinds  of  smaller  roundworms.     Besides  these  are 


60  BUREAU    OF    ANlilAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  bot-fly  grubs  and  lai'vtv.  The  intestinal  worm  most  commonly  seen 
is  known  as  Ascaris  eqwrnun.  They  are  white  or  reddish  in  color  and 
measure  from  -i  to  12  inches  in  length.  In  thickness  they  vary  from 
the  size  of  a  r3^e  straw  to  that  of  a  lady's  little  finger,  being  thickest 
at  the  middle  and  tapering  at  both  ends.  They  are  found  singly-  or  in 
groups  or  masses,  and  infest  chiefly  the  small  intestines. 

Of  the  smaller  rovindworms,  the  more  important  are  Strongylus 
equinus,  which  lives  in  the  large  intestine  and  whose  larva?  l)urrow  in 
the  walls  of  the  great  mesenteric  arter}^,  and  the  worms  of  the  genus 
OxyuHs^  which  collect  in  and  irritate  the  rectum. 

The  tapeworms,  once  seen,  are  easily  recognized.  They  are  white, 
flat,  thin,  broad,  and  jointed.  The  head  is  found  at  the  smaller  end  of 
the  worm.  Tapeworms  of  the  horse  sometimes  measure  from  20  to  30 
feet  in  length. 

Symptoms. — Sj'mptoms  of  intestinal  worms  are  not  alwa3's  observed, 
even  when  many  parasites  are  present.  If  the  infestation  is  extreme, 
there  may  be  slight  colick}"  pains  at  times,  or  there  may  only  be 
switching  of  the  tail,  frequent  passages  of  manure,  and  some  slight 
straining,  itching  of  the  anus,  and  rubbing  of  the  tail  or  rump  against 
the  stall  or  fences;  the  horse  is  in  poor  condition;  does  not  shed  his 
coat;  is  hidebound  and  potbellied;  the  appetite  is  depraved,  licking 
the  walls,  biting  the  vv'ooden  work  of  the  stalls,  licking  parts  of  his 
bod}',  eating  earth,  and  being  particularly  fond  of  salt;  the  bowels  are 
irregular,  constipation  or  diarrhea  being  noticed.  Some  place  much 
dependence  upon  the  symptom  of  itching  of  the  upper  lip,  as  shown 
by  the  horse  frequently  turning  it  up  and  rubbing  it  upon  the  wall  or 
stalls.  Others  again  declare  that  whenever  we. see  the  adherence  of  a 
dried  whitish  substance  about  the  anus,  worms  are  present.  The  one 
sj'mptom,  however,  that  wo  should  always  look  for,  and  certainly  the 
onl}'  one  that  ir.ay  not  deceive  us,  is  seeing  the  worms  or  their  eggs 
(by  the  use  of  a  microscope)  in  the  dung. 

Treatment. — Remedies  to  destroy  intestinal  worms  arc  much  more  ef- 
ficient if  given  after  a  long  fast,  and  then  the  worm  medicine  must  be 
supplemented  by  a  physic  to  carry  out  the  worms.  Among  the  best 
worm  medicines  ma}'  be  mentioned  santonine,  turpentine,  tartar  emetic, 
creolin,  infusion  of  tobacco,  and  l)itter  tonics.  To  destro}^  tapeworms, 
areca  nut,  malefern,  and  pumpkin  seeds  are  the  best.  If  a  horse  is 
passing  the  long  roundworms,  the  plan  of  treatment  is  to  give  twice 
dail}'  for  three  or  four  days  a  drench  composed  of  turpentine  or  creolin 
1  ounce  and  linseed  oil  2  or  3  ounces,  to  be  followed  on  the  fourth  day 
by  a  physic  of  Barbados  aloes  1  ounce,  or  one  may  give  santonine  2  to 
4  drams,  with  calomel  1  to  2  drams.  This  dose  should  not  be  repeated, 
and  should  be  followed  in  six  hours  by  1  quart  of  linseed  oil.  If  the 
pinworms  are  present  (the  ones  that  infest  the  large  bowels),  injections 
into  the  rectum  of  infusions  of  tobacco,  infusions  of  quassia  chips,  one- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  61 

half  pound  to  a  gallon  of  water,  once  or  twice  daily  for  a  few  days, 
and  follow  by  a  physic,  are  most  beneficial.  It  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  intestinal  worms  are  mostly  seen  in  horses  that  are  in  poor 
condition;  and  an  essential  part  of  treatment  then  is  to  improve  the 
appetite  and  powers  of  digestion.  This  is  best  done  by  giving  the 
vegetable  tonics.  One-half  ounce  of  Peruvian  bark,  gentian,  ginger, 
quassia,  etc. ,  is  to  be  given  twice  a  day  in  the  feed  or  as  a  drench. 

To  improve  the  general  condition,  one  may  give  artificial  Carlsbad 
salts,  1  tablespoonful  in  each  feed,  and  each  dose  to  have  added  to  it 
3  to  5  grains  of  arsenious  acid. 

Bot-fly  larvss  do  not  require  special  treatment  unless  they  lodge  in 
the  rectum,  in  which  case  thej^  may  be  dislodged  by  injecting  tobacco 
water.  If  plentj^  of  rock  salt  is  allowed  for  horses  to  lick,  they  will 
thus  be  protected  against  intestinal  parasites  to  a  slight  but  useful 
dcgTee. 

Indigestiox  or  gastro-ixtestinal  catarrh. — There  is  ample  reason 
for  considering  these  conditions  together  from  the  facts  that  the}^  merge 
insensibly  into  each  other  and  usually  occur  simultaneousl3^  This  con- 
dition ma}'  be  acute — that  is,  of  sudden  onset — or  it  may  be  chronic. 
The  clianges  of  structure  produced  by  this  disease  occur  in  the  mucous- 
membrane  lining  of  the  stomach  and  intestines.  This  membrane 
becomes  red  from  increased  blood  supply  or  from  hemorrhage  into  it, 
it  is  swollen,  and  is  covered  by  a  coating  of  slimy  mucus.  In  some 
especially  severe  cases  the  membrane  is  destroyed  in  spots,  causing  the 
appearance  of  ulcers  or  of  erosions. 

The  causes  of  indigestion  are  numerous  but  nearly  all  arc  the  result 
of  errors  in  feeding. 

Some  horses  are  naturally  endowed  wntli  weak  digestive  organs,  and 
such  arc  predisposed  to  this  condition,  x^nj^thing  that  irritates  the 
stomach  or  intestines  may  cause  this  disease.  Foods  that  the  animal 
is  unaccustomed  to,  sudden  changes  of  diet,  imperfectly  cured,  unripe, 
or  damaged  foods,  are  all  fruitful  causes,  and  so  are  worms.  In  suck- 
ling foals  this  condition  may  come  from  some  disease  of  the  dam  that 
renders  her  milk  indigestible  or  from  overexertion  or  overheating 
of  the  mare.  Another  prolific  cause  is  bad  teeth  making  mastication 
imperfect  and  thus  causing  the  horse  to  swallow  his  food  in  a  con- 
dition unfit  for  the  action  of  the  digestive  juices.  Working  a  horse 
too  soon  or  too  hard  after  feeding  may  cause  either  colic  or  indiges- 
tion. Any  condition  that  reduces  the  vitalit}^  of  the  horse,  such  as 
disease,  overwork,  poor  food,  or  lack  of  care,  may  indirectlj^  bring 
on  indigestion  b}"  weakening  the  digestive  organs. 

Sywptoins. — Indigestion  is  characterized  by  irregular  appetite; 
refusing  all  food  at  times,  and  at  others  eating  ravenously;  the  appe- 
tite is  not  only  irregular,  but  is  often  depraved;  there  is  a  disposition 
on  the  part  of  the  horse  to  eat  unusual  substances,  such  as  wood,  soiled 


62  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL   IlfDUSTKY. 

bedding,  or  oxen  liis  own  feces;  the  bowel;=!  arc  irregular  to-day,  loose 
and  bad  smelling-,  to-morrow  bound;  grain  is  often  passed  whole  in 
the  feees,  and  the  haj^  passed  in  balls  or  impacted  masses,  undergoing 
but  little  change;  the  horse  frequently  passes  considerable  quantities 
of  wind  that  has  a  sour  odor.  The  animal  loses  flesh,  the  skin  pre- 
sents a  hard,  dr}'  appearance  and  seems  very  tight  (hidebound).  If 
the  stomach  is  vevy  seriously  invoh^ed,  the  horse  n\&y  yawn  by  stretch- 
ing the  head  forward  and  upward  and  b}^  turning  outward  the  upper 
lip.  There  may  be  more  or  le^s  colicky  pain.  In  the  chronic  cases 
there  is  mental  depression;  the  horse  is  sluggish  and  dull.  The  abdo- 
men graduall}'  becomes  small,  giving  a  "tucked  up"  appearance,  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  it  becomes  flaccid  and  pendulous. 

Treatmerd. — One  should  commence  with  the  food — its  qualit}', 
quantity,  and  tim.c  of  feeding;  examine  the  water  supply,  and  see, 
besides,  that  it  is  given  befpre  feeding;  then  carefully  ol>serve  the 
condition  of  the  mouth  and  teeth;  and,  continuing  the  observations  as 
best  we  may,  endeavor  to  locate  the  seat  of  the  trouble.  If  the  teeth 
are  sharp  or  irregular  they  must  be  rasped  down;  if  m\y  are  decayed 
they  must  bo  extracted;  if  indigestion  is  due  to  ravenous  eating  or 
bolting,  the  feed  must  then  be  given  from  a  large  manger  whore  the 
grain  can  be  spread  and  the  horse  thus  compelled  to  eat  slowly. 

Any  irritation,  vsuch  as  worms,  undigested. food,  etc.,  that  are 
operating  as  causes  arc  to  be  removed  hy  apj^ropriate  treatment,  as 
advised  elsew-here.  If  there  is  a  tendency  to  distention  of  the  stomach 
and  bowels,  with  gas,  during  iiidigestion,  the  following  may  be  used: 
•Baking  soda,  powdered  ginger,  and  powdered  gentian,  equal  parts. 
These  are  to  be  thoroughly  mixed  and  given  in  heaping  tablespoonf ul 
doses,  twice  a  day,  before  feeding.  This  powder  is  best  given  hj 
dissolving  the  above  quantity  in  a  half  pint  of  water  and  given  as  a 
drench. 

As  a  digestive  tonic  the  following  is  good:  Glauber's  salts,  2  poiuids; 
common  salt,  1  pound;  baking  soda,  one-half  pound.  Of  this  a  heaping 
tablespoonful  maj'-  be  given  in  each  feed.  If  diarrhea  exists,  tlie 
treatment  advised  belo"w  ma}^  be  used. 

DiARiaiEA. — Diarrhea  is  due  to  indigestion  or  intestinal  catarrh  or 
to  irritation  of  the  bowel  i  from  eating  mold}^  or  musty  food,  drinking 
stagnant  water,  diseased  condition  of  the  teeth,  eating  irritating  sub- 
stances, to  being  kept  oii  low,  marshy  pastures,  and  exposure  during 
cold  nights,  or  low,  dam.p  stables.  Some  horses  are  predisposed  to 
scour  and  are  called  "washy"  b}^  horsemeji;  they  are  those  with  long- 
bodies,  long  legs,  and  narrow,  flat  sides.  Horses  of  this  build  are 
almost  sure  to  scour  if  fed  or  watered  immediately  before  being  put  to 
work.  Fast  or  road  work,  of  course,  aggravates  this  trouble.  Diar- 
rhea may  cxis':  as  a  complication  of  other  diseases  as  pneumonia  and 
influenza,  for  instance,  and  again  during  the  diseases  of  the  liver. 


DISEASES    OF    TEE    HOESE.  63 

The  8ymptoms  arc  the  frequent  evacuations  of  liquid  stools,  with  or 
yrithout  pronounced  abdominal  pain,  loss  of  appetite,  emaciation,  etc. 

Treatment  is  at  times  very  simple,  but  requires  the  utmost  care  and 
judgjuent.  If  due  to  faulty  food  or  water  it  is  suiScient  to  change 
these.  If  it  results  from  some  irritant  in  the  intestines,  this  is  best 
gotten  rid  of  b}"  the  administration  of  an  oleagi:  ous  purge,  for  which 
nothing  is  better  than  castor  oil,  although  raw  linseed  oil  maj-^  be  used 
if  the  case  is  not  severe.  The  diarrhea  often  disapx^ears  with  the  ces- 
sation of  the  operation  of  the  medicine.  If,  however,  purging  c.  n- 
tinues,  it  msa^j  be  checked  bj^  giving  wheat  Hour  in  water,  starch 
water,  white-oak  bark  tea,  chalk,  opium,  or  half-dram  doses  of  sul- 
phuric acid  in  one-half  pint  of  water  twice  or  thrice  d  .ilj^.  Good 
results  follow  the  use  of  powdered  opium  2  drams,  and  subnitrate  of 
bismuth  1  ounce,  repeated  three  times  a  day.  It  should  be  remem- 
bered in  all  cases  to  lo  >k  \o  the  water  and  feed  the  horse  is  receiving. 
If  either  of  these  is  at  fault  it  is  at  once  to  be  discontinued.  We 
should  feed  sparingly  of  good,  easily  digested  foods.  With  that 
peculiar  build  of  nervous  horses  that  scour  on  the  road  but  little  can 
be  done,  as  a  rule.  They  should  be  watered  and  fed  as  long  as  possi- 
ble before  going  on  a  drive.  If  there  is  much  tlatulencj/  accompany- 
ing diarrhea,  bakin.g  soda  or  other  alkaline  medicines  may  effect  a 
care,  while  if  the  discharges  have  a  very  disagreeable  odor,  this  can 
be  corrected  hx  1  ounce  of  sulphite  of  soda  or  dram  doses  of  creolin  in 
wati'r,  repeated  twice  a  day.  Be  slow  to  resort  to  either  the  vege- 
table or  mineral  astringents,  since  tli:;  majority  of  cases  will  3'ield  to 
change  of  food  and  water  or  the  administration  of  oils.  Afterwards 
feed  upon  wheat-fiour  gruel  or  other  lighh  foods.  The  body  should  be 
warmly  clothed. 

SuPESPUBGATiON. — This  is  the  designation  of  that  diarrhea,  or  llux 
from  the  bowels,  that,  at  times,  is  induced  by  and  follows  the  action 
of  a  phj^sic.  It  is  accompanied  by  much  irritation  or  even  inflamma- 
tion of  the  bowels  and  is  always  of  a  serious  character.  Altliough  in 
rare  instances  it  follows  from  a  usual  dose  of  physic  and  where  every 
precaution  has  been  taken,  it  is  most  likely  to  result  under  the  follow- 
ing circumstances:  Too  large  a  dose  of  physic;  giving  physics  to 
horses  suffering  from  pneumonia,  influenza,  or  other  debilitatir.g  dis- 
eases; riding  or  driving  a  horse  when  purging;  exposure  or  drafts  of 
cold  air;  or  giving  large  quantities  of  cold  water  while  the  physic  is 
operating.  There  is  always  danger  of  superpurgation  if  a  physic  is 
given  to  a  horse  sufl'ering  from  diseases  of  the  respirator}'  organs. 
Small  and  often-repeated  ph3'sics  are  also  to  be  avoided,  as  they  pro- 
duce debility  and  great  depression  of  the  system  and  predispose  to 
this  disorder.  When  a  plrrsic  is  to  be  given  one  should  rest  the  horse 
and  give  him  sloppy  food  until  the  medicine  begins  to  operate;  clothe 
the  body  with  a  warm  blanket;  keep  out  of  drafts;  gi\'e  only  warm 


64  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSIKY. 

water  in  small  quantities.  After  a  horse  has  purged  from  twelve  to 
twenty-four  hours  it  can  mostl}^  be  stopped,  or  *'set,"  as  horsemen 
sa}',  by  feeding  on  dry  oats  and  hay.  Should  the  purging  continue, 
however,  it  is  best  treated  by  giving  demulcent  drinks — linseed  tea 
and  oatmeal  or  wheat-flour  gruel.  After  this  the  astringents  spoken 
of  for  diarrhea  may  be  given.  Besides  this  the  horse  is  to  receive 
brandy  in  doses  of  from  2  to  4  ounces,  with  milk  and  eggs,  four  or 
Aa'c  times  a  da3^ 

Laminitis  "founder"  is  a  frequent  sequel  of  superpurgation  and 
is  to  be  guarded  against  by  removing  the  shoes  and  standing  the  horse 
on  moist  sawdust  or  some  similar  bedding. 

Dysentery. — This  -disease,  sometimes  called  "bloody  flux,''  is  an 
intestinal  disease  attended  with  fever,  occasional  abdominal  pains,  and 
fluid  discharges,  mingled  with  blood.  Discharges  in  dysentery  arc 
coffee  colored  or  l)loody,  liquid,  and  ver}'^  offensive  in  odor,  and  passed 
with  nmch  straining.  It  is  rare  in  the  horse,  l)ut  is  sometimes  quite 
prevalent  among  foals. 

Caicses. — Probably  the  most  common  cause  is  keeping  young  horses 
in  particular  for  a  long  time  on  low,  wet,  marshy  pastures,  without 
other  feed  (a  diarrhea  of  long  standing  sometimes  terminates  in  d3\sen- 
tery);  exposure  during  cold,  wet  weather;  decomposed  foods;  stagnant 
water  that  contains  large  quantities  of  decomposing  vegetable  matter; 
low,  damp,  and  dark  stables,  particularly  if  crowded;  the  existence  of 
some  disease,  as  tuberculosis  of  the  abdominal  form.  In  suckling  foals 
it  may  come  from  feeding  the  dam  on  irritant  foods  or  from  disease  of 
the  udder.  In  other  foals  it  ma}'^  be  produced  b}^  exposure  to  cold  and 
damp,  to  irritant  food,  or  to  worms. 

Symptoms. — The  initial  symptom  is  a  chill,  which  probabl}^  escapes 
notice  in  the  majorit}^  of  instances.  The  discharges  are  offensive  and 
for  the  most  part  licjuid,  although  it  is  common  to  find  lumps  of  solid 
fecal  matter  floating  in  this  liquid  portion;  shreds  of  mucous  membrane 
and  blood  may  be  passed,  or  the  evacuations  may  be  muco-purulent; 
there  is  much  straining,  and,  rarely,  R3anptoms  of  abdominal  pain;  the 
subject  lies  down  a  great  deal;  the  pulse  is  quickened  and  the  temper- 
ature elevated.  Thirst  is  a  prominent  symptom.  In  the  adult,  death 
rarely  follows  under  two  to  three  weeks,  but  in  foals  the  disease  ma}'- 
end  in  death  after  a  few  days. 

Treatment. — This  is  most  unsatisfactory,  and  I  am  inclined  to  place 
more  dependence  upon  the  care  and  feed  than  anv  medication  that  may 
be  adopted.  First  of  all  the  horse  must  be  placed  in  a  dry,  v:arm,  yet 
well-ventilated  stable;  the  skin  is  to  receive  attention  by  frequent  rub- 
bings of  the  surface  of  the  body,  with  blankets,  and  bandages  to  the 
legs.  The  water  must  be  pure  and  given  in  small  quantities;  the  food, 
that  which  is  light  and  easily  digested.  Medicinalh^,  give  at  first  a 
light  dose  of  castor  oil,  about  one-half  pint,  to  which  has  been  added  2 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  65 

ounces  of  laudanum.  The  vegetable  or  mineral  astringents  are  also  to 
be  given.  Starch  injections  containing  laudanum  often  afford  great 
relief.  The  strength  must  be  kept  up  by  milk  punches,  eggs,  beef  tea, 
oatmeal  gruel,  etc.  In  spite  of  the  best  care  and  treatment,  however, 
dysentery  is  likel}"  to  prove  fatal.  In  the  case  of  nurslings,  the  dam 
should  be  placed  in  a  healthy  condition  or,  failing  in  this,  milk  should 
be  had  from  another  mare  or  from  a  cow. 

Gastro-enteritis. — This  condition  consists  in  an  inflammation  of 
the  stomach  and  intestines.  Instead  of  being  confined  to  the  mucous, 
or  lining,  membrane,  as  in  gastro-intestinal  catarrh,  the  inflammatory 
process  extends  deeper  and  may  even  involve  the  entire  thickness  of 
the  wall  of  the  organ. 

This  disease  may  be  caused  by  irritant  food,  hot  drinks,  sudden 
chilling,  mold}^  or  deca3^ed  foods,  foul  water,  parasites,  or  by  chemical 
poisons.  It  ma}^  also  complicate  some  general  diseases,  especiall}' 
infectious  diseases,  as  anthrax,  influenza,  rabies,  or  petechial  fever. 
Long-continued  obstruction  of  the  bowels  or  displacement  resulting 
in  death  are  preceded  by  enteritis. 

The  sijmptoms  ^\Qqy  somewhat  with  the  cause  and  depend  also,  to  some 
extent,  upon  the  chief  location  of  the  inflammation.  In  general  the 
animal  stops  eating  or  eats  but  little;  it  shows  colick}'-  pain;  fever 
develops;  the  pvilsc  and  respiration  become  rapid;  the  mucous  mem- 
brane becomes  red;  the  mouth  is  hot  and  dry.  Pressure  upon  the 
abdomen  may  cause  pain.  Intestinal  sounds  can  not  be  heard  at  the 
flank.  There  is  constipation  in  the  earlier  stages  that  is  followed  later 
by  diarrhea.  The  extremities  become  cold.  Sometimes  the  feces  are 
coated  with  or  contain  shreds  of  fibrin,  looking  like  scraps  of  dead 
membrane,  and  they  have  an  evil,  putrid  odor.  If  the  disease  is  caused 
by  moldy  or  damaged  food  there  may  be  great  muscular  weakness 
with  partial  paralysis  of  the  throat,  as  shown  by  inability  to  swallow. 
If  chemical  poisons  are  the  cause,  this  fact  may  be  shown  by  the  sudden 
onset  of  the  disease,  the  histor}^  of  the  administration  of  a  poison  or  the 
entire  absence  of  known  cause,  the  rapid  development  of  threatening- 
symptoms,  the  involvement  of  a  series  of  animals  in  the  absence  of  a 
contagious  disease,  and  the  special  symptoms  and  alterations  known  to 
be  produced  by  certain  poisons.  To  make  this  chain  of  evidence  com- 
plete, the  poison  may  be  discovered  in  the  organs  of  the  horse  by 
chemical  anal3'sis.  In  nearl}^  all  cases  of  gastro-enteritis  there  is  nervous 
depression. 

The  poisons  that  are  most  irritant  to  the  digestive  tract  are  arsenic, 
corrosive  sublimate,  sugar  of  lead,  sulphate  of  copper,  sulphate  or 
chloride  of  zinc,  lye  or  other  strong  alkalies,  mineral  acids,  and, 
among  the  vegetable  poisons,  tobacco,  lobelia,  and  water  hemlock. 

The  treatment  will  depend  upon  the  cause,  but  if  this  can  not  be 
14384—03 5 


6G  BUKEAU    01'    ANIXAL    INDUSTKY. 

detected,  certain  general  indications  nuiy  be  observed.  In  all  cases  food 
should  bo  given  in  small  amounts  and  should  be  of  the  most  soothing 
description,  as  oatmeal  gruel,  flaxseed  tea,  hay  tea,  fresh  grass,  or  rice 
■water.  The  skin  should  be  well  rubbed  with  wisps  of  straw  and  alco- 
hol, to  equalize  the  distribution  of  the  blood;  tlie  legs,  after  being 
rubbed  until  warm,  should  be  bandaged  in  raw  cotton  or  with  woolen 
bandages.  The  horse  should  be  warmly  blanketed.  It  is  well  to  apply 
to  the  abdomen  blankets  wrung  out  of  hot  water  and  frequently 
changed;  or  mustard  paste  may  be  rubbed  on  the  skin  of  the  bell}'. 
Internall}',  opium  is  of  service  to  alia}'-  pain,  check  secretion,  and 
soothe  the  inflamed  membrane.  The  dose  is  from  1  to  3  drams,  given 
every  three  or  four  hours.  If  there  is  constipation,  the  opium  should 
be  mixed  with  30  grains  of  calomel.  Subnitratc  of  bismuth  may  be 
given  with  the  opium  or  separately'  in  2-dram  doses.  Stimulants,  such 
as  alcohol,  aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia,  or  camphor  may  be  given  in 
2-ounce  doses,  mixed  with  warm  water  to  make  a  drench. 

If  putrid  food  has  been  consumed,  creolin  may  be  administered  in 
doses  of  2  drams,  mixed  with  1  pint  of  warm  water  or  milk.  If  there 
is  obstinate  constipation  and  a  laxative  must  be  employed,  it  should 
be  sweet  or  castor  oil,  from  1  pint  to  1  quart.  For  the  various 
poisons  the  remedies  are  as  follows:  Arsenic,  oxy hydrate  of  iron  solu- 
tion, 1  pint  to  1  quart,  or  calcined  magnesia  one-half  ounce  in  1  pint 
of  water;  corrosive  suhliraate,  the  whites  of  a  dozen  eggs  or  2  ounces 
of  flowers  of  sulphur;  sugar  of  lead,  Glauber's  salts,  1  f)ound  in  1 
quart  of  warm  water,  to  be  followed  with  iodide  of  potash,  3  drams  at 
a  dose,  in  water,  three  times  daily  for  five  days;  sulphate  of  copper, 
milk,  the  whites  of  eggs,  or  reduced  iron;  sulp)hate  or  chloride  of  zinc, 
milk,  the  whites  of  eggs,  or  calcined  magnesia;  lye  or  alkalies,  as 
caustic  p>otash  or  soda,  vinegar,  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  and  linseed  tea, 
with  opium,  3  drams;  mineral  acids,  chalk,  or  calcined  magnesia,  or 
baking  soda;  later  give  linseed  tea  and  opium. 

Hemorrhoids,  or  tiles. — These  are  rare,  comparatively,  in  horses. 
They  are  diagnosed  by  the  appearance  of  bright-red  irregular  tumors 
after  defecation,  which  ma}'  remain  visible  at  all  times  or  bo  seen  only 
when  the  horse  is  down  or  after  passing  his  manure.  They  are  mostly 
due  to  constipation,  to  irritation,  or  injuries,  or  follow  from  the  severe 
straining  during  dysentery.  I  have  obsei'ved  them  to  follow  from 
severe  labor  pains  in  the  mare. 

Treatment. — Attention  must  be  paid  to  the  condition  of  the  bowels; 
they  should  bo  soft,  but  purging  is  to  be  avoided.  The  tumors  should 
be  washed  in  warm  water  and  thoroughly  cleansed  after  which  scar- 
ify them  and  gently  but  firmly  squeeze  out  the  liquid  that  will  be 
seen  to  follow  the  shallow  incisions.  After  thus  squeezing  these  tumors 
and  before  replacing  through  the  anus,  bathe  the  part^  with  some  ano- 
dyne wash.     For  this  purpose  the  glycerite  of  tannin  and  laudanum 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  67 

in  equal  parts  is  good.     Mucilaginous  injections  into  the  rectum  may 
be  of  service  for  a  few  days. 

Hernia,  or  rupture. — There  are  several  different  kinds  of  hernias 
that  require  notice,  not  all  of  which,  however,  produce  serious  symptoms 
or  results.  Abdominal  hernias,  or  ruptures,  are  divided  into  reducible, 
irreducible^  and  atrangidated^  according  to  condition;  and  into  inguincd., 
scrotal,  ventral,  umbilical,  and  diaijhraginaiic,  according  to  their  situ- 
ation. A  hernia  is  reducible  when  the  displaced  organ  can  bo  returned 
to  its  natural  location.  It  consists  of  a  soft  swelling,  without  heat, 
pain,  or  any  uneasiness,  g'enerally  larger  on  full  feed,  and  decreases 
in  size  as  the  bowels  become  empty.  An  irreducible  hernia  is  one  that 
can  not  be  returned  into  the  abdomen,  and  yet  does  not  cause  any  pain 
or  uneasiness.  Strangxdajted  hernia  is  one  where  the  contents  of  the 
sac  are  greatly  distended,  or  where  from  pressure  upon  the  blood 
vessels  of  the  imprisoned  portion  the  venous  circulation  is  checked  or 
stopped,  thereby  causing  congestion,  swelling,  inflammation,  and,  if 
not  relieved,  gangrene  of  the  part  and  death  of  the  animal.  Accord- 
ing to  the  time  or  mode  of  origin,  hernias  may  be  congenital  or 
acquired. 

Congenital  scrotal  hernia. — Not  a  few  foals  are  noticed  from  birth 
to  have  an  enlarged  scrotum,  which  gradually  increases  in  size  until 
about  the  sixth  month,  sometimes  longer.  Sometimes  the  scrotum  of 
a  six-months-old  colt  is  as  large  as  that  of  an  adult  stallion,  and 
operative  treatment  is  considered.  This  is  unnecessary  in  the  great 
majority  of  cases,  as  this  enlargement  often  disappears  by  the  time 
the  colt  has  reached  his  second  year.  Any  interference,  medicinal  or 
surgical,  is  worse  than  useless.  If  the  intestine  contained  within  the 
scrotum  should  at  any  time  become  strangidated,  it  must  then  be 
treated  the  same  as  in  an  adult  horse. 

Scrotal  liernia  is  caused  by  dilatation  of  the  sheath  of  the  testicle, 
combined  with  relaxation  of  the  fibrous  tissues  surrounding  the 
inguinal  ring,  thus  allowing  the  intestine  to  descend  to  the  scrotum. 
At  first  this  is  intermittent,  appearing  during  work  and  returning 
when  the  horse  is  at  rest.  For  a  long  time  this  form  of  hernia  may 
not  cause  the  least  uneasiness  or  distress.  In  course  of  time,  however, 
the  imprisoned  gut  becomes  filled  with  feces,  its  return  into  the 
abdominal  cavity  is  prevented,  and  it  becomes  strangulated.  While 
the  gut  is  thus  filling,  the  horse  often  appears  dull,  is  disinclined  to 
move,  appetite  is  impaired,  and  there  is  rumbling  and  obstruction  of 
the  bowels.  Colicky  symptoms  now  supervene.  Strangulation  and 
its  consequent  train  of  symptoms  do  not  always  follow  in  scrotal 
hernia,  for  often  horses  have  this  condition  without  suffering  incon- 
venience for  years. 

Inguinal  hernia  is  but  an  incomplete  scrotal  hernia,  and,  like  the 
latter,  may  exist  and  cause  no  signs  of  distress,  or,  again,  it  may  become 


68  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

strangulated  and  cause  the  death  of  the  animal.  Inguinal  hernia  is 
seen  mostlj'  in  stallions,  next  in  geldings,  and  very  rarely  in  the  mare. 
Bearing  in  mind  that  sct'otal  hernia  is  seen  only  in  entire  horses,  we 
can  proceed  to  detail  the  symptoms  of  both  strangulated,  inguinal,  and 
scrotal  hernia  at  the  same  time.  When,  during  the  existence  of  colicky 
symptoms,  we  find  a  horse  kicking  with  his  hind  feet  while  standing  or 
lying  upon  his  back,  we  should  look  to  the  inguinal  region  and  scrotum. 
If  scrotal  hernia  exists  the  scrotum  will  be  enlarged  and  lobulated;  by 
pressure  we  may  force  a  portion  of  the  contents  of  the  gut  back  into 
the  abdomen,  eliciting  a  gurgling  sound.  If  we  take  a  gentle  but  firm 
hold  upon  the  enlarged  scrotum  and  then  have  an  assistant  cause  the 
horse  to  cough,  the  swelling  will  be  felt  to  expand  and  as  quickh'  con- 
tract  again. 

The  histor}^  of  these  cases  will  materially  aid  us,  as  the  owner  can 
often  assure  us  of  preceding  attacks  of  "colic,"  more  or  less  severe, 
that  have  been  instantaneously  relieved  in  some  (to  him)  unaccounta- 
ble manner.  The  colicky  sj'mptoms  of  these  hernias  are  not  diagnostic^ 
but,  probably,  more  closely  resemble  those  of  enteritis  than  an}-  other 
bowel  diseases.  The  diagnosis  can,  in  many  cases,  be  made  onl}"  by  a 
veterinarian,  when  he  has  recourse  to  a  rectal  examination;  the  bowels 
can  here  be  felt  entering  the  internal  abdominal  ring. 

Treatment  of  inguinal  liernia. — If  the  reader  can  be  sure  of  the 
existence  of  hernia,  he  should  secure  the  horse  upon  its  back,  and, 
with  a  hand  in  the  rectum,  endeavor  to  catch  hold  of  the  wandering 
bowel  and  pull  it  gently  back  into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen.  Pres- 
sure should  be  made  upon  the  scrotum  during  this  time.  If  these 
means  fail  a  veterinarian  must  be  called  to  reduce  the  hernia  by  means 
of  incising  the  inguinal  ring,  replacing  the  intestines,  and  castrate, 
using  clamps  and  performing  the  "covered  operation." 

Ventral  hernia. — In  this  form  of  hernia  the  protrusion  is  through 
some  accidental  opening  or  rupture  of  the  abdominal  wall.  It  may 
occur  at  any  part  of  the  belly  except  at  the  umbilicus,  and  is  caused 
by  kicks,  blows,  hooks,  severe  jumping  or  pulling,  etc.  Ventral 
hernia  is  most  common  in  pregnant  mares,  and  is  here  due  to  the 
weight  of  the  fetus  or  some  degenerative  changes  taking-  place  in  the 
abdominal  coats.  It  is  recognized  by  the  appearance  of  a  swelling, 
at  the  base  of  which  can  be  felt  the  opening  or  rent  in  the  abdominal 
tunics,  and  from  the  fact  that  the  swelling  containing  the  intestines 
can  be  made  to  disappear  when  the  animal  is  placed  in  a  favorable 
position. 

Treatment  of  ventral  hernia. — In  many  instances  there  is  no  occasion 
for  treatment,  and  again,  where  the  hernial  sac  is  extensive,  treatment 
is  of  no  avail.  If  the  hernia  is  small,  a  cure  may  be  attempted  by 
the  methods  to  be  described  in  treating  of  umbilical  hernia.  If  one  is 
fortunate  enough  to  be  present  when  the  hernia  occurs,  and  particu- 


DISEASES    OE    THE    HOESE.  69 

larly  if  it  is  not  too  lai-ge,  he  ma}^,  hj  the  proper  aiiplication  of  a  pad 
and  broad  bandage,  effect  a  perfect  cure. 

Umbilical  hernia  is  the  passing  of  any  portion  of  the  bowel  or 
omentum  ('^  caul  'Vthrough  the  navel,  forming  a  "tumor  "at  this 
point.  This  is  |0Pi  congenital  in  our  animals,  and  is  due  to  the 
imperfect  closure  of  the  umbilicus  and  to  the  position  of  the  bodj^. 
Manjr  cases  of  uml^ilical  hernia,  like  inguinal  and  scrotal  of  the  con- 
genital kind,  disappear  entirely  by  the  time  the  animal  reaches  its 
second  or  third  year.  Advancing  age  favors  cure  in  these  cases  from 
the  fact  that  the  omentum  (swinging  support  of  the  bowels)  is  pro- 
portionall}^  shorter  in  adults  than  in  foals,  thus  lifting  the  intestines 
out  of  the  hernial  sac  and  allowing  the  opening  in  the  walls  to  close. 
Probably  one  of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  umbilical  hernia  in  foals 
is  the  practice  of  keeping  them  too  long  from  their  dams,  causing 
them  to  fret  and  worr}^,  and  to  neigh,  or  crj^,  by  the  hour.  The  con- 
traction of  the  abdominal  muscles  and  pressure  of  the  intestines  dur- 
ing- neighing  seem  to  open  the  umbilicus  and  induce  hernia.  Accidents 
may  cause  mnbilical  hernia  in  adults  in  the  same  manner  as  ventral 
hernia  is  produced,  though  this  is  very  rare. 

Treatment  of  'iwibilical  hernia. — In  the  treatment  of  umbilical  hernia 
it  should  be  remembered  that  congenital  hernias  are  often  removed 
with  age,  but  probably  congenital  umbilical  hernias  less  frequently 
than  others.  Among  the  many  plans  of  treatment  are  to  be  men- 
tioned the  application  of  a  pad  over  the  tumor,  the  pad  being  held  in 
place  by  a  broad  tight  bandage  placed  around  the  animal's  hodj.  The 
chief  objection  to  this  is  the  difficulty  in  keeping  the  pad  in  its  place. 
Blisters  are  often  applied  over  the  swelling,  and,  as  the  skin  hardens 
and  contracts  by  the  formation  of  scabs,  an  artiticial  bandage  or 
pressure  is  produced  that  at  times  is  successful.  Another  treatment 
that  has  gained  considerable  repute  of  late  years  consists  in  first  clip- 
ping off  the  hair  over  the  swelling.  Nitric  acid  is  then  applied  by  a 
small  brush,  using  only  enough  to  moisten  the  skin.  This  sets  up  a 
deep-seated  adhesive  inflammation,  which,  in  very  many  cases,  closes 
the  opening  in  the  navel.  Still  another  plan  is  to  inject  a  solution  of 
common  salt  by  means  of  the  hypodermic  syringe  at  three  or  four 
points  about  the  base  of  the  swelling.  This  acts  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  preceding,  but  ma}^  cause  serious  injur}^  if  the  syringe  or  solu- 
tion is  not  sterile. 

Others,  again,  after  keeping  the  animal  fasting  for  a  few  hours, 
cast  and  secure  it  upon  its  back;  the  bowel  is  then  carefully  returned 
into  the  abdomen.  The  skin  over  the  opening  is  pinched  up  and  one 
or  two  skewers  are  run  through  the  skin  from  side  to  side  as  close  as 
possible  to  the  umbilical  opening.  These  skewers  are  kept  in  place 
by  passing  a  cord  around  the  skin  between  them  and  the  abdomen 
and  securel}-  tied.     Great  care  must  be  taken  not  to  draw  these  cords 


70  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    IJ^DUSTBY. 

too  tight^  as  this  would  cause  a  speedy  slough  of  the  skiu,  the  intestines 
would  extrude,  and  death  result.  If  properly  applied  an  adhesion  is 
established  between  the  skin  and  the  umbilicus  wliioh  effectually  closes 
the  orifice.  Special  clamps  are  provided  for  taking-  up  the  fold  of  the 
skin  covering  the  hernial  sac  and  holding  it  lintil  the  adhesion  is 
formed. 

Dia^liraginatiG  hernia. — This  consists  of  the  passage  of  an}'  of  the 
abdominal  viscera  through  a  rent  in  the  diaphragm  (midriff)  into  the 
cavity  of  the  thorax.  It  is  rather  a  rare  accident  and  one  often  impos- 
sible to  diagnose  during  life.  Colicky  symptoms,  accompanied  by 
great  difficulty  in  breathing,  and  the  peculiar  position  so  often  assumed 
(that  of  sitting  upon  the  haunches)  are  somewhat  characteristic  of  this 
trouble,  though  these  symptoms,  as  we  have  alreadj''  seen,  may  be 
present  during  diseases  of  the  stomach  or  anterior  portion  of  the  bow- 
els. Even  could  we  pronounce,  with  certainty,  this  form  of  hernia, 
there  is  little  or  nothing  that  can  be  done.  Leading  the  horse  up  a 
very  steep  gangway  or  causing  him  to  rear  up  may  possibly  cause  the 
hernial  portion  to  return  to  its  natural  position.  This  is  not  enough, 
however;  it  must  be  kept  there. 

Peritonitis. — Peritonitis  is  an  inflammation  of  the  serous  membrane 
lining  the  caAaty  of  and  covering  the  viscera  contained  within  the. abdo- 
men. It  is  ver}'^  rare  to  see  a  case  of  primary  peritonitis.  It  is,  how- 
ever, somewhat  common  as  a  secondary  disease  from  extension  of 
the  inflammatory  action  involving  organs  covered  b}'^  the  peritoneum. 
Peritonitis  is  often  caused  by  injuries,  as  punctured  wounds  of  the 
abdomen,  severe  blows  or  kicks,  or,  as  is  still  more  common,  following 
the  operation  of  castration.  It  follows  strangulated  hernia,  invagina- 
tion, or  rupture  of  the  stomach,  intestines,  liver,  or  womb. 

Symptoms. — Peritonitis  is  mostly  preceded  b}^  a  chill;  the  horse  is 
not  disposed  to  move,  and,  if  compelled  to  do  so,  moves  with  a  stiff  or 
sore  gait;,  he  paws  with  the  front  feet  and  may  strike  at  his  belly  with 
the  hind  ones;  lies  down  very  carefully;  as  the  pain  is  increased  while 
down,  he  maintains  during  most  of  the  time  the  standing  position;  he 
walks  uneasily  about  the  stall.  Constipation  is  usual!}-  present.  Pres- 
sure on  the  belly  causes  acute  pain,  and  the  horse  will  bite,  strike,  or 
kick  if  so  disturbed;  the  abdomen  is  tucked  up;  the  extremities  fine 
and  cold.  The  temperature  is  higher  than  normal,  reaching  from  102'-' 
to  104°  F.  The  pulse  in  peritonitis  is  rather  characteristic;  it  is  quick- 
ened, beating  from  seventy  to  ninety  beats  per  minute,  and  is  hard 
and  vdry.  This  peculiarity  of  the  pulse  occurs  in  inflammation  of  the 
serous  membrane,  and  if  accompanied  by  colicky  symptoms,  and,  in 
particular,  if  following  any  injuries,  accidental  or  surgical,  of  the 
peritoneum,  there  is  reason  to  think  that  peritonitis  is  present.  Peri- 
tonitis in  the  horse  is  mostly  fatal  when  it  is  at  all  extensive.  If  death 
does  not  occur  in  a  short  time,  the  inflammation  assumes  a  chronic  form, 
in  which  there  is  an  extensive  effusion  of  water  in  the  cavity  of  the 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  71 

belly,  constituting  what  is  known  as  ascites,  and  which,  as  a  rule,  results 
in  death. 

The  treatment  of  peritonitis  is  to  be  somewhat  like  that  of  enteri- 
tis. Opium  in  powder,  1  to  2  drams,  with  calomel,  one-half  dram,  is 
to  be  given  every  two,  three,  or  four  hours,  and  constitute  the  main 
dependence  in  this  disease.  Extensive  counterirritants  over  the  belh^, 
consisting  of  mustard  plasters,  applications  of  mercurial  ointment," 
turpentine  stupes,  or  even  mild  blisters,  are  recommended.  Purga- 
tives must  never  be  given  during  this  complaint.  Should  we  desire  to 
move  the  bowels,  it  can  be  done  by  gentle  enemas,  though  it  is  seldom 
necessary  to  resort  even  to  this. 

Ascites,  or  dropsy  of  the  abdomex. — This  is  seen  as  a  result  of 
subacute  or  chronic  peritonitis,  but  may  be  due  to  diseases  of  the 
liver,  kidneys,  heart,  or  lungs.  There  will  be  found,  on  opening  the 
cavit}'"  of  the  bell}^,  a  large  collection  of  j^cllowish  or  reddish  liquid; 
from  a  few  quarts  to  several  gallons  may  be  present.  It  may  be  clear 
in  color,  though  generally  it  is  yellowish  or  of  a  red  tint,  and  contains 
numerous  loose  Hakes  of  coagulable  h  mph. 

Symjytoms. — There  is  slight  tenderness  on  j^ressure;  awkward  gait 
of  the  hind  legs;  the  horse  is  dull,  and  may  have  occasional  ver}^  slight 
colicky  pains,  shown  by  looking  back  and  striking  at  the  belly  with  the 
hind  feet.  Oftener,  however,  these  colicky  symptoms  are  absent. 
Diarrhea  often  precedes  death,  but  during  the  progress  of  the  disease 
the  l^owels  are  alternately  constipated  and  loose.  On  percussing  the 
abdominal  walls  we  find  that  dullness  exists  to  the  same  height  on  both 
sides  of  the  belly;  by  suddenly  pushing  or  striking  the  abdomen  we 
can  hear  the  rushing  or  flooding  of  water.  If  the  case  is  an  advanced 
one,  the  horse  is  potbellied  to  the  extreme,  and  dropsical  swellings 
are  seen  under  the  belly  and  upon  the  legs. 

Treatment  is,  as  a  rule,  unsatisfactory.  Saline  cathartics,  as  Epsom 
or  Glauber's  salts,  and  diuretics,  ounce  doses  of  saltpeter,  may  be  given. 
If  a  veterinarian  is  at  hand  he  will  withdraw  the  accumulation  of  water 
by  tapping  and  then  endeavor  to  prevent  its  recurrence  (though  this 
is  almost  sure  to  follow)  by  giving  three  times  a  day  saltpeter,  1  ounce, 
and  iodide  of  potash,  1  dram,  and  by  the  application  of  mustard  or 
blisters  over  the  abdominal  walls.  Tonics,  mineral  and  vegetable,  are 
also  indicated.  Probably  the  best  tonic  is  one  consisting  of  powdered 
sulphate  of  iron,  gentian,  and  ginger  in  equal  parts;  a  heaping  table- 
spoonful  of  the  mixture  is  given  as  a  drench  or  mixed  with  the  feed, 
twice  a  da3%  Good  nutritious  foods  and  gentle  exercise  complete  the 
treatment. 

DISEASES    of    the    LIVER. 

This  organ  in  the  horse  is,  in  the  United  States,  but  rarel}'  the  seat 
of  disease,  and  when  we  consider  how  frequently  the  liver  of  man  is 
affected  this  can  not  but  appear  strange.     The  absence  of  the  gall 


72  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

bladder  may  account  to  a  certain  extent  for  his  freedom  from  liver 
diseases;  as  overdistentiou  of  this  and  the  presence  in  it  of  calculi 
(stones)  in  man  is  a  frequent  source  of  trouble.  In  domestic  animals, 
as  in  man,  hot  climates  tend  to  produce  diseases  of  the  liver,  just  as  in 
cold  climates  lung  diseases  prevail.  Not  only  arc  diseases  of  the  liver 
rare  in  horses  in  temperate  climates,  but  they  are  also  very  obscure, 
and  in  man}^  cases  pass  totall^^  unobserved  until  after  death.  There 
arc  some  symptoms,  however,  which,  when  present,  should  make  us 
oxaminc  the  liver  as  carefuU}^  as  possible.  These  are  jaundice  (3'el- 
lowncss  of  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  mouth,  nose,  and  eyes)  and  the 
condition  of  the  dung,  it  being  light  in  color  and  pasty  in  appearance. 

Hepatitis,  or  inflammation  of  the  liver. — This  disease  maj-  be 
general  or  local,  and  may  assume  an  acute  or  chronic  form. 

The  sj/m2?toms  of  acute  hepatitis  arc:  Dullness;  the  horse  is  suffering 
from  some  internal  pain,  but  not  of  a  severe  tj'pe;  constipated  and  cla}'- 
colored  diuig  balls;  scanty  and  high-colored  urine;  and  general  febrile 
s3'mptoms.  If  Ij'ing  down,  he  is  mostly  found  on  the  left  side;  looks 
occasionall}'  toward  the  right  side,  which,  upon  close  inspection,  may 
be  fovmd  to  be  slightl^^  enlarged  over  the  posterior  ribs,  where  pain 
upon  pressure  is  also  evinced.  Obscure  lameness  in  front,  of  the 
right  leg  mostl}^,  may  be  a  sj^mptom  of  hepatitis.  The  horse,  toward 
the  last,  reels  or  staggers  in  his  gait  and  falls  backward  in  a  fainting 
fit,  during  one  of  which  he  finally  succumbs.  De/ith  is  sometimes  due 
to  rupture  of  the  enveloping  coat  of  the  liver  or  of  some  of  its  blood 
vessels. 

Causes. — Among  the  causes  that  lead  to  this  disease  we  nuist  men- 
tion first  the  stimulating  effect  of  overfeeding,  particularl}^  during  hot 
weather.  Horses  that  are  well  fed  and  receive  but  little  exercise  are 
the  best  subjects  for  diseases  of  this  organ.  We  nuist  add  to  these 
causes  the  more  mechanical  ones,  as  injuries  on  the  right  side  over  the 
liver,  worms  in  the  liver,  gallstones  in  the  biliary  ducts,  foreign 
bodies — as  needles  or  nails  that  have  been  swallowed  and  in  their 
wanderings  have  entered  the  liver — and,  lastly,  in  some  instances,  the 
extension  of  inflammation  from  neighboring  parts,  thus  involving 
this  organ.  Acute  hepatitis  may  terminate  in  chronic  inflammation, 
abscesses,  rupture  of  the  liver,  or  may  disappear,  leaving  behind  no 
trace  of  disease  whatever. 

Treatment. — This  should  consist,  at  first,  of  the  administration  of  1 
ounce  of  Barbados  aloes  or  other  physic.  General  blood-letting,  if 
had  recourse  to  early,  must  prove  of  much  benefit  in  acute  inflamma- 
tion of  the  liver.  The  vein  in  the  neck  (jugular)  must  be  opened,  and 
from  4  to  6  quarts  of  blood  may  be  drawn.  Saline  medicines,  as 
Glauber's  salts  or  the  artificial  Carlsbad  salt,  is  indicated.  These  may 
be  given  with  the  feed  in  tablespoonful  doses.  The  horse  is  to  be  fed 
sparingl}'  on  soft  food,  bran  mashes  chiefl}^.     If  treatment  proves  sue- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  73 

cessful  find  recovery  takes  place,  see  to  it  that  the  horse  aftei'wards 
gets  regular  exercise  and  that  his  food  is  not  of  a  too  highly  nutritious 
character  and  not  excessive. 

Jaundice,  icterus,  or  the  yellows. — This  is  a  condition  caused 
by  the  retention  and  absorption  of  bile  into  the  blood.  It  was  for- 
merlj^  considered  to  be  a  disease  of  itself,  but  is  now  regarded  as  a  symp- 
tom of  disorder  of  the  liver.  "The  yellows"  is  observed  by  looking 
at  the  ayes,  nose,  and  mouth,  when  it  will  bo  seen  that  these  parts  are 
yellowish  instead  of  the  pale-pink  color  of  health.  In  white  or  light- 
colored  horses  the  skin  even  may  show  this  3'ellow  tint.  The  urine  is 
saffron  colored,  the  dung  is  of  a  dirt^^-gray  color,  and  constipation  is 
usually  present.  Jaundice  may  be  present  as  a  symptom  of  almost 
any  inflammatory  disease.  We  know  that  when  an  animal  has  fever 
the  secretions  are  checked,  the  bile  ma}'  be  retained  and  absorbed 
throughout  the  S3'stem,  and  yellowness  of  the  nmcous  membranes  fol- 
lows. Jaundice  ma}"  also  exist  during  the  presence  of  simple  consti- 
pation, hepatitis,  biliary  calculi,  abscesses,  hardening  of  the  liver,  etc. 

Treatment. — When  jaundice  exists  Ave  must  endeavor  to  rid  the  sys- 
tem of  the  excess  of  bile,  and  this  is  best  accomplished  bj-  giving  pur- 
gatives that  act  upon  the  liver.  Calomel,  2  drams,  with  aloes,  7 
drams,  should  be  given.  Glauber's  salts  in  handful  doses  once  or  twice 
a  day  for  a  week  is  also  effective.  Mavapple,  rhubarb,  castor  oil,  and 
other  cathartics  that  act  upon  the  first  or  small  bowels  ma}^  be  selected. 
We  must  be  careful  to  see  that  tlie  bowels  are  kept  open  by  avoiding 
hard,  dry,  bulky  foods. 

Rupture  of  the  liver. — This  is  known  to  occur  at  times  in  tli'i 
horse,  most  frequently  in  old  fat  horses  and  those  that  get  but  little 
exercise.  Horses  that  have  suffered  from  chronic  liver  disease  for 
jcars  eventually  present  sjnuptoms  of  colic  and  die  qitite  suddenl}^. 
Upon  postmortem  examination  we  discover  that  the  liver  had  rup- 
tured. The  cicatrices,  or  scars,  that  are  often  found  upon  the  liver 
indicate  that  this  organ  maj^  suffer  small  rupture  and  jet  the  horse 
recover  from  it.  This  result  can  not  obtain,  however,  if  the  rent,  or 
tear,  is  extensive,  since  in  such  cases  death  must  quickly  follow  from 
hemorrhage,  or,  later,  from  pe:itonitis.  Enlarged  liver  is  particu- 
larh^  liafjle  to  rupture. 

Causes.- — The  immediate  causes  of  rupture  appear  to  be  excessive 
muscular  exertion,  as  leaping  a  fence,  a  fall,  a  blow  from  a  collision,  a 
kick  from  a  horse,  or  sudden  distention  of  the  abdomen  with  gas. 

The  symj>toms  of  rupture  of  the  liver  will  depend  upon  the  extent 
of  the  laceration.  If  slight  there  will  be  simply  the  symptoms  of 
abdominal  pain,  looking  back  to  the  sides,  lying  down,  etc.;  if  exten- 
sive, the  horse  is  dull  and  dejected,  has  no  appetite,  breathing  becomes 
short  and  catching,  he  sighs  or  sobs,  visible  mucous  membranes  are 
pale,  extremities  cold,  pulse  fast,  small,  and  weak  or  running  down. 


74  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY . 

Countenance  now  shows  much  distress,  he  sweats  profusely,  totters  in 
his  gait,  props  his  legs  wide  apart,  reels,  staggers,  and  falls.  He  may 
get  up  again,  but  soon  falls  dead.  The  rapid  running-down  pulse, 
paleness  of  the  e3'es,  nose,  and  mouth,  sighing,  stertorous  breathing, 
tottering  gait,  etc. ,  are  the  symptoms  by  which  we  know  that  the  animal 
is  dying  from  internal  hemorrhage. 

Treatment. — But  little  can  be  done  in  the  wa}'  of  treatment.  Opium 
in  powder,  in  doses  of  2  drams  every  two  or  three  hours,  may  Ijb 
given,  with  the  idea  of  preventing  as  much  as  possible  all  movements 
of  internal  organs.  If  there  is  reason  to  suspect  internal  bleeding,  we 
should  give  large  and  frequent  doses  of  white-oak  l^ark  tea,  dram  doses 
of  tannic  or  gallic  acid,  or  the  same  quantitj'  of  sugar  of  lead,  ever}^ 
half  hour  or  hour.  Fluid  extract  of  ergot  or  tincture  of  the  chloride 
of  iron,  in  ounce  doses,  maj'  be  selected.  Cold  water  dashed  upon  the 
right  side  or  injected  into  the  rectum  is  highly  spoken  of  as  a  means 
of  checking  the  hemorrhage. 

Biliary  calculi,  or  gallstones. — These  are  rarely  found  in  the 
horse,  but  maj"  occupj"  the  hepatic  ducts,  giving  rise  to  jaundice  and 
to  colick}'  pains.  There  are  no  absolutelj'  diagnostic  symptoms,  but 
should  one  lind  a  horse  that  suffers  from  repeated  attacks  of  colic, 
accompanied  by  symptoms  of  violent  pain,  and  that  during  or  follow- 
ing these  attacks  the  animal  is  jaundiced,  it  is  possible  that  gallstones 
are  present.  There  is  little  or  nothing  to  b,e  done  except  to  give 
medicines  to  overcome  pain,  trusting  that  these  concretions  may  pass 
on  to  the  bowels,  where,  from  their  small  size,  they  will  not  occasion 
any  inconvenience. 

Diseases  of  the  pancreas  and  spleen.— Diseases  of  the  pancreas 
and  spleen  are  so  rare,  or  their  sj^mptoms  so. little  understood,  that  it 
i;.  impossible  to  wi'itc  anything  concerning  either  of  these  organs  and 
their  simple  diseases  that  will  convey  to  the  reader  information  of 
practical  value. 


.1 


■llliilll 

c>'>  (S  k^  o;  ,«  ti:  r?  o3 


i  ^  S  S  (S  ^  ^ 


"0  Co  K  co"  cv  ^^  1:5^  s7  S5 


^^- 


PI.A'!-K  IL. 


'/7ic  (u/ii/r 


B  c:)  "T  H  . 

1  Bols  in  Iho  sloniHch. 

2  Bots  iutlie  (luodfiumn,. 


lus  eiEN  &  CO  r 


Pi..-\'i-K  rii 

Sclerostoma   arniatiiy/i 


.-Lfcari^v  iiut/a/ocephtila 
I  N  r  J.:  S  T  I N  .VI .  W  O  R  M  s 


DISEASES  OF  THE  URINARY  ORGANS. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  Y.  S., 

Professor  of  Veterinary  Science,  etc.,  in  Cornell  Unhersity. 
[Revised  in  1903  by  the  author.] 

USES  OF  THE  URINARY  ORGANS. 

The  urinar}'  organs  constitute  the  main  channel  tlirough  which  are 
excreted  the  nitrog-enons  or  albuminoid  principles,  whether  derived 
directly  from  the  food  or  from  the  muscular  and  other  uitrogenized 
tissues  of  the  body.  They  constitute,  besides,  the  channel  through 
which  are  thrown  out  most  of  the  poisons,  whether  taken  in  b}^  the 
mouth  or  skin  or  developed  in  connection  with  faulty  or  natural  diges- 
tion, blood-forming,  nutrition,  or  tissue  destruction;  or,  finall}^,  poi- 
sons that  are  developed  within  the  body,  as  the  result  of  normal  cell 
life  or  of  the  life  of  bacteria  or  other  germs  that  have  entered  the 
body  from  without.  Bacteria  themselves  largely  escape  from  the 
body  through  the  kidneys.  To  a  large  extent,  therefore,  these  organs 
are  the  sanitary  scavengers  and  purifiers  of  the  system,  and  when  their 
functions  are  impaired  or  arrested  the  retained  poisons  quickly  show 
their  presence  in  resulting  disorders  of  the  skin  and  connective  tissue 
beneath  it,  of  the  nervous  sj^stem,  or  other  organs.  Nor  is  this  influ- 
ence one-sided.  Scarcely  an  important  organ  of  the  body  can  suffer 
derangement  without  entailing  a  corresponding  disorder  of  the  urinary 
sj^stem.  Nothing  can  be  more  striking  than  the  mutual  balance  main- 
tained between  the  liquid  secretions  of  the  skin  and  kidne3's  during 
hot  and  cold  weather.  In  summer,  when  so  much  liquid  exhales 
through  the  skin  as  sweat,  comparatively  little  urine  is  passed,  whereas 
in  winter,  when  the  skin  is  inactive,  the  urine  is  correspondingly 
increased.  This  vicarious  action  of  skin  and  kidneys  is  usuallj^  kept 
within  the  limits  of  health,  but  at  times  the  draining  off  of  the  water 
by  the  skin  leaves  too  little  to  keep  the  solids  of  the  urine  safely  In 
solution,  and  these  are  liable  to  cr3^stallize  out  and  form  stone  and 
gravel.  Similarly  the  passage  in  the  sweat  of  some  of  the  solids  that 
normally  leave  the  bod}^,  dissolved  in  the  urine,  serves  to  irritate  the 
skin  and  produce  troublesome  eruptions. 

PROMINENT   CAUSES    OF   URINARY   DISORDERS. 

A  disordered  liver  contributes  to  the  production,  under  different 
circumstances,  of  an  excess  of  biliary  coloring  matter,  which  stains 


76  BUIiEAU    OF    AXIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  urine;  of  an  excess  of  hippuric  ticid  and  allied  products,  which  being 
less  soluble  than  urea  (the  normal  product  of  tissue  change),  favor  the 
formation  of  stone,  of  taurocholic  acid  and  other  bodies  that  tend, 
"when  in  excess,  to  destroy  the  blood  globules  and  to  cause  irritiition 
of  the  kidneys  by  the  resulting  hemoglobin  excreted  in  the  urine,  and 
of  gbrcogen  too  abundant  to  be  burned  up  in  the  system,  which  induces 
saccharine  urine  (diabetes).  Any  disorder  leading  to  impaired  func- 
tional activity  of  the  lungs  is  causative  of  an  excess  of  hippuric  acid 
and  allied  bodies,  of  oxalic  acid,  of  sugar,  etc.,  in  the  urine,  which 
irritate  the  kidneys  even  if  thej'^  do  not  produce  solid  deposits  in  the 
urinary  passages.  Diseases  of  the  nervous  system,  and  notably  of  the 
base  of  the  brain  and  of  the  spinal  cord,  induce  various  urinary  dis- 
orders, prominent  among  which  are  diabetes,  ch^'lous  urine,  and  albu- 
minuria. Certain  affections,  with  imperfect  nutrition  or  destructive 
waste  of  the  bony  tissues,  tend  to  charge  the  urine  with  phosphates 
of  lime  and  magnesia.,  and  endanger  the  formation  of  stone  and  gravel. 
In  ail  extensive  inflammations  and  acute  fevers  the  liquids  of  the  urine 
are  diminished,  while  the  solids  (waste  products),  which  should  form 
the  urinary"  secretion,  are  increased,  and  the  surcharged  urine  proves 
irritant  to  the  urinary  organs  or  the  retained  waste  products  poison 
the  system  at  large. 

Diseases  of  the  heart  and  lungs,  by  interfering  with  the  free  onward 
flow  of  the  blood  from  the  right  side  of  the  heart,  tend  to  throw  that 
liquid  back  on  the  veins,  and  this  backward  pressure  of  venous  blood 
strongly  tends  to  disorders  of  the  kidneys.  Certain  poisons  taken  with 
the  food  and  water,  notably  that  found  in  magnesian  limestone  and 
those  found  in  irritant  diuretic  plants,  are  especially  injurious  to  the 
kidneys,  as  are  also  various  cr3'ptogams,  whether  present  in  musty  hay 
or  oats.  The  kidneys  may  be  irritated  by  feeding  green  vegetables 
covered  with  hoar  frost  or  by  furnishing  an  excess  of  food  rich  in  phos- 
phates (wheat  bran,  beans,  pease,  vetches,  lentils,  rape  cake,  cotton- 
seed cake)  or  by  a  privation  of  water  which  entails  a  concentrated 
condition  and  high  density  of  the  urine.  Exposure  in  cold  rain  or 
snowstorms,  cold  drafts  of  air,  and  damp  beds  are  liable  to  further  dis- 
order an  already  overworked  or  irritable  kidney.  Finally,  sprains  of 
the  back  and  loins  may  cause  bleeding  from  the  kidneys  or  inflamma- 
tion. 

The  right  kidney,  weighing  23i  ounces,  is  shaped  like  a  French  bean, 
and  extends  from  the  loins  forward  to  beneath  the  heads  of  the  last 
two  ribs.  The  left  kidney  (Plate  IV)  resembles  a  heart  of  cards,  and 
extends  from  the  loins  forward  beneath  the  head  of  the  last  rib  only. 
Each  consists  of  three  distinct  parts — (a)  the  external  (cortical),  or  vas- 
cular part,  in  which  the  blood  vessels  form  elaborate  capillary  networks 
within  the  dilated  globular  sacs  which  form  the  beginnings  of  the 
secreting  (uriniferous)  tubes  and  on  the  surface  of  the  sinuous  secreting 


PKA'Cl'-,    I\-, 


./    -^^ 


niCorticrd  (or  voA-cular) portion  ;    b,  Meciullarr  (or  Izt.buZaj-) portion-; 
c,J'e.riph^.ral  portion  of  the  latter;    d,  Interior  of  t/ie  pelvic- ;   et',d', 
Armsofthe-peh't^S!  e,  Border  of  the  cre<9t ;  f,rnfundihida/n  j  g,  Ureter. 


lrt>o.M.'ux.(U-l. alter 


BiEN  &.  cot 


LOXCVITI'DINAL  SHTTION  THHOrOIl  KIDNK^' 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  77 

tubes  leading  from  the  sacs  inward  toward  the  second,  or  medullary, 
part  of  the  organ;  (J)  the  internal  (medullary)  part,  made  up  in  the 
main  of  blood  vessels,  Ij-mphatics,  and  nerves  extending  between  the 
notch  on  the  inner  border  of  the  kidney  to  and  from  the  outer  Avascular 
portion,  in  which  the  secretion  of  urine  is  almost  exclusively  carried 
on;  and  (d)  a  large  saccular  reservoir  in  the  center  of  the  kiduej",  into 
which  all  uriniferous  tubes  pour  their  secretions  and  from  which  the 
urine  is  carried  away  through  a  tube  g  (ureter),  which  passes  out  of 
the  notch  at- the  inner  border  of  the  kidney  and  which  opens  by  a  valve- 
closed  oritice  into  the  roof  of  the  bladder  just  in  front  of  its  neck.  The 
bladder  is  a  dilatable  reservoir  for  the  retention  of  the  urine  until  the 
discomfort  of  its  presence  causes  its  voluntary  discharge.  It  is  kept 
closed  by  circular  muscular  fibers  surrounding  its  neck  or  orifice,  and 
is  emptied  by  looped  muscular  fibers  extending  in  all  directions  for- 
ward from  the  neck  around  the  blind  anterior  end  of  the  sac.  From 
the  bladder  the  urine  escapes  through  a  dilatable  tube  (urethra)  which 
extends  from  the  neck  of  the  bladder  backward  on  the  floor  of  the 
pelvis,  and  in  the  male  through  the  penis  to  its  free  end,  where  it  opens 
through  a  pink  conical  papilla.  In  the  mare  the  urethra  is  not  more 
than  an  inch  in  length,  and  is  surrounded  by  the  circular  muscular 
fibers  closing  the  neck  of  the  bladder.  Its  opening  ma}^  be  found 
directly  in  the  median  line  of  the  floor  of  the  vulva,  about  4^  inches 
from  its  external  opening. 

GENERAL    SYMPTOMS    OF    DISEASE. 

These  apply  especially  to  acute  inflammations  and  the  irritation 
caused  by  stone.  The  animal  moves  stifil}^  on  the  hind  limbs,  strad- 
dles, and  makes  frequent  attempts  to  pass  urine,  which  may  be  in 
excess,  deficient  in  amount,  liable  to  sudden  arrest  in  spite  of  the 
straining,  passed  in  driblets,  or  entirely  suppressed.  Again,  it  may 
be  modified  in  density  or  constituents.  Difficulty  in  making  a  sharp 
turn,  or  in  lying  down  and  rising  with  or  without  groaning,  drop- 
ping the  back  when  mounted  or  when  pinched  on  the  loins  is  sugges- 
tive of  kidne}^  disease,  and  so  to  a  less  extent  are  swelled  legs,  dropsy, 
and  diseases  of  the  skin  and  nervous  sj^stem.  The  oiled  hand  intro- 
duced through  the  rectum  may  feel  the  bladder  beneath  and  detect 
any  overdistention,  swelling,  tenderness,  or  stone.  In  ponies  the 
kidneys  even  may  be  reached. 

EXAMINATION    OF    THE    URINE. 

In  some  cases  the  changes  in  the  urine  are  the  sole  sign  of  disease. 
In  health  the  horse's  urine  is  of  a  deep  amber  color  and  has  a  strong 
odor.  On  a  feed  of  grain  and  hay  it  may  show  a  uniform  transpar- 
ency, while  on  a  green  ration  there  is  an  abundant  white  deposit  of 
carbonate  of  lime.     Of  its  morbid  changes  the  following  are  to  be 


78  BUREAU    OF    A2s^IMAL   INDUSTRY. 

looked  for:  (1)  Color:  White  from  deposited  salts  of  lime;  brown  or 
red  from  blood  clots  or  coloring  matter;  3'ellow  or  orange  from  bile 
or  blood  pigment;  pale  from  excess  of  water;  or  variously  colored 
from  vegetable  ingredients  (santonin  makes  it  red;  rhubarb  or  senna, 
brown;  tar  or  carbolic  acid,  green).  (2)  Density:  The  horse's  urine 
may  be  1.030  to  1.050,  but  it  may  greatlj^  exceed  this  in  diabetes  and 
may  sink  to  1.007  in  diuresis.  (3)  Chemical  reactio?}^  as  ascertained 
by  blue  litmus  or  red  test  papers.  The  horse  on  vegetable  diet  has 
alkaline  urine  turning  red  test  papers  blue,  while  in  the  sucking  colt 
and  the  horse  fed  on  flesh  or  on  his  own  tissues  (in  starvation  or  absti- 
nence during  disease)  it  is  acid,  turning  blue  litmus  red.  (4)  Organic 
constituents^  as  when  glairy  from  albumen  coagulable  b}"  strong  nitric 
acid  and  boiling,  when  charged  with  microscopic  casts  of  the  urinifer- 
ous  tubes,  with  the  eggs  or  bodies  of  worms,  with  sugar,  blood,  or 
bile.  (5)  In  its  salts^  which  \x\%^  crystallize  out  spontaueousl}^,  or  on 
boiling,  or  on  the  addition  of  chemical  reagents. 

Albuminous  urine  in  the  horse  is  usually  glair}-,  so  that  it  may  be 
drawn  out  in  threads,  but  its  presence  can  always  be  tested  as  follows: 
If  the  liquid  is  opaque,  it  may  bo  first  passed  through  filter  paper;  if 
verj^  dense  and  already  precipitating  its  salts,  it  ma}^  be  diluted  with 
distilled  water;  add  to  the  suspected  liquid  acetic  acid  drop  b}"  drop 
until  it  reddens  the  blue  litmus  paper;  then  boil  gently  in  a  test  tube; 
if  a  precipitate  is  thrown  down,  set  the  tube  aside  to  cool  and  then  add 
strong  nitric  acid.  If  the  precipitate  is  not  dissolved  it  is  albumen; 
if  dissolved  it  was  probably  urate  or  hippurate  of  ammonia.  Albu- 
men is  normally  present  in  advanced  gestation;  abnormally  it  is  seen 
in  diseases  in  which  there  occurs  destruction  of  blood  globules 
(anthrax,  low  fevers,  watery  states  of  the  blood,  dropsies),  in  diseases 
of  the  heart  and  liver  which  prevent  the  free  escape  of  blood  from  the 
veins  and  throw  back  venous  pressure  on  the  kidneys,  in  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs  and  pleurae,  and  even  tympan}'  (bloating),  doubtless 
from  the  same  cause,  and  in  all  congestive  or  inflammatory  diseases  of 
the  kidncj-s,  acute  or  chronic. 

Casts  of  the  uriniferous  tubes  can  onl}-  be  seen  h\  placing  the  sus- 
pected urine  under  the  microscope.  They  are  usually  very  elastic 
and  mobile,  waving  about  in  the  liquid  when  the  cover-glass  is 
touched,  and  showing  a  uniform  clear  transparency  (wax}^)  or  entan- 
gled circular  epithelial  cells  or  opaque  granules  or  flattened  red-blood 
globules  or  clear  refrangent  oil  globules.  They  maj^  be  even  densely 
opaqvie  from  crj^stals  of  earthy  salts. 

Pus  cells  may  be  found  in  the  urine  associated  with  albumen,  and 
are  recognized  b}^  clearing  up,  when  treated  with  acetic  acid,  so  that 
each  cell  shows  two  or  three  nuclei. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  79 

DIURESIS  (polyuria,  DIABETES  INSIPIDUS,  OR  EXCESSIVE    SECRETION  OF 

urine). 

This  consists  in  an  excessive  secretion  of  a  clear,  watery  urine  of  a 
low  specific  gravity  (1.007)  with  a  correspondingly  ardent  thirst,  a 
rapidly  advancing  emaciation,  and  great  loss  of  strength  and  spirit. 

Causes.- — Its  causes  may  be  any  agent — medicinal,  alimentary,  or 
poisonous — which  unduly  stimulates  the  kidneys;  the  reckless  admin- 
istration of  diuretics,  which  form  such  a  common  constituent  of  quack 
horse  powders;  acrid  diuretic  plants  in  grass  or  ha}^;  new  oats  still 
imperfectl}^  cured;  an  excess  of  roots  or  other  ver}'  watery  food;  a  full 
allowance  of  salt  to  animals  that  have  become  inordinatel}^  fond  of  it; 
but,  above  all,  feeding  on  hay,  grain,  or  bran  which  has  not  been 
properl}^  dried  and  has  become  musty  and  permeated  by  fungi.  Thus 
hay,  straw,  or  oats  secured  in  wet  seasons  and  heating  in  the  riclc  or 
stack  is  especially  injurious.  Hence  this  malady,  like  coma  somnolen- 
txim  (sleepy  staggers),  is  widespread  in  wet  seasons,  and  especially  in 
rainj^  districts. 

Syraqytoms. — The  horse  drinks  deep  at  every  opportunitj^  and  passes 
urine  on  every  occasion  when  stopped,  the  discharge  being  pale, 
watery,  of  a  low  density,  and  inodorous;  in  short,  it  contains  a  great 
excess  of  water  and  a  deficiency  of  the  solid  excretions.  So  great  is 
the  quantity  passed,  however,  that  the  small  amount  of  solids  in  any 
given  specimen  amounts  in  twenty-four  hours  to  far  more  than  the 
normal — a  fact  in  keeping  with  the  rapid  wasting  of  the  tissues  and 
extreme  emaciation.  The  flanks  become  tucked  up,  the  fat  disappears, 
the  bones  and  muscles  stand  out  prominent]}^,  the  skin  becomes  tense 
and  hidebound,  and  the  hair  erect,  scurfy,  and  deficient  in  luster.  The 
eye  becomes  dull  and  sunken,  the  spirits  are  depressed,  the  animal  is 
weak  and  sluggish,  sweats  on  the  slightest  exertion,  and  can  endure 
little.  The  subject  may  survive  for  months,  or  he  may  die  early  of 
exhaustion.  In  the  slighter  cases,  or  when  ih.Q,  cause  ceases  to  operate, 
he  may  make  a  somewhat  tardy  recovery. 

Treatment. — This  consists  in  stopping  the  ingestion  of  the  faulty 
drugs,  poisons,  or  food,  and  suppljdng  sound  hay  and  grain  free  from 
all  taint  of  heating  or  mustiness.  A  liberal  supply  of  boiled  flaxseed  in 
the  drinking  water  at  once  serves  to  eliminate  the  poison  a'- j.  to  sheath 
and  protect  the  irritated  kidnej^s.  Tonics  like  sulphate  or  phosphate  of 
iron  (2  drams  morning  and  evening)  and  powered  gentian  or  Peruvian 
bark  (tt  drams)  help  greatly  bj^  bracing  the  system  and  hastening  repair. 
To  these  may  be  added  agents  calculated  to  destroy  the  fungus  and 
eliminate  its  poisonous  products.  In  that  form  which  depends  on 
musty  food  nothing  acts  better  than  large  doses  of  iodide  of  potassium 
(2  drams),  while  in  other  cases  creosote,  carbolic  acid  (1  dram),  or  oil 
of  turpentine  (i  drams)  properl}^  diluted,  may  be  resorted  to. 


80  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

SACCHARINE  DIAB"f:TES  (dIABETES  MELEITUS,  GLYCOSURIA,  OR  INOSURIA). 

This  is  primarily  ii  disease  of  the  nervous  system  or  liver  rather 
than  of  the  kidneys,  yet,  as  the  most  prominent  symptom  is  the  sweet 
urine,  it  may  be  treated  here. 

Causes. — Its  causes  are  varied,  but  resolve  themselves  largely  into 
disorder  of  the  liver  or  disorder  of  the  brain.  One  of  the  most 
prominent  functions  of  the  liver  is  the  formation  of  glycogen,  a  prin- 
ciple allied  to  grape  sugar,  and  passing  into  it  by  further  oxidation  in 
the  blood.  This  is  a  constant  function  of  the  liver,  but  in  health  the 
resulting  sugar  is  burned  up  in  the  circulation  and  does  not  appear  in 
the  urine.  On  the  contrary,  when  the  supply  of  oxygen  is  defective, 
as  in  certain  diseases  of  the  lungs,  the  whole  of  the  sugar  does  not 
undergo  combustion  and  the  excess  is  excreted  by  the  kidneys.  Also 
in  certain  forms  of  enlarged  liver  the  amount  of  sugar  produced  is 
more  than  can  be  disposed  of  in  the  natural  wa}',  and  it  appears  in  the 
urine.  A  temporary  sweetness  of  the  urine  often  occurs  after  a 
hearty  meal  on  starch}-  food,  but  this  is  due  altogether  to  the  super- 
abundant suppl}^  of  the  sugar-forming  food,  lasts  for  a  few  hours 
only,  and  has  no  pathological  signilicance.  In  many  cases  of  fatal 
glj-cosuria  the  liver  is  found  to  be  enlarged,  or  at  least  congested,  and 
it  is  found  that  the  disorder  can  be  produced  experimentall}^  by 
agencies  which  produce  an  increased  circulation  through  the  liver. 
Thus  Bernard  produced  glycosuria  by  pricking  the  oblong  meduUa  at 
the  base  of  the  brain  close  to  the  roots  of  the  pneumogtistric  nerve, 
which  happens  to  be  also  the  nerve  center  (vaso-motor)  wdiich  presides 
over  the  contractions  of  the  minute  blood  vessels.  The  pricking  and 
irritation  of  this  center  leads  to  congestion  of  the  liver  and  the  exces- 
sive production  of  sugar.  Irritation  carried  to  this  point  through  the 
pncumogastric  nerve  causes  saccharine  urine,  and,  in  keeping  with 
this,  disease  of  the  pancreas  has  been  found  in  this  maladj^.  The  com- 
plete removal  of  the  pancreas,  however,  determines  glycosuria,  the 
organ  having  in  health  an  inhilntive  action  on  sugar  production  by 
the  liver.  The  same  result  follows  the  reflection  of  irritation  from 
other  sources,  as  from  different  ganglia  (corpora  striata,  optic  thalami, 
pons,  cerebellum,  cerebrum)  of  the  brain.  Similarly  it  is  induced  by 
interruptiu'  of  the  nervous  control  along  the  vaso-motor  tracts,  as  in 
destruction  of  the  upper  or  lower  cervical  S3'mpathetic  ganglion,  by 
cutting  the  nervous  branch  connecting  these  two,  in  injurj^  to  the 
spinal  IT.  irrow  in  the  interval  between  the  brain  and  the  second  or 
fourth  dorsa^  vertebra,  or  in  disease  of  the  celiac  plexus,  which 
directly  presides  over  the  liver.  Certain  chemical  poisons  also  cause 
saccharine  urine,  notably  woorara,  strj^chnia,  morphia,  phosphoric  acid, 
alcohol,  ether,  quinia,  chloroform,  ammonia,  arsenic,  and  phlorizin. 

Symj)toms. — The  symptoms  are  ardent  thirst  and  profuse  secretion 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  81' 

of  a  pale  urine  of  a  high  density  (1.060  and  upward),  rapid  loss  of  con- 
dition, scurfy,  unthrifty  skin,  costiveness  or  irregularity^  of  the  bowels,, 
indigestion,  and  the  presence  in  the  urine  of  a  sweet  principle — grape- 
sugar  or  inosite,  or  both.  This  may  be  most  promptly  detected  by 
touching  the  tip  of  the  tongue  with  a  drop.  Sugar  may  be  detected 
simply  b}^  adding  a  teaspoonf  ul  of  liquid  3^east  to  4  ounces  of  the  urine 
and  keeping  it  lightly  stopped  at  a  temperature  of  70°  to  80°  F.  for 
twelve  hours,  when  the  sugar  will  be  found  to  have  been  changed  inta 
alcohol  and  carbon  dioxide.  The  loss  of  density  will  give  indication, 
of  the  amount  of  sugar  transformed;  thus  a  density  of  1.035  in  a  urine 
which  was  formerlj^  1.060  would  indicate  about  16  grains  of  sugar  to 
the  fluid  ounce. 

Inosite,  or  muscle  sugar,  frequently  present  in  the  horse's  urine,  and 
even  replacing  the  glucose,  is  not  fermentable.  Its  presence  may  be. 
indicated  by  its  sweetness  and  the  absence  of  fermentation  or  by  Gal- 
lois'  test.  Evaporate  the  suspected  urine  at  a  gentle  heat  almost  ta 
dryness,  then  add  a  drop  of  a  solution  of  mercuric  nitrate  and  evapo- 
rate carefully  to  dryness,  when  a  yellowish  residue  is  left  that  is- 
changed  on  further  cautious  heating  to  a  deep  rose  color,  which  dis- 
appears on  cooling  and  reappears  on  heating. 

In  advanced  diabetes,  dropsies  in  the  limbs  and  under  the  chest  and. 
bell}^,  puffy,  swollen  eyelids,  cataracts,  catarrhal  inflammation  of  the. 
lungs,  weak,  uncertain  gait,  and  drowsiness  may  be  noted. 

Treatment  is  most  satisfactory  in  cases  dependent  on  some  curable 
disease  of  liver,  pancreas,  lungs,  or  brain.  Thus,  in  liver  diseases,  a. 
run  at  pasture  in  warm  weather,  or  in  winter  a  warm,  sunny,  well- 
aired  stable,  with  sufficient  clothing  and  laxatives  (sulphate  of  soda, 
1  ounce  daily)  and  alkalies  (carbonate  of  potassium,  one-fourth  ounce) 
may  benefit.  To  this  may  be  added  mild  blistering,  cupping,  or  even 
leeching  over  the  last  ribs.  Diseases  of  the  brain  or  pancreas  may  ba 
treated  according  to  their  indications.  The  diet  should  be  mainh-" 
albuminous,  such  as  wheat  bran  or  middlings,  pease,  beans,  vetches, 
and  milk.  Indeed,  an  exclusive  milk  diet  is  one  of  the  very  best; 
remedial  agencies.  It  may  be  given  as  skimmed  milk  or  buttermilk, 
and  in  the  last  case  combines  an  antidiabetic  remedy  in  the  lactic  acid«. 
Under  such  an  exclusive  diet  recent  and  mild  cases  are  often  ontir*  ly 
restored,  though  at  the  expense  of  an  attack  of  rheumatism.  "  (Jodeia. 
one  of  the  alkaloids  of  opium,  is  strongly  recommended  by  Dr.  Tyson, 
The  dose  for  the  horse  would  be  10  to  15  grains  thrice  daily.  In  cases- 
in  which  there  is  manifest  irritation  of  the  brain  bromide  of  potas- 
sium, 4  drams,  or  ergot  one-half  ounce,  may  be  resorted  to.  Salicylic 
acid  and  salic3"late  of  sodium  have  prov^ed  useful  in  certain  cases;  also 
phosphate  of  sodium.  Bitter  tonics  (especially  nux  vomica  one-half 
dram)  are  useful  in  improving  thenligostion  and  general  health. 
11381—03—6 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


BLOODY    URINE,    OR   HE>L\TURIA. 


Cause. — As  seen  in  the  horse,  bloodj'-  urine  is  usually  the  direct 
result  of  mechanical  injuries,  as  sprains  and  fractures  of  the  loins, 
lacerations  of  the  sublumbar  muscles  (psoas),  irritation  caused  by  stone 
in  the  kidney,  ureter,  bladder,  or  urethra.  It  may,  however,  occur 
with  acute  congestion  of  the  kidney,  with  tumors  in  its  substance,  or 
with  papilloma  or  other  diseased  growth  in  the  bladder.  Acrid  diu- 
retic plants  present  in  the  food  may  also  lead  to  the  escape  of  blood 
from  the  kidney.  The  predisposition  to  this  affection  is,  however, 
incoraparabh^  less  than  in  the  case  of  the  ox  or  the  sheep,  the  differ- 
ence being  attributed  to  the  greater  plasticity  of  the  horse's  blood  in 
connection  with  the  larger  quantity  of  fibrin. 

The  blood  may  be  present  in  small  clots  or  in  more  or  less  intimate 
admixture  with  the  urine.  Its  condition  may  furnish  some  indication 
as  to  its  source;  thus,  if  from  the  kidneys  it  is  more  likely  to  be  uni- 
formly diffused  through  the  urine,  while  as  furnished  by  the  bladder 
or  passages  clots  are  more  likely  to  be  present.  Again,  in  bleeding 
from  the  kidney,  minute  cylindrical  clots  inclosing  blood  globules  and 
formed  in  the  uriniferous  tubes  can  be  detected  under  the  microscope. 
Precision  also  may  be  aj^proxi mated  by  observing  whether  there  is 
coexisting  fracture,  sprain  of  the  loins,  or  stone  or  tumor  in  the  blad- 
der or  urethra. 

Treatment. — The  disease  being  mainly  due  to  direct  injury,  treatment 
will  consist,  first,  in  removing  such  cause  whenever  possible,  and  then 
in  appl3dng  general  and  local  styptics.  Irritants  in  food  must  be 
avoided,  sprains  appropriately  treated,  and  stone  in  bladder  or  urethra 
removed.  Then  give  mucilaginous  drinks  (slippery  elm,  linseed  tea) 
freeh',  and  styptics  (tincture  of  chloride  of  iron  3  drams,  acetate  of 
lead  one-half  dram,  tannic  acid  one-half  dram,  or  oil  of  turpentine  1 
ounce).  If  the  discharge  is  abundant,  apply  cold  water  to  the  loins 
and  keep  the  animal  perfectl}^  still. 

HEMOGLOBINURIA    (aZOTURIA,    AZOTEMIA,    POISONING   BY   ALBUMINOIDS). 

Like  diabetes,  this  is  rather  a  disease  of  the  liver  and  blood-forming 
functions  than  of  the  kidney,  but  as  prominent  s^miptoms  are  loss 
of  control  over  the  hind  limbs  and  the  passage  of  ropy  and  dark- 
colored  urine,  the  vulgar  idea  is  that  it  is  a  disorder  of  the  urinary 
organs.  It  is  a  complex  affection  directly  connected  with  a  pletliora 
in  the  blood  of  nitrogenized  constituents,  with  extreme  nervous  and 
muscular  disorder  and  the  excretion  of  a  dense  reddish  or  brownish 
urine.  It  is  directl}''  connected  with  high  feeding,  especially  on  highly 
nitrogenized  food  (oats,  beans,  pease,  vetches,  cottonseed  meal),  and 
with  a  period  of  idleness  in  the  stall  under  full  rations.  The  disease 
is  never   seen  at  pasture,   rarely  under  constant  dail}"  work,   even 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  83 

though  the  feeding  be  high,  and  the  attack  is  usually  precipitated  by 
taking  the  horse  from  the  stable  and  subjecting  it  to  exercise  or  work. 
The  poisoning  is  not  present  when  taken  from  the  stable,  as  the  horse 
is  likely  to  be  noticeably  lively  and  spirited,  but  he  will  usually  suc- 
cumb under  the  first  hundred  j^ards  or  half  mile  of  exercise.  It  seems 
as  if  the  aspiratory  power  of  the  chest  under  the  sudden  exertion  and 
accelerated  breathing  speedily  drew  from  the  gorged  liver  and  abdom- 
inal veins  (portal)  the  accumulated  store  of  nitrogenous  matter  in  an 
imperfectly  oxidized  or  elaborated  condition,  and  as  if  the  blood, 
surcharged  with  these  materials,  was  unable  to  maintain  the  health}'' 
functions  of  the  nerve  centers  and  muscles.  It  has  been  noticed 
rather  more  frequently  in  mares  than  horses,  attributable,  perhaps, 
to  the  nervous  excitement  attendant  on  heat,  and  to  the  fact  that  the 
unmutilated  mare  is  naturally  more  excitable  .than  the  docile  geldi  ng. 

Lignieres  has  found  in  hemoglobinuria  a  streptococcus  which  pi'o- 
duccd  nephritis,  blood}^  urine,  and  paraplegia  in  experimental  animals, 
including  horses, 

Sympto7ns. — In  the  milder  forms  this  affection  ma}^  appear  as  a 
lameness  in  one  limb,  from  indefinite  cause,  succeeding  to  some  sud- 
den exertion  and  attended  b}^  a  dusky-brown  color  of  the  membranes 
of  the  ej^e  and  nose  and  some  wincing  when  the  last  ribs  are  struck. 
The  severe  forms  come  on  after  one  or  two  days  of  rest  on  a  full 
ration,  when  the  animal  has  been  taken  out  and  driven  one  hundred 
paces  or  more.  The  fire  and  life  with  which  he  had  left  the  stable 
suddenly  give  place  to  dullness  and  oi:>pression,  as  shown  in  heaving 
flanks,  dilated  nostrils,  pinched  face,  perspiring  skin,  and  trembling 
body.  The  muscles  of  the  loins  or  haunch  become  swelled  and  rigid, 
the  subject  moves  stiffly  or  unsteadily,  crouches  behind,  the  limbs 
being  carried  semiflexed,  and  he  soon  drops,  unable  to  support  him- 
self. When  down,  the  body  and  limbs  are  moved  couvulsivel}',  but 
there  is  no  power  of  coordination  of  movement  in  the  muscles.  The 
pulse  and  breathing  are  accelerated,  the  eyes  red  with  a  tinge  of 
brown,  and  the  urine,  if  passed,  is  seen  to  be  highly  colored,  dark 
brown,  red,  or  black,  but  it  contains  neither  blood  clots  nor  globules. 
The  color  is  mainly  due  to  hemoglobin  and  other  imperfectly  ela])0- 
rated  constituents  of  the  blood. 

It  may  end  fatally  in  a  few  hours  or  days,  or  a  recovery  may  ensue, 
which  is  usually  more  speedy  and  perfect  if  it  has  set  in  at  an  early 
stage.  In  the  late  and  tardj^  recoveries  a  partial  paralysis  of  the  hind 
limbs  ma}^  last  for  months.  A  frequent  sequel  of  these  tardy  cases  is 
an  extensive  wasting  of  the  muscles  leading  up  from  the  front  of  the 
stifle  (those  supplied  by  the  crural  nerve),  and  a  complete  inability  to 
stand. 

Prevention. — The  prevention  of  this  serious  affection  lies  in  restrict- 
ing the  diet  and  giving  daily  exercise  when  the  animal  is  not  at  work. 


84  BUKEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

A  liorse  that  has  had  one  attack  should  uever.be  left  idle  for  a  sinolc 
day  in  the  stall  or  barnyard.  When  a  horse  has  been  condemned  to 
absolute  repose  on  good  feeding  he  may  have  a  laxative  (one-half  to  1 
pound  Glauber's  salts),  and  have  graduated  exercise,  beginning  with 
a  shoi-t  walk  and  increasing  day  by  day. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  the  mild  cases  may  consist  in  a  laxa- 
tive, graduated  daily  exercise,  and  a  daily  dose  of  saltpeter  (1  ounce). 
Sudden  atta<;ks  will  sometimes  promptly  subside  if  taken  on  the  in- 
stant and  the  subject  kept  still  and  calmed  by  a  dose  of  bromide  of 
potassium  (4  drams)  and  sweet  spirits  of  niter  (1  ounce).  The  latter 
has  the  advantage  of  increasing  the  secretion  of  the  kidneys.  Iodide 
of  potassium  in  one-half  ounce  doses  every  four  hours  has  succeeded 
well  in  some  hands.  In  severe  cases,  as  a  rule,  it  is  desirable  to  begin 
treatment  by  a  dose  of  aloes  (4  to  6  drams)  with  the  above-named 
dose  of  bromide  of  potassium,  and  this  latter  may  be  continued  at 
intervals  of  four  or  six  hours,  as  may  be  requisite  to  calm  the  nervous 
excitement.  Fomentations  with  warm  water  over  the  loins  are  always 
useful  in  calming  the  excitable  conditions  of  the  spinal  cord,  nuiscles, 
liver,  and  kidneys,  and  also  in  favoring  secretion  from  the  two  latter. 
On  the  second  day  diuretics  may  be  resorted  to,  such  as  saltpeter  one- 
half  ounce,  and  powdered  colchicum  one-half  dram,  to  be  repeated 
twice  daily.  A  laxative  may  be  repeated  in  three  or  four  da3's  should 
the  bowels  seem  to  demand  it,  and  as  the  nervous  excitement  disap- 
pears, any  remaining  muscular  weakness  or  paralysis  maj^  be  treated 
by  one-half  dram  doses  of  nux  vomica  twice  a  day  and  a  stimulating 
liniment  (aqua  ammonia  and  sweet  oil  in  equal  proportions)^-ubbed  on 
the  torpid  muscles. 

During  the  course  of  the  disease  friction  to  the  limbs  is  useful,  and 
in  the  advanced  paralytic  stage  the  application  of  electricity  along  the 
line  of  the  affected  muscles.  When  the  patient  can  not  stand  he  must 
have  a  thick,  soft  bed,  and  should  be  turned  from  side  to  side  at  least 
every  twelve  hours.  As  soon  as  he  can  be  made  to  stand  he  may  be 
helped  up  and  even  supported  in  a  sling. 

ACUTE    INFIAMIMATION    OF   THE    KIDNEYS,  OR   ACUTE    NEPHRITIS. 

Inflammations  of  the  kidneys  have  been  differentiated  widely,  accord- 
ing as  they  were  acute  or  chronic,  parench3^matous  or  tubal,  suppura- 
tive or  not,  with  increased  or  shrunken  kidney,  etc. ;  but  in  a  work  like 
the  present,  utility  will  be  consulted  by  classing  all  under  acute  or 
chronic  inflammation. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  inflammation  of  the  kidneys  are  extremely 
varied.  Congestion  occurs  from  the  altered  and  irritant  products  passed 
through  these  organs  during  recovery  from  inflammations  of  other 
organs  and  during  fevers.  This  ma}^  last  onlj^  during  the  existence  of 
its  cause,  or  may  persist  and  become  aggravated.     Heart  disease,  throw- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOUSE.  85 

ino^  the  blood  pressure  back  on  the  veins  and  kidnej^s,  is  anotlier  cause. 
Disease  of  the  ureter  or  bladder,  preventing  the  escape  of  urine  from 
the  kidne}^  and  causing  increased  fullness  and  tension  in  its  pelvis  and 
tubes,  will  determine  inflammation.  Decomposition  of  the  detained 
urine  in  such  cases,  and  the  production  of  ammonia  and  other  irritants, 
must  also  be  named.  In  elimination  of  bacteria  through  the  kidnej,  the 
latter  is  liable  to  infection  with  consequent  inflammation.  The  advance 
of  bacteria  upward  from  the  bladder  to  the  kidneys  is  another  cause. 
The  consumption  in  hay  or  other  fodder  of  acrid  or  irritant  plants, 
including  fungi,  the  absorption  of  cantharidine  from  a  surface  blistered 
by  Spanish  flies,  the  reckless  administration  of  diuretics,  the  presence 
of  stones  in  the  kidne}^,  exposure  of  the  surface  to  cold  and  wet,  and 
the  infliction  of  blows  or  sprains  on  the  loins,  may  contribute  to  its 
production.  Liver  disorders  which  throw  on  the  kidneys  the  work  of 
excreting  irritant  products,  diseases  of  the  lungs  and  heart  from  which 
clots  are  carried,  to  be  arrested  in  the  small  blood  vessels  of  the  kid- 
ney, and  injuries  and  paralysis  of  the  spinal  cord,  are  additional  causes. 

Symjjtoms. — The  S3'mptoms  are  more  or  less  fever,  manifest  stifi'ness 
of  the  back  and  straddling  gait  with  the  hind  limbs,  difficult}'  in  lying 
down  and  rising,  or  in  walking  in  a  circle,  the  animal  sometimes 
groaning  under  the  effort,  arching  of  the  loins  and  tucking  up  of  the 
flank,  looking  back  at  the  abdomen  as  if  from  colicky  pain,  and  ten- 
derness of  the  loins  to  pinching,  especially  just  beneath  the  bony 
processes  6  inches  to  one  side  of  the  median  line.  Urine  is  passed 
frequentl}^,  a  small  quantit}"  at  a  time,  of  a  high  color,  and  sometimes 
mixed  with  blood  or  even  pus.  Under  the  microscope  it  shows  the 
microscopic  casts  referred  to  under  general  symptoms.  If  treated  by 
acetic  acid,  boiling,  and  subsequent  addition  of  strong  nitric  acid,  the 
resulting  and  persistent  precipitate  indicates  the  amount  of  albumen. 
The  legs  tend  to  swell  from  the  foot  up,  also  the  dependent  parts 
beneath  the  belly  and  chest,  and  effusions  of  liquid  may  occur  within 
the  chest  or  abdomen.  In  the  male  animal  the  alternate  drawing  up 
and  relaxation  of  the  testicles  in  the  scrotum  are  suggestive,  and  in 
small  horses  the  oiled  hand  introduced  into  the  rectum  may  reach  the 
kidney  and  ascertain  its  sensitiveness. 

Treatment  demands,  first,  the  removal  of  any  recognized  cause. 
Then,  if  the  suffering  and  fever  are  high,  2  to  4  quarts  of  blood  may 
be  abstracted  from  the  jugular  vein;  in  weak  subjects  or  unless  in 
high  fever  this  should  be  omitted.  Next  relieve  the  kidneys  so  far 
as  possible  by  throwing  their  work  on  the  bowels  and  skin.  A  pint 
of  castor  oil  is  less  likely  than  either  aloes  or  salts  to  act  on  the  kid- 
neys. To  affect  the  skin  a  warm  stall  and  heavj'^  clothing  may  be 
supplemented  by  dram  doses  of  Dover's  powder.  Pain  may  be 
soothed  by  dram  doses  of  bromide  of  potassium.  Boiled  flaxseed 
ma}'  be  added  to  the  drinking  water,  and  also  thrown  into  the  rectum 


86  BUEEAU    OF    A^^'IATAL    I^'DUSTKY. 

as  an  injection,  and  blankets  saturated  vrith  hot  water  should  be  per- 
sistently applied  to  the  loins.  This  may  be  followed  by  a  very  thin 
pulp  of  the  best  ground  mustard  made  with  tepid  water,  rubbed  in 
against  the  direction  of  the  hair,  and  covered  up  with  paper  and  a 
blanket.  This  raaj'^  be  kept  on  for  an  hour,  or  until  the  skin  thickens 
and  the  hair  stands  erect.  It  ma}^  then  be  rubbed  or  sponged  off  and 
the  blanket  reaj^plied.  When  the  action  of  the  bowels  has  been 
started  it  may  be  kept  up  by  a  daily  dose  of  2  or  3  ounces  of 
Glauber's  salts. 

During  recovery  a  course  of  bitter  tonics  (nux  vomica  1  scruple, 
ground  gentian  root  4  drams)  should  be  given.  The  patient  should 
also  be  guarded  against  cold,  wet,  and  any  active  exertion  for  some 
time  after  all  active  symptoms  have  subsided. 

CHRONIC    INFLAMMATION    OF   THE    KIDNEYS. 

Causes. — Chronic  inflammation  of  the  kidne3^s  is  more  commonly 
associated  with  albumen  and  casts  in  the  urine  than  the  acute  form, 
and  in  some  instances  these  conditions  of  the  urine  ma}"  be  the  only 
prominent  symptoms  of  the  disease.  Though  it  may  supervene  on 
blows,  injuries,  and  exposures,  it  is  much  more  commonly  connected 
with  faulty  conditions  of  the  sj'stem — as  indigestion,  hea-ii;  disease,  lung 
or  liver  disease,  imperfect  blood  formation,  or  assimilation;  in  short, 
it  is  rather  the  attendant  on  a  constitutional  infirmity  than  on  a  simple 
local  injury. 

It  may  be  associated  with  various  forms  of  diseased  kidney,  as 
shrinkage  (atrophy),  increase  (hypertrophy),  softening,  red  congestion, 
white  enlargement,  etc.,  so  that  it  forms  a  group  of  diseases  rather 
than  a  disease  hy  itself. 

Symjotorns. — The  symptoms  may  include  stiffness,  weakness,  and 
increased  sensibility  of  the  loins,  and  modified  secretion  of  urine 
(increase  or  suppression),  or  the  flow  may  be  natural.  Usually  it  con- 
tains albumen,  the  amount  furnishing  a  fair  criterion  of  the  gravity"  of 
the  affection,  and  microscopic  casts,  also  most  abundant  in  bad  cases. 
Drops}',  manifested  in  swelled  legs,  is  a  significant  symptom,  and  if 
the  effusion  takes  place  along  the  lower  line  of  the  body,  or  in  chest 
or  abdomen,  the  significance  is  increased.  A  scurfy,  unthrifty  skin, 
lack-luster  hair,  inability  to  sustain  severe  or  continued  exertion,  poor 
or  irregular  appetite,  loss  of  fat  and  flesh,  softness  of  the  muscles,  and 
pallor  of  the  eyes  and  nose  are  equally  suggestive.  So  are  sldn  erup- 
tions of  various  kinds.  Any  one  or  more  of  these  symptoms  would 
warrant  an  examination  of  the  urine  for  albumen  and  casts,  the  finding 
of  which  signifies  renal  inflammation. 

Treatment  of  these  cases  is  not  always  satisfactory,  as  the  cause  is 
liable  to  be  maintained  in  the  disorders  of  important  organs  elsewhere. 
If  any  such  coincident  disease  of  another  organ  or  function  can  be 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  87 

detected,  that  should  be  treated  first  or  simultaneous!}^  with  this  affec- 
tion of  the  kidne3's.  In  all  cases  the  building  up  of  the  general  health 
is  important.  Hence  a  course  of  tonics  may  be  given  (phosphate  of 
iron  2  drams,  nux  vomica  20  grains,  powdered  gentian  root  4  drams, 
daily)  or  60  drops  of  sulphuric  acid  or  nitromuriatic  acid  may  be 
given  daily  in  the  drinking  water.  If  there  is  any  elevated  tempera- 
ture of  the  body  and  tenderness  of  the  loins,  fomentations  may  be 
applied,  followed  by  a  mustard  pulp,  as  for  acute  inflammation,  and 
even  in  the  absence  of  these  indications  the  mustard  may  be  resorted 
to  with  advantage  at  intervals  of  a  few  daj's.  In  suppression  of  urine, 
fomentations  with  warm  water  or  with  infusion  of  digitalis  leaves  is  a 
safer  resort  than  diuretics,  and  cupping  over  the  loins  may  also  benefit. 
To  appl}^  a  cup  shave  the  skin  and  oil  it;  then  take  a  narrow-mouthed 
glass,  rarify  the  air  within  it  by  introducing  a  taper  in  full  flame  for 
a  second,  withdraw  the  taper  and  instantl}^  apply  the  mouth  of  the 
glass  to  the  skin  and  hold  it  closely  applied  till  the  cooling  tends  to 
form  a  vacuum  in  the  glass  and  to  draw  up  the  skin,  like  a  sucker. 

As  in  the  acute  inflammation,  every  attention  must  be  given  to  secure 
warm  clothing,  a  warm  stall,  and  pure  air. 

TUMORS    OF    THE    KIDNEYS. 

Tumors,  whether  malignant  or  simple,  would  give  rise  to  sjmiptoms 
resembling  some  form  of  inflammation,  and  are  not  likely  to  be  recog- 
nized during  life. 

PARASITES. 

To  parasites  of  the  kidney  belong  the  echinococciis,  the  larval,  or 
bladder-worm,  stage  of  the  small  echinococcus  tapeworm  of  the  dog; 
also  the  Cysticercus  Jlstularis,  another  bladder  worm  of  an  unknown 
tapeworm;  in  these  there  is  the  possibility  of  the  passage  with  the 
urine  of  a  detached  head  of  the  bladder  worm  or  of  some  of  its  micro- 
scopic booklets,  which  might  be  found  in  the  sediment  of  the  urine 
and  thus  establish  a  diagnosis.  DloctojjJiyme  renah,  the  largest  of 
roundworms,  has  been  found  in  the  kidney  of  the  horse.  Its  presence 
can  onl}^  bo  certified  by  the  passage  of  its  microscopic  eggs  or  of  the 
entire  worm.  Immature  stages  of  the  armed  roundworm  of  the  horse, 
Stro7igylus  equinus,  may  be  found  in  the  renal  arter}"  or  in  the  kidney 
itself. 

SPASM    OF   THE    NECK   OF   THE    BLADDER. 

This  affection  consists  in  spasmodic  closure  of  the  outlet  from  the 
bladder  by  tonic  contraction  of  the  circular  muscular  fibers.  It  may 
be  accompanied  by  a  painful  contraction  of  the  muscles  on  the  body 
of  the  bladder;  or,  if  the  organ  is  alread}^  unduly  distended,  these  will 
be  affected  with  temporary  paral3^sis.  It  is  most  frequent  in  the  horse, 
but  by  no  means  unkno^vn  in  the  mare. 


88  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Causes. — The  causes  are  usually  hard  and  continuous  driving  with- 
out opportunit}'  for  passing  urine,  cold  rainstorms,  drafts  of  cold  air 
when  perspiring  and  fatigued,  the  administration  of  Spanisli  fly  or  the 
application  of  extensive  blisters  of  the  same,  alnise  of  diuretics,  the 
presence  of  acrid  diuretic  plants  in  the  fodder,  and  the  presence  of 
stone  in  the  bladder.^  As  most  mares  refuse  to  urinate  while  in  har- 
ness, they  should  be  unhitched  at  suitable  times  for  urination. 
Spasms  of  the  bowels  are  always  attended  by  spasm  of  the  bladder, 
hence  the  free  passage  of  water  is  usually  a  symptom  of  relief. 

Si/OTvptoms. — The  symptoms  are  frequent  stretching  and  straining 
to  urinate,  with  no  result  or  a  slight  dribbling  only.  These  vain 
efforts  are  attended  by  pain  and  groaning.  On  resuming  his  natural 
position  the  animal  is  not  freed  from  the  pain,  but  moves  uneasily, 
paws,  shakes  the  tail,  kicks  at  the  abdomen  with  his  hind  feet,  looks 
back  to  the  flank,  lies  down  and  rises,  arches  the  back,  and  attempts  to 
urinate  as  before.  If  the  oiled  hand  is  introduced  into  the  rectum  the 
greatly  distended  bladder  may  be  felt  beneath,  and  the  patient  Avill 
often  shrink  when  it  is  handled. 

It  is  important  to  notice  that  irritation  of  the  urinary  organs  is 
often  present  in  impaction  of  the  colon  with  solid  matters,  because  the 
impacted  intestine  under  the  straining  of  the  patient  is  forced  back- 
ward into  the  pelvis  and  presses  upon  and  irritates  the  bladder.  In 
such  cases  the  horse  stands  with  his  fore  limbs  advanced  and  the  hind 
ones  stretched  back  beyond  the  natural  posture,  and  makes  frequent 
efforts  to  urinate,  with  var^dng  success.  JJnpracticed  observers 
naturally  conclude  that  the  secondary  urinary  trouble  is  the  main  and 
only  one,  and  the  intestinal  impaction  and  obstruction  is  too  often 
neglected  until  it  is  irremediable.  In  cases  where  the  irritation  has 
caused  spasm  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder  and  overdistention  of  that 
organ,  the  mistake  is  still  more  easily  made;  hence  it  is  important  in 
all  cases  to  examine  for  the  impacted  bowel,  forming  a  bend,  or  loop, 
at  the  entrance  of  the  pelvis  and  usually  toward  the  left  side.  The 
impacted  intestine  feels  soft  and  doughy,  and  is  easily  indented  with 
the  knuckles,  forming  a  marked  contrast  with  the  tense,  elastic,  resil- 
ient, overdistended  bladder. 

It  remains  to  be  noted  that  similar  symptoms  may  be  determined  b\^ 
a  stone  or  sebaceous  mass,  or  stricture  obstructing  the  urethra,  or  in 
the  newborn  by  thickened  mucus  in  that  duct  and  by  the  pressure  of 
hardened,  impacted  feces  in  the  rectum.  In  obstruction,  the  hard, 
impacted  bod}"  can  usually  be  felt  by  tracing  the  urethra  along  the  lower 
and  posterior  surface  of  the  penis  and  forward  to  the  median  line  of 
the  floor  of  the  pelvis  to  the  neck  of  the  bladder.  That  part  of  the 
urethra  between  the  seat  of  obstruction  and  the  bladder  is  usually 
distended  Avith  urine,  and  feels  enlarged,  elastic,  and  fluctuating. 

Treatme7it. — Treatment  may  be  begun  by  taking  the  animal  out  of 


Struriure  olthe  l\idney.  Diagrammatic. 
a  ,  Mrc/itl/arylayef:  b.Boundary  xone ;  c,  Cortica/  Lover;  l.ExcrUorr  luhe;2,Opw 
"Iff  on  thr  summit  ofrena/ paf>Ma;3,First  branch  of  hifu/^caUon;  i,.  Second  branch 
orbif„rca(uvi;  :>,ThuYl  brancfy  of  birurccit4on.:6,SLrniqht  collecting  Cube-  7,  Junc- 
tional lubule  ,S,  Ascending  portion  ofHentesLoop;  9,  Descending  portion  or  Henies 
loop;  JO, Loop  ot^IIcnle;  Jl,  Con  \ ■oluted  tubule ;  J-?,  Mcdpighian  corpuscle;  13,Se/ial  ar-^ 
tery:M,Bran<h   supplying  the  glonwruli ;  15. /Iffereni  wssel ofthe  glomeruli ;  16, 
Branch  going  rUreetiy  to  the  capillaries;  IZStrcdght  arterioles  corrung  dire<:tlr 
Iron/  the  renal  artery :  lS..Struif/ht  arteriole  co/nin//  from  theizfler^eni  ve.vsel  of  tfie 
glomerulus;  J9,  Straight  arteriole  conung  from  the  capdlary  ple.rus;  ZO.Vascfdar 
loop  of  the  pyr-amuls;k'l,  Efferent  vessel  of  the  glomernhis  going  to  the  capillarv 
plexus,  SZ.CapiUajy  plea:us  of  the  glomerular  part  of  the   cortical  substance; 
2JXapillcuy  pleocus  of  the  pyramids  of  Ferret n;  ?{i,(ort.(eal  pl^Misofthekcdney 
i'o.Ve^tae  stellalae ;  ^6;Vein  coming  front  t/ic  cripillari&v  of  the  cortege;  27,  Jnte'r- 
lobularyein ;   ZS,  Vein   receiA'i/hg  tJie  venae  rectrie ;  29,  lenae  rectcte . 

.Vote  :  The  shaded  part  of  the  iirijiary  duds  represent  the  part  in    nlii<h  the 
epithelium  is  roc/ded  and  of  a  granuh/r  ctppenrance  . 


mici?()S('.()pk:  anatomy  of  kidnev. 


I'l.Al'K    VI. 


Reiicil    CilonicM'ulu.s  . 
a,.Arlery  or' i/m  ({LomeruhiA-;  b,  Branch  siip/tlyiru/  the  (irtercnf 
\-csschoft/^£  fflomoru/i/s;  c,  A/Y'r.rc/U  vrs.iei  ot't/ie  c/lornerule; 
d, Artery  ffoing  difcrtly  to  the  capiU-ary  ph\TCUA-  oF the  cortical 
siihstctn.ce  t  e ,  CapUlary  pleocus ;  f,  Glomeniliis. 


Renal  Gloinervilu.s  wiUi  its  affereiitvessels  and efferei iLs . 
a.  Branch  of  renal  artery;  b.A/'fere/U  vessel  o/'tfw 
(/! oniefitlfus ;  c,  Glonieriiliuv ;  d ,  Afferent  I'ftv.s-f'/  f/o- 
i/iff  into  corpuscle  cof  Malpit/hi . 


Geo.Marx.ancrD'jVrboval  .  p  372.        371. 

MH^ru^sc'OPir  .vxatomv of Tvldxky. 


PLATE  Vll. 


Plwsphatic  cnJcidu.-i,  iiric  (tcu/  ru/deii.s-. 


X  215 
Cfdailu.'i  of '  o.  i  a  ia/f  of  (tme . 


Renal  casts.  Sorru^  deprived  of 
epithcii^uTh.  Two  are  decker  colored. 

from  the  pre.fe-fire  ofura/e  ofsodrr 


Straig/it  forcep.i  UA-ed 
in  remx)\dti(/  ca.i/;wU. 


Iliiu^ps.del.aftfr  Hiirtrel  DArboval 


CALCULI  AND  INSTRUMENT  FOR  REMOVAL 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  89 

harness.  This  failing,  spread  clean  litter  beneath  the  belly  or  turn  the 
patient  out  on  the  dung  heap.  Some  seek  to  establish  sympathetic  action 
by  pouring  water  from  one  vessel  into  another  with  dribbling  noise. 
Others  soothe  and  distract  the  attention  by  slow  whistling.  Friction 
of  the  abdomen  with  wisps  of  straw  ma}^  succeed,  or  it  may  be  rubbed 
with  ammonia  and  oil.  These  failing,  an  injection  of  2  ounces  of 
laudanum  or  of  an  infusion  of  1  ounce  of  tobacco  in  water  may  be 
tried.  In  the  mare  the  neck  of  the  bladder  is  easily  dilated  by  insert- 
ing two  oiled  fingers  and  slightly  parting  them.  In  the  horse  the  oiled 
hand  introduced  into  the  rectum  ma}^  press  from  before  backward  on 
the  anterior  or  blind  end  of  the  bladder.  Finally,  a  well-oiled  gum- 
elastic  catheter  ma}^  be  entered  into  the  urethra  through  the  papilla 
at  the  end  of  the  penis  and  pushed  on  carefull}^  until  it  has  entered 
the  bladder.  To  effect  this  the  penis  must  first  be  withdrawn  from 
its  sheath,  and  when  the  advancing  end  of  the  catheter  has  reached 
the  bend  of  the  urethra  beneath  the  anus  it  must  be  guided  forward 
b}^  pressure  with  the  hand,  which  guidance  must  be  continued  onward 
into  the  bladder,  the  oiled  hand  being  introduced  into  the  rectum  for 
this  purpose.  The  horse  catheter,  Si  feet  long  and  one-third  inch  in 
diameter,  maj^  be  bought  of  a  surgical-instrument  maker. 

PARALYSIS    OF   THE   BLADDER. 

Paralysis  of  the  body  of  the  bladder  with  spasm  of  the  neck  has 
been  described  under  the  last  heading,  and  may  occur  in  the  same  way 
from  oyerdistention  in  tetanus,  acute  rheumatism,  paraplegia,  and 
hemiplegia,  in  which  the  animal  can  not  stretch  himself  to  stale,  and 
in  cystitis,  affecting  the  body  of  the  bladder  but  not  the  neck.  In  all 
these  cases  the  urine  is  suppressed.  It  also  occurs  as  a  result  of 
disease  of  the  posterior  end  of  the  spinal  marrow  and  with  broken 
back,  and  is  then  associated  with  palsy  of  the  tail,  and,  it  ma}^  be,  of 
the  hind  limbs. 

Si/mjjtoms. — The  sj'^mptoms  are  a  constant  dribbling  of  urine  when 
the  neck  is  involved,  the  liquid  running  down  the  inside  of  the  thighs 
and  irritating  the  skin.  When  the  neck  is  unaffected  the  urine  is 
retained  until  the  bladder  is  greatly  overdistended,  when  it  may  be 
expelled  in  a  gush  by  the  active  contraction  of  the  muscular  walls  of 
the  abdomen;  but  this  never  empties  the  bladder,  and  the  oiled  hand 
introduced  through  the  rectum  may  feel  the  soft,  flabby  organ  still 
half  full  of  urine.  This  retained  urine  is  liable  to  decompos^^  and  give 
off  ammonia,  which  dissolves  the  epithelial  cells,  exposing  ■  lie  raw 
mucous  membrane  and  causing  the  worst  type  of  ^-ystitis.  Suppres- 
sion and  incontinence  of  urine  are  common  also  to  obstruction  of  the 
urethra  by  stone  or  otherwise;  hence  this  source  of  fallacy  should  be 
excluded  by  manual  examination  along  the  whole  course  of  that  duct. 

Treatment. — Treatment  is  onl}^  applicable  in  cases  in  which  the  deter- 


90  BUREAU    OF    A2^IMAL    I^DUSTKY. 

mining  cause  can  be  abated.  In  remedial  sprains  of  the  back  or  disease 
of  the  spinal  cord  these  must  have  appropriate  treatment,  and  the  urine 
must  be  drawn  off  frequently  with  a  catheter  to  prevent  overdistention 
and  injury  to  the  bladder.  If  the  paralysis  persists  after  recover}^  of 
the  spinal  cord,  or  if  it  continues  after  relief  of  spasm,  of  the  neck  of  the 
bladder,  apply  a  pulp  of  mustard  and  water  over  the  back  part  of  the 
belly  in  front  of  the  udder,  and  cover  with  a  rug  until  the  hair  stands 
erect.  In  the  male  the  mustard  may  be  applied  between  the  thighs 
from  near  the  anus  downward.  Daily  doses  of  2  drams  extract  of 
belladonna  or  of  2  grains  powdered  Spanish  fly  maj^  serve  to  rouse 
the  lost  tone.-  These  failing,  a  mild  current  of  electricity  dail}-  may 
succeed. 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    BLADDER    (CTSTITIS,    OR    UROCYSTITIS). 

Cystitis  may  be  slight  or  severe,  acute  or  chronic,  partial  or  general. 
It  may  be  caused  by  abuse  of  diuretics,  especiall}'-  such  as  are  irritat- 
ing (cantharides,  turpentine,  copaiba,  resin,  etc.),  by  the  presence  of 
a  stone  or  gravel  in  the  bladder,  the  irritation  of  a  catheter  or  other 
foreign  bod}^  introduced  from  without,  the  septic  ferment  (bacterium) 
introduced  on  a  filth}'  catheter,  the  overdistention  of  the  bladder  by 
retained  urine,  the  extrication  of  ammonia  from  retained  decomposing 
urine,  resulting  in  destruction  of  the  epithelial  cells  and  irritation  of 
the-  raw  surface,  and  a  too  concentrated  and  irritating  urine.  The 
application  of  Spanish  flies  or  turpentine  over  a  too  extensive  surface, 
sudden  exposure  of  a  perspiring  and  tired  horse  to  cold  or  wet,  and 
the  presence  of  acrid  plants  in  the  fodder  may  cause  cystitis,  as  they 
may  nephritis.  Finalh%  inflammation  may  extend  from  a  diseased 
vagina  or  urethra  to  the  bladder. 

Si/mjytoms. — The  symptoms  are  slight  or  severe  colicky  pains;  the 
animal  moves  his  hind  feet  uneasily  or  even  kicks  at  the  abdomen, 
looks  around  at  his  flank,  and  may  even  lie  down  and  rise  frequently. 
More  characteristic  are  frequenth^  repeated  efforts  to  urinate,  result- 
ing in  the  discharge  of  a  little  clear,  or  red,  or  more  commonl}'  floc- 
culent  urine,  alwa3^s  in  jets,  and  accompanied  b}'  signs  of  pain,  which 
persist  after  the  discharge,  as  shown  in  continued  straining,  groaning, 
and  perhaps  in  movements  of  the  feet  and  tail.  The  penis  hangs  from 
the  sheath,  or  in  the  mare  the  vulva  is  frequently  opened  and  closed, 
as  after  urination.  The  animal  winces  when  the  abdomen  is  pressed 
in  the  region  of  the  sheath  or  udder,  and  the  bladder  is  found  to  be 
sensitive  and  tender  when  pressed  with  the  oiled  hand  introduced 
through  the  rectum  or  vagina.  In  the  mare  the  thickening  of  the 
walls  of  the  bladder  may  be  felt  by  introducing  one  finger  through 
the  urethra.  The  discharged  urine,  which  ma}'  be  turbid  or  even  oily, 
contains  an  excess  of  mucus,  with  flat  shreds  of  membrane,  with  scaly 
epithelial  cells,  and  pus  corpuscles,  each  showing  two  or  more  nuclei 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOliSE.  91 

when  treated  with  acetic  acid,  but  there  are  no  microscopic  tubular 
casts,  as  in  nephritis.  If  due  to  stone  in  the  bladder,  that  will  be 
found  on  examination  through  rectum  or  vagina. 

Treatment  implies,  first,  the  removal  of  the  cause,  whether  poisons 
in  food  or  as  medicine,  the  removal  of  Spanish  llies  or  other  blistering 
agents  from  the  skin,  or  the  extraction  of  stone  or  gravel.  If  the 
urine  has  been  retained  and  decomposed  it  must  be  completely  evac- 
uated through  a  clean  catheter,  and  the  bladder  thoroughly  washed 
out  with  a  solution  of  1  dram  of  borax  in  a  quart  of  water.  This  must 
be  repeated  twice  daily  until  the  urine  no  longer  decomposes,  because 
so  long  as  ammonia  is  developed  in  the  bladder  the  protecting  layer 
of  epithelial  cells  will  be  dissolved  and  the  surface  kept  raw  and  irri- 
table. The  diet  must  be  light  (bran  mashes,  roots,  fresh  grass),  and 
the  drink  impregnated  with  linseed  tea,  or  solution  of  slippery  elm  or 
marsh  mallow.  The  same  agents  may  be  used  to  inject  into  the  rectum, 
or  the}^  may  even  be  used  along  -with  borax  and  opium  to  inject  into 
bladder  (gum  arabic  1  dram,  opium  1  dram,  tepid  water  1  pint). 
Fomentations  over  the  loins  are  often  of  great  advantage,  and  these 
may  be  followed  or  alternated  w^ith  the  application  of  mustard,  as  in 
paralysis-  Or  the  mustard  may  be  applied  on  the  back  part  of  the 
abdomen  below  or  between  the  thighs  from  the  anus  downward. 
Finally,  when  the  acute  symptoms  have  subsided,  a  daily  dose  of  buchu 
1  dram  and  nux  vomica  one-half  dram  will  serve  to  restore  lost  tone. 

IRRITABLE    BLADDER. 

Some  horses,  and  especially  mares,  show  an  irritabilit}^  of  the  blad- 
der and  nerve  centers  presiding  over  it  by  frequent  urination  in  small 
quantities,  though  the  urine  is  not  manifestly  changed  in  character 
and  no  more  than  the  natural  amount  is  passed  in  the  twenty-four 
hours.  The  disorder  appears  to  have  its  source  quite  as  frequently 
in  the  generative  or  nervous  system  as  in  the  urinary.  A  troublesome 
and  dangerous  form  is  seen  in  mares,  which  dash  oil  and  refuse  all 
control  hj  the  rein  if  driven  with  a  full  bladder,  but  usually  prove 
docile  if  the  bladder  has  been  emptied  before  hitching.  In  other  cases 
the  excitement  connected  with  getting  the  tail  over  the  reins  is  a  pow- 
erful determining  cause.  The  condition  is  marked  in  many  mares 
during  the  period  of  '7ie«^." 

An  oleaginous  laxative  (castor  oil  1  pint)  will  serve  to  remove  any 
cause  of  irritation  in  the  digestive  organs,  and  a  careful  dieting  will 
avoid  continued. irritation  b}"  acrid  vegetable  agents.  The  b<ladder 
should  be  examined  to  see  that  there  is  no  stone  or  other  cause  of  irri- 
tation, and  the  sheath  and  penis  should  be  washed  with  soapsuds,  any 
sebaceous  matter  removed  from  the  bilocular  cavity  at  the  end  of  the 
penis,  and  the  whole  lubricated  with  sweet  oil.  Irritable  mares  should 
be  induced  to  urinate  before  they  are  harnessed,  and  those  that  clutch 


92  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  lines  under  the  tiil  nia}'  have  the  tail  set  high  by  cutting  the  cords 
on  its  loM'Cr  surface,  or  it  may  be  prevented  getting  over  the  reins  b}^ 
having  a  strap  carried  from  its  free  end  to  the  breeching.  Those 
proving  troublesome  ^hen  "in  heat"  may  have  4-dram  doses  of  bro- 
mide of  potassium,  or  they  may  be  served  by  the  male  or  castrated. 
Sometimes  irritability  may  be  lessened  by  daily  doses  of  belladonna 
extract  (1  dram),  or  a  better  tone  may  be  given  to  the  parts  b}-  balsam 
copaiba  (1  dram). 

DISEASED    GROWTHS    IN   THE    BLADDER. 

These  may  be  of  various  kinds,  malignant  or  simple.  In  the  horse 
I  have  found  villous  growths  from  the  mucous  membrane  especiall}^ 
troublesome.  They  may  be  attached  to  the  mucous  membrane  b}'  a 
narrow  neck  or  by  a  broad  base  covering  a  great  part  of  the  organ. 

Symptorrts. — The  symptoms  are  frequent  straining,  passing  of  urine 
and  blood  with  occasionally  gravel.  An  examination  of  the  bladder 
with  the  hand  in  the  rectum  will  detect  the  new  growth,  which  may 
be  distinguished  from  a  hard  resistant  stone.  In  mares,  in  which  the 
finger  can  be  inserted  into  the  bladder,  the  recognition  is  still  more 
satisfactory.  The  polypi  attached  by  narrow  necks  may  be  removed 
by  surgical  operation,  but  for  those  with  broad  attachments  treatment 
is  eminently  unsatisfactory. 

DISCHARGE    OF   URINE    BY    THE    NAVEL,  OR   PERSISTENT    URACHUS. 

This  occurs  only  in  the  newborn,  and  consists  in  the  nonclosure  of 
the  natural  channel  (urachus),  through  which  the  urine  is  discharged 
into  the  outer  water  bag  (allantois)  in  fetal  life.  At  that  early  stage 
of  the  animal  existence  the  bladder  resembles  a  long  tube,  which  is 
prolonged  through  the  navel  string  and  opens  into  the  outermost  of 
the  two  water  bags  in  which  the  fetus  floats.  In  this  way  the  urine 
is  prevented  from  entering  the  inner  water  bag  (amnion),  where  it 
would  mingle  with  the  liquids,  bathing  the  skin  of  the  fetus  and  cause 
irritation.  At  birth  this  channel  closes  up,  and  the  urine  takes  the 
course  normal  to  extra-uterine  life.  Imperfect  closure  is  more  fre- 
quent in  males  than  in  females,  because  of  the  great  length  and  small 
caliber  of  the  male  urethra  and  its  consequent  tendenc}-  to  obstruction. 
In  the  female  there  may  be  a  discharge  of  a  few  drops  only  at  a  time, 
while  in  the  male  the  urine  will  be  expelled  in  strong  jets  coincidentl}' 
with  the  contractions  of  the  bladder  and  walls  of  the  abdomen. 

The  first  care  is  to  ascertain  if  the  urethra  is  pervious  by  passing  a 
human  catheter.  This  determined,  the  open  urachus  may  be  firml}^ 
closed  by  a  stout  vraxed  thread,  carried  with  a  needle  through  the  tis- 
sues back  of  the  opening  and  tied  in  front  of  it  so  as  to  inclose  as  little 
skin  as  possible.  If  a  portion  of  the  navel  string  remains,  the  tying- 
of  that  may  be  all  sufficient.     It  is  important  to  tie  as  early  as  possi)jle 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  93 

SO  as  to  avoid  inflammation  of  the  navel  from  contact  with  the  urine. 
In  summer  a  little  carbolic-acid  v^ater  or  tar  water  may  be  applied  to 
keep  off  the  flies. 

EVERSION   OF   THE    BLADDER. 

This  can  only  occur  in  the  female.  It  consists  in  the  turning  of  the 
organ  outside  in  through  the  channel  of  the  urethra,  so  that  it  appears 
as  a  red,  pear-shaped  mass  hanging  from  the  floor  of  the  vulva  and 
protruding  extei'nally  between  its  lips.  It  may  be  a  mass  like  the  fist, 
or  it  may  swell  up  to  the  size  of  an  infant's  head.  On  examining  its 
upper  surface  the  orifices  of  the  urethra  may  be  seen,  one  on  each  side, 
a  short  distance  behind  the  neck,  with  the  urine  oozing  from  them 
drop  by  drop. 

This  displacement  usually  supervenes  on  a  flaccid  condition  of  the 
bladder,  the  result  of  paralysis,  overdistention,  or  severe  compression 
during  a  difficult  parturition. 

The  protruding  organ  may  be  washed  with  a  solution  of  1  ounce  of 
laudanum  and  a  teaspoonful  of  carbolic  acid  in  a  quart  of  water,  and 
returned  by  pressing  a  smooth,  rounded  object  into  the  fundus  and 
directing  it  into  the  urethra,  while  careful  pressure  is  made  on  the 
surrounding  parts  with  the  other  hand.  If  too  large  and  resistant  it 
may  be  wound  tightly  in  a  strip  of  bandage  about  2  inches  broad 
to  express  the  great  mass  of  blood  and  exudate  and  diminish  the  balk 
of  the  protruded  organ  so  that  it  can  be  easil}^  pushed  back.  This 
method  has  the  additional  advantage  of  protecting  the  organ  against 
bruises  and  lacerations  in  the  effort  made  to  return  it.  After  the 
return  straining  maj^  be  kept  in  check  bj'-  giving  laudanum  (1  to  2 
ounces)  and  b}"  applj'ing  a  truss  to  press  upon  the  lips  of  the  vulva 
(see  eversion  of  the  womb).  The  patient  should  be  kept  in  a  stall  a 
few  inches  lower  in  front  than  behind,  so  that  the  action  of  gravity 
will  favor  retention. 

INFLAMMATIOX   OF   THE    URETHRA  (URETHRITIS,  OR   GLEEt). 

This  affection  belongs  quite  as  much  to  the  generative  org-aus,  3'et 
it  can  not  be  entirely  overlooked  in  a  treatise  on  urinary  disorders. 
It  may  be  induced  b}"  the  same  causes  as  cystitis  (which  see);  by  the 
passage  and  temporary  arrest  of  small  stones^  or  gravel;  by  the  irrita- 
tion caused  by  foreign  bodies  introduced  from  without;  by  blows  on 
the  penis  by  sticks,  stones,  or  b}'  the  feet  of  a  mare  which  kicks  while 
being  served;  by  an  infecting  inflammation  contracted  from  a  mare 
served  in  the  first  fe^^v  days  after  parturition  or  one  suffering  from 
leucorrhea;  by  infecting  matter  introduced  on  a  dirty  catheter,  or  by 
the  extension  of  inflammation  from  an  irritated  bilocular  cavity  filled 
with  hardened  sebaceous  matter,  or  from  an  uncleansed  sheath. 

Symjptoms. — The  sj-mptoms  are  swelling,  heat,  and  tenderness  of  the 


94  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTEY. 

sheath  and  penis;  difficulty,  pain,  and  groaning  in  passing  urine,  which 
is  liable  to  sudden  temporary  arrests  in  the  course  of  micturition,  and 
latei"  a  whitish  mucopurulent  oozing  from  the  papilla  on  the  end  of  the 
penis.  There  is  a  tendenc}^  to  erection  of  the  penis,  and  in  cases  con- 
tracted from  a  mare  the  outer  surface  of  that  organ  Avill  show  more 
or  less  extensive  sores  and  ulcers.  Stallions  suffering  in  this  way  will 
refuse  to  mount,  or  having  mounted  will  fail  to  complete  the  act  of 
coition.  If  an  entrance  is  effected  infection  of  the  mare  is  liable  to 
follow. 

TreatDunt  in  the  early  stages  consists  in  a  dose  of  phj'sic  (aloes  6 
drams)  and  fomentations  of  warm  water  to  the  sheath  and  penis.  If 
there  is  reason  to  suspect  the  presence  of  infection,  inject  the  urethra 
twice  daily  with  borax  1  dram,  water  1  quart,  using  it  tepid.  Where 
the  mucopurulent  discharge  indicates  the  supervention  of  the  second 
stage,  a  more  astringent  injection  may  be  employed  (nitrate  of  silver 
20  grains,  water  1  quart),  and  the  same  may  be  applied  to  the  surface 
of  the  penis  and  inside  the  sheath.  Balsam  of  copaiba  (1  dram  daily) 
ma}^  also  be  given  with  advantage  after  the  purulent  discharge  has 
appeared. 

Every  st^illion  suffering  from  urethritis  should  be  withheld  from 
service,  as  should  mares  with  loucorrhea. 

STRICTURE    OF    THE    URETHRA. 

This  is  a  permanent  narrowing  of  the  urethra  at  a  given  point,  the 
result  of  previous  inflammation,  caused  by  the  passage  or  arrest  of  a 
stone,  or  gravel,  by  strong  astringent  injections  in  the  early  nonsecret- 
ing  stages  of  urethritis,  or  by  contraction  of  the  lining  membrane 
occurring  during  the  healing  of  ulcers  in  neglected^  inflammations  of 
that  canal.  The  trouble  is  shown  by  the  passage  of  urine  in  a  fine 
stream  with  straining,  pain,  and  groaning,  and  by  frequent  painful 
erections.  It  must  be  remedied  by  mechanical  dilatation,  with  cathe- 
ters just  large  enough  to  pass  with  gentle  force,  to  be  inserted  once  a 
day,  and  to  be  used  of  larger  size  as  the  passage  will  admit  them. 
The-  catheter  should  be  kept  perfecth^  clean,  and  washed  in  a  borax 
solution  and  well  oiled  before  it  is  introduced. 

URINARY    CALCULI    (STONE,    OR    GRAVEL). 

These  consist  in  some  of  the  solids  of  the  urine  that  have  been  pre- 
cipitated from  the  urine  in  the  form  of  crj^stals,  which  remain  apart 
as  a  fine  powdery-  mass,  or  magma,  or  aggregate  into  calculi,  or  stones, 
of  vaiying  size.  Their  composition  is  therefore  determined  in  differ- 
ent animals  b}^  the  salts  and  other  constituents  found  dissolved  in  the 
health}^  urine,  and  b}-  the  additional  constituents  which  ma}'  be  thrown 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  95 

off  in  solution  in  the  urine  in  disease.     In  this  connection  it  is  impor- 
tant to  observe  the  following-  analysis  of  the  horse's  urine  in  health: 

Water , 918.5 

Urea 13.4 

Uric  acid  and  urates 1 

Hippuric  acid 26.  4 

Lactic  acid  and  lactates 1.2 

Mucus  and  organic  matter 22.  0 

Sulphates  (alkaline) 1.  2 

Phosi^hates  (lime  and  soda) , 2 

Chlorides  (sodium)  1.0 

Carbonates  (potash,  magnesia,  lime) 16.  0 

1000.  0 
The  carbonate  of  lime,  which  is  present  in  large  amount  in  the  urine 
of  horses  fed  on  green  fodder,  is  practically  insoluble,  and  therefore 
forms  in  the  passages  after  secretion,  and  its  microscopic  rounded 
crj^stals  give  the  urine  of  such  horses  a  milky  Avhiteness.  It  is  this 
material  which  constitutes  the  soft,  w^hite,  puitaceous  mass  that  some- 
times fills  the  bladder  to  repletion  and  requires  to  be  washed  out.  In 
haj^-fed  horses  carbonates  are  still  abundant,  while  in  those  mainly 
grain-fed  they  are  rej)laced  by  hippurates  and  phosphates — the  prod- 
ucts of  the  wear  of  tissues — the  carbonates  being  the  result  of  oxida- 
tion of  the  vegetable  acids  in  the  food.  Carbonate  of  lime,  therefore, 
is  a  very  common  constituent  of  urinar}^  calculi  in  herbivora,  and  in 
many  cases  is  the  most  abundant  constituent. 

Oxalate  of  lime,  like  carbonate  of  lime,  is  derived  from  the  burning 
up  of  the  carbonaceous  matter  of  the  food  in  the  system,  one  important 
factor  being  the  less  perfect  oxidation  of  the  carbon.  Indeed,  Fiisten- 
berg  and  Schmidt  have  demonstrated  on  man,  horse,  ox,  and  rabbit, 
that  under  the  full  play  of  the  breathing  (oxidizing)  forces,  oxalic  acid, 
like  other  org-anic  acids,  is  resolved  into  carbonic  acid.  In  keeping 
with  this  is  tlie  observation  of  Lelimann  that  in  all  cases  in  which  man 
suffered  from  interference  with  the  breathing,  oxalate  of  lime  appeared 
in  the  urine.  An  excess  of  oxalate  of  lime  in  the  urine  may,  however, 
claim  a  different  origin.  Uric  and  hippuric  acids  are  found  in  the 
urine  of  carnivora  and  herbivora,  respectively,  as  the  result  of  the 
healthy  wear  (disassimilation)  of  nitrogenous  tissues.  But  if  these 
products  are  fully  oxidized  they- are  thrown  out  in  the  form  of  the 
more  soluble  urea  rather  than  as  these  acids.  When  uric  acid  out  of 
the  body  is  treated  with  peroxide  of  lead  it  is  resolved  into  urea 
allantoine,  and  oxalic  acid,  and  Woehler  and  Frerrichs  found  that  the 
administration  of  uric  acid  not  only  increased  the  excretion  of  urea, 
but  also  of  oxalic  acid.  It  may  therefore  be  inferred  that  oxalic  acid 
is  not  produced  from  the  carbonaceous  food  alone,  but  also  from  the 
disintegration  of  the  nitrogenous  tissues  of  the  body.     An  important 


96  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

element  of  its  production  is,  however,  the  imperfect  performance  of 
the  breathing  functions,  and  hence  it  is  liable  to  result  from  diseases 
of  the  chest  (heaves,  chronic  bronchitis,  etc.).  This  is  above  all  likely 
to  prove  the  case  if  the  subject  is  fed  to  excess  on  highly  carbonaceous 
foods  (grass  and  green  food  general!}',  potatoes,  etc.). 

Carbonate  of  magnesia,  another  almost  constant  ingredient  of  the 
urinar}^  calculi  of  the  horse,  is  formed  in  the  same  waj'  as  the  carbon- 
ate of  lime — from  the  excess  of  carbonaceous  food  (organic  acids) 
becoming  oxidized  into  carbon  dioxide,  which  unites  w  ith  the  magnesia 
derived  from  the  food. 

The  phosphates  of  lime  and  magnesia  are  not  abundant  in  urinary 
calculi  of  the  horse,  the  phosphates  being  onl}^  present  to  excess  in 
the  urine  in  two  conditions — (a)  when  the  ration  is  excessive  and  spe- 
cially rich  in  phosphorus  (wheat  bran,  beans,  pease,  vetches,  rape 
cake,  oil  cake,  cotton-seed  cake);  and  (h)  when,  through  the  morbid 
destructive  changes  in  the  living  tissues,  and  especiallj^  of  the  bones, 
a  great  amount  of  phosphorus  is  given  off  as  a  waste  product.  Under 
these  conditions,  however,  the  phosphates  may  contribute  to  the  for- 
mation of  calculi,  and  this  is,  above  all,  likely  if  the  urine  is  retained 
in  the  bladder  until  it  has  undergone  decomposition  and  given  off 
ammonia.  The  ammonia  at  once  unites  with  the  phosphate  of  mag- 
nesia to  form  a  double  salt — phosphate  of  ammonia  and  magnesia— 
which,  being  insoluble,  is  at  once  precipitated.  The  precipitation  of 
this  salt  is,  however,  rare  in  the  urine  of  the  horse,  though  much 
more  frequent  in  that  of  man  and  sheep. 

These  are  the  chief  mineral  constituents  of  the  urine  which  form 
ingredients  in  the  horse's  calculi,  for  though  iron  and  manganese  are 
usually  present  it  is  onl}^  in  minute  quantities. 

The  excess  of  mineral  matters  in  a  specimen  of  urine  unquestion- 
ably contributes  to  the  formation  of  calculi,  just  as  a  solution  of  such 
matters  out  of  the  bod}^  is  increasingly  disposed  to  throw  them  down  in 
the  form  of  crystals  as  it  becomes  more  concentrated  and  approaches 
nearer  to  the  condition  of  saturation.  Hence,  in  considering  the 
causes  of  calculi  we  can  not  ignore  the  factor  of  an  excessive  ration, 
rich  in  mineral  matters  and  in  carbonaceous  matters  (the  source  of 
carbonates  and  much  of  the  oxalates),  nor  can  we  overlook  the  con- 
centration of  the  urine  that  comes  from  dry  food  and  privation  of 
water,  or  from  the  existence  of  fever  which  causes  suspension  of  the 
secretion  of  water.  In  these  cases,  at  least  the  usual  amount  of  solids 
is  thrown  off  by  the  kidneys,  and  as  the  water  is  diminished  there 
is  danger  of  its  approaching  the  point  of  supersaturation,  when  the 
dissolved  solids  must  necessarll}^  be  thrown  down.  Hence,  calculi 
are  more  common  in  stabled  horses  fed  on  dry  grain  and  hay,  in  those 
denied  a  sufEciency  of  water  or  that  have  water  supplied  irregularlv, 
in  those  subjected  to  profuse  perspiration  (as   in  suiumer),  and  in 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  97 

those  suffering  from  a  watery  diarrhea.  On  the  whole,  calculi  are 
most  commonly  found  in  winter,  because  the  horses  are  then  on  dry 
feeding,  but  such  dry  feeding  is  even  more  conducive  to  them  in 
summer  when  the  condition  is  aggravated  by  the  abundant  loss  of 
water  b}^  the  skin. 

In  the  same  way  the  extreme  hardness  of  the  water  in  certain  dis- 
tricts must  be  looked  upon  as  contributing  to  the  concentration  of  the 
urine  and  correspondingly  to  the  production  of  stone.  The  carbonates^ 
sulphates,  etc.,  of  lime  and  magnesia  taken  in  the  water  must  be  again 
thrown  out,  and  just  in  proportion  as  these  add  to  the  solids  of  the 
urine  they  dispose  it  to  precipitate  its  least  soluble  constituents.  Thus, 
the  horse  is  very  obnoxious  to  calculi  on  certain  limestone  soils,  as 
over  the  calcareous  formations  of  central  and  western  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio,  in  America;  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Derbj^shire, 
Shropshire,  and  Gloucestershire,  in  England;  of  Poitou  and  Landcs, 
in  France;  and  Munich,  in  Bavaria. 

But  the  saturation  of  the  urine  from  an}^  or  all  of  these  conditions 
can  only  be  looked  on  as  an  auxiliar}^  cause,  and  not  as  in  itself  an 
efficient  one,  except  on  the  rarest  occasions.  For  a  more  direct  and 
immediate  cause  we  must  look  to  the  organic  matter  which  forms  n 
large  proportion  of  all  urinary  calculi.  This  consists  of  mucus,  albu- 
men, pus,  hyaline  casts  of  the  uriniferous  tubes,  epithelial  cells,  blood, 
etc.,  mainly  agents  that  belong  to  the  class  of  colloid  or  noncrystalline 
bodies.  A  horse  may  live  for  months  and  years  with  the  urine  habit- 
uallj"  of  a  high  density  and  having  the  mineral  constituents  in  excess 
without  the  formation  of  stone,  or  gravel;  and  again  one  with  dilute 
urine  of  low  specific  gravity  will  have  a  calculus. 

Rainey,  Ord,  and  others  furnish  the  explanation.  They  not  only 
show  that  a  colloid  bod}^,  like  mucus,  albumen,  pus,  or  blood,  deter- 
mined the  precipitation  or  the  crystalline  salts  in  the  solution,  but 
the}^  determined  the  precipitation  in  the  form  of  globules,  or  spheres, 
capable  of  developing  by  further  deposits  into  calculi.  Heat  intensi- 
fies this  action  of  the  colloids,  and  a  colloid  in  a  state  of  decomj^osition 
is  specialh"  active.  The  presence,  therefore,  of  developing  fungi  and 
bacteria  must  be  looked  upon  as  active  factors  in  causing  calculi. 

In  looking,  therefore,  for  the  immediate  causes  of  calculi  we  must 
consider  especially  all  those  conditions  which  determine  the  presence 
of  albumen,  blood,  and  excess  of  mucus,  pus,  etc.,  in  the  urine.  Thus 
diseases  of  distant  organs  leading  to  albuminuria,  diseases  of  the  kid- 
neys and  urinary  passages  causing  the  escape  of  blood  or  the  forma- 
tion of  mucus  or  pus,  become  direct  causes  of  calculi.  Foreign  bodies 
of  all  kinds  in  the  bladder  or  kidney  have  long  been  known  as  deter- 
mining causes  of  calculi  and  as  forming  the  central  nucleus.  This  is 
now  explained  by  the  fact  that  these  bodies  are  liable  to  carry  bacte- 
ria into  the  passages  and  thus  determine  decomposition,  and  they  are 
14384—03 7 


98  BUREAU    OF    AT^^IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

further  liable  to  irritate  the  mucous  membrane  and  become  enveloped 
in  a  coating  of  mucus,  pus,  and  perhaps  blood. 

The  fact  that  horses  appear  to  suffer  from  calculi,  especially  on  the 
magnesian  limestones,  the  same  districts  in  which  tho}'  suffer  from 
goiter,  may  be  similarly  explained.  The  unknown  poison  which  pro- 
duces goiter  presumabl}^  leads  to  such  changes  in  the  blood  and  urine 
as  will  furnish  the  colloid  necessary  for  precipitation  of  the  urinary 
salts  in  the  form  of  calculi. 

CLASSIFICATION    OF    URINARY    CALCULI. 

These  have  been  named  according  to  the  place  wdiere  they  arc  found, 
Q'cnal  (kidney),  'v.retral  (ureter),  vesical  (bladder),  urethral  (urethra), 
and  preputial  (sheath,  or  prepuce).  The}^  have  been  otherwise  named 
according  to  their  most  abundant  chemical  constituent^  carhonate  of 
Ihne,  oxalate  of  lime,  and  phosjj/tate  of  lime  mlculi.  The  stones  formed 
of  carbonates  or  phosphates  are  usually  smooth  on  the  surface,  though 
they  may  be  molded  into  the  shape  of  the  cavity  in  which  they  have 
been  formed;  thus  those  in  the  pelvis  of  the  kidney  may  have  two  or 
three  short  branch-like  prolongations,  while  those  in  the  bladder  are 
round,  oval,  or  slightly  flattened  upon  each  other.  Calculi  containing 
oxalate  of  lime,  on  the  other  hand,  have  a  rough,  open,  crystalline 
surface,  which  has  gained  for  them  the  name  of  mulberry  calculi,  from 
a  supposed  resemblance  to  that  fruit.  These  are  usually  covered  with 
more  or  less  mucus  or  blood,  produced  by  the  irritation  of  the  mucus 
membrane  by  their  rough  surfaces.  The  color  of  calculi  varies  from 
white  to  yellow  and  deep  brown,  the  shades  depending  mainly  on  the 
amount  of  the  coloring  matter  of  blood,  bile,  or  urine  which  they  may 
contiiin. 

Renal  calculi. — These  may  consist  of  minute,  almost  microscopic, 
deposits  in  the  uriniferous  tubes  in  the  substance  of  the  kidney,  but 
more  commonly  the}^  are  large  masses  and  lodged  in  the  pelvis.  The 
larger  calculi,  sometimes  weighing  12  to  24  ounces,  are  molded  in  the 
pelvis  of  the  kidney  into  a  cylindroid  mass,  with  irregulai'  rounded 
swellings  at  intervals.  Some  have  a  deep  brown,  rough,  crystalline 
surface  of  oxalate  of  lime,  while  others  have  a  smooth,  pearly  white 
aspect  from  carbonate  of  lime.  A  smaller  calculus,  which  has  been 
called  coralline,  is  also  cylindroid,  with  a  number  of  brown,  rovigh, 
crystalline  oxalate  of  lime  l)ranches  and  whitish  depressions  of  carbon- 
ate. These  vary  in  size  from  15  grains  to  nearly  2  ounces.  Less 
frequently  are  found  masses  of  very  hard,  brownish  white,  rounded, 
pea-like  calculi.  These  arc  smoother,  but  on  the  surface  crystals  of 
oxalate  of  lime  may  be  detected  with  a  lens.  Some  renal  calculi  are 
formed  of  more  distinct  laj^ers,  more  loosel}'  adhei'cnt  to  each  other, 
and  contain  an  excess  of  mucus,  but  no  oxalate  of  lime.  Finally,  a 
loose  aggregation  of  small  masses,  forming  a  very  friable  calculus,  is 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  99 

found  of  all  sizes  within  the  limits  of  the  pelvis  of  the  kidney.  These, 
too,  are  in  the  main  carbonate  of  lime  (84  to  88  per  cent)  and  without 
oxalate. 

/S>/mj)toms  of  renal  calculi  are  violent  colicky  pains,  appearing  sud- 
denly, very  often  in  connection  with  exhausting  work  or  the  drawing 
of  specially  heavy  loads,  and  in  certain  cases  disappearing  with  equal 
suddenness.  The  nature  of  the  colic  becomes  more  manifest  if  it  is 
associated  with  stiffness  of  the  back  and  hind  limbs,  frequent  passage 
of  urine,  and,  above  all,  the  passage  of  gravel  with  the  urine,  especially 
at  the  time  of  the  access  of  relief.  The  passage  of  blood  and  pus  in 
the  urine  is  equally  significant.  If  the  irritation  of  the  kidney  goes 
on  to  active  inflammation,  then  the  symptoms  of  nephritis  are  added. 

Uretral  calculi. — These  are  so  called  because  they  are  found  in  the 
passage  leading  from  the  kidney  to  the  bladder.  They  are  simply 
small  renal  calculi  which  have  escaped  from  the  pelvis  of  the  kidney 
and  have  become  arrested  in  the  ureter.  They  give  rise  to  sym^ytoms 
almost  identical  with  those  of  renal  calculi,  with  this  difference,  that 
the  colicky  pains,  caused  by  the  obstruction  of  the  ureter  by  the 
impacted  calculus,  are  more  violent,  and  if  the  calculus  passes  on  into 
the  bladder  the  relief  is  instantaneous  and  complete.  If  the  ureter  is 
completely  blocked  for  a  length  of  time  the  retained  urine  may  give 
rise  to  destructive  inflammation  in  the  kidney,  which  may  end  in  the 
entire  absorption  of  that  organ,  leaving  only  a  fibrous  capsule  contain- 
ing an  urinous  fluid.  If  both  the  ureters  are  similarly  blocked  the 
animal  will  die  of  uremic  poisoning. 

Treatment  of  renal  and  uretral  ca^ct^Z/.— Treatment  is  unsatisfactory, 
as  it  is  ordy  the  small  calculi  that  can  pass  through  the  ureters  and 
escape  into  the  bladder.  This  may  be  favored  by  agents  which  will 
relax  the  walls  of  the  ureters  by  counteracting  their  spasm  and  even 
lessening  their  tone,  and  by  a  liberal  use  of  water  and  watery  fluids 
to  increase  the  urine  and  the  pressure  upon  the  calculus  from  behind. 
One  or  2  ounces  of  laudanum,  or  2  drams  of  extract  of  belladonna, 
may  be  given  and  repeated  as  it  may  be  necessary,  the  relief  of  the 
pain  being  a  fair  criterion  of  the  abating  of  the  spasm.  To  the  same 
end  use  warm  fomentations  across  the  loins,  and  these  should  be  kept 
up  persistently  until  relief  is  obtained.  These  act  not  alone  by  sooth- 
ing and  relieving  the  spasm  and  inflammation,  but  they  also  favor  the 
freer  secretion  of  a  more  watery  urine,  and  thus  tend  to  carry  off  the 
smaller  calculi.  To  further  secure  this  object  give  cool  water  freely, 
and  let  the  food  be  only  such  as  contains  a  large  proportion  of  liquid, 
gruels,  mashes,  turnips,  beets,  apples,  pumpkins,  ensilage,  succulent 
grasses,  etc.  If  the  acute  stage  has  passed  and  the  presence  of  the 
calculus  is  manifested  onl}'^  by  the  frequent  passage  of  urine  with 
gritty  particles,  b}"  stiffness  of  the  loins  and  hind  limbs,  and  by  tender- 
ness to  pressure,  the  most  promising  resort  is  a  long  run  at  pasture 


100  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

where  the  grasses  are  fresh  and  succulent.  The  long-continued  secre- 
tion of  a  watery  urine  will  sometimes  cause  the  breaking  down  of  a 
calculus,  as  the  imbibition  of  the  less  dense  fluid  b}"-  the  organic 
sponge-like  framework  of  the  calculus  causes  it  to  swell  and  thus 
lessens  its  cohesion.  The  same  end  is  sought  by  the  long-continued 
use  of  alkalies  (carbonate  of  potassium),  and  of  acids  (muriatic),  each 
acting  in  a  different  way  to  alter  the  densit}^  and  cohesion  of  the 
stone.  But  it  is  only  exceptionally  that  any  of  these  methods  is 
entirely  satisfactory.  If  inflammation  of  the  kidneys  develops,  treat 
as  advised  under  that  head. 

Stone  in  the  hladde)'  {vesical  calcxdxis^  or  ctjstlc  calculus). — These 
may  be  of  any  size  up  to  over  a  pound  in  weight.  One  variety  is 
rough  and  crystalline  and  has  a  yellowish  white  or  deep-brown  color. 
These  contain  about  87  per  cent  carbonate  of  lime,  the  remainflor 
being  carbonate  of  magnesia,  oxalate  of  lime,  and  organic  matter. 
The  phosphatic  calculi  are  smooth  and  white  and  formed  of  thin 
concentric  layers  of  great  hardness  extending  from  the  nucleus  out- 
ward. Besides  the  phosphate  of  lime  these  contain  the  carbonates  of 
lime  and  magnesia  and  organic  matter.  In  some  cases  the  bladder 
contains  and  may  be  even  distended  by  a  soft  pultaceous  mass  made 
up  of  minute  round  granules  of  carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia. 
This,  when  removed  and  dried,  makes  a  firm,  white,  and  stony  mass. 
Sometimes  this  magma  is  condensed  into  a  solid  mass  in  the  bladder 
by  reason  of  the  binding  action  of  the  mucus  and  other  organic  mat- 
ter, and  then  forms  a  conglomerate  stone  of  nearh^  uniform  consist- 
ency and  without  stratification. 

Synipto7ns  of  stone  m  the  Madder. — The  symptoms  of  stone  in  the 
bladder  are  more  obvious  than  those  of  renal  calculus.  The  rough 
mulberry  calculi  especially  lead  to  irritation  of  the  mucous  membrane 
and  frequent  passing  of  urine  in  small  quantities  and  often  mingled 
with  mucus  or  blood  or  containing  minute  griliy  particles.  At  times 
the  flow  is  suddenly  arrested,  though  the  animal  continues  to  strain 
and  the  bladder  is  not  quite  emptied,  Li  the  smooth  phosphatic  variety 
the  irritation  is  much  less  marked  and  may  even  be  altogether  absent. 
With  the  pultaceous  deposit  in  the  bladder  there  is  incontinence  of 
urine,  which  dribbles  away  continually  and  keeps  the  hair  on  the  inner 
side  of  the  thighs  matted  with  soft  magma.  In  all  cases  alike  the 
calculus  may  be  felt  by  the  examination  of  the  bladder  with  the  oiled 
hand  in  the  rectum.  The  pear-shaped  outline  of  the  bladder  can  be 
felt  beneath,  and  within  it  the  solid  oval  body.  It  is  most  easily 
recognized  if  the  organ  is  half  full  of  liquid,  as  then  it  is  not  grasped 
by  the  contracting  walls  of  the  bladder,  but  may  be  made  to  move 
from  place  to  place  in  the  liquid.  If  a  pultaceous  mass  is  present  it 
has  a  soft,  doughy  feeling,  and  when  pressed  an  indentation  is  left. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  101 

In  the  mare  the  hard  stone  ma}^  be  touched  by  the  fino^er  introduced 
through  the  short  urethra. 

Treatment  of  stone  in  the  Vladder. — The  treatment  of  stone  in  the 
bladder  consists  in  the  removal  of  the  offending  body.  In  the  mare 
this  is  easily  effected  with  the  lithotomy  forceps.  These  are  slightly 
warmed  and  oiled,  and  carried  forward  along  the  floor  of  the  passage 
of  the  vulva  for  4  inches,  when  the  orifice  of  the  urethra  will  be  felt 
exactly  in  the  median  line.  Through  this  the  forceps  are  gradually 
pushed  with  gentle  oscillating  movement  until  they  enter  the  bladder 
and  strike  against  the  hard  surface  of  the  stone.  The  stone  is  now 
grasped  between  the  blades,  care  being  taken  to  include  no  loose  fold 
of  the  mucous  membrane,  and  it  is  gradually  withdrawn  with  the  same 
careful  oscillating  motions  as  before.  Facility  and  safety  in  seizing 
the  stone  will  be  greatly  favored  by  having  the  bladder  half  full  of 
liquid,  and  if  necessarj''  one  oiled  hand  may  be  introduced  into  the  rec- 
tum or  vagina  to  assist.  The  resulting  irritation  may  be  treated  by 
an  injection  of  laudanum,  1  ounce  in  a  pint  of  tepid  water. 

The  removal  of  the  stone  in  the  horse  is  a  much  more  difficult  pro- 
ceeding. It  consists  in  cutting  into  the  urethra  just  beneath  the  anus 
and  introducing  the  lithotomy  forceps  from  this  forward  into  the  blad- 
der, as  in  the  mare.  It  is  needful  to  distend  the  urethra  with  tepid 
water  or  to  insert  a  sound  or  catheter  to  furnish  a  guide  upon  which 
the  incision  may  be  made,  and  in  case  of  a  large  stone  it  may  be  need- 
ful to  enlarge  the  j)assage  b}^  cutting  in  a  direction  upward  and  out- 
ward with  a  probe-pointed  knife,  the  back  of  which  is  slid  along  in 
the  groove  of  a  director  until  it  enters  the  bladder. 

The  horse  may  be  operated  upon  in  the  standing  position,  being 
simpl}'  pressed  against  a  wall  by  a  pole  passed  from  before  backward 
along  the  other  side  of  the  bod}'.  The  tepid  water  is  injected  into  the 
end  of  the  penis  until  it  is  felt  to  fluctuate  under  the  pressure  of  the 
finger,  in  the  median  line  over  the  bone  just  beneath  the  anus.  The 
incision  is  then  made  into  the  center  of  the  fluctuating  canal,  and  from 
above  downward.  When  a  sound  or  catheter  is  used  as  a  guide  it  is 
inserted  through  the  penis  until  it  can  be  felt  tlirough  the  skin  at  the 
point  where  the  incision  is  to  be  made  beneath  the  anus.  The  skin  is 
then  rendered  tense  by  the  thumb  and  fingers  of  the  left  hand  press- 
ing on  the  two  sides  of  the  sound,  while  the  right  hand,  armed  with  a 
scalpel,  cuts  downward  onto  the  catheter.  This  vertical  incision  into 
the  canal  should  escape  wounding  any  important  blood  vessel.  It  is 
in  making  the  obliquely  lateral  incision  in  the  subsequent  dilatation 
of  the  urethra  and  neck  of  the  bladder  that  such  danger  is  to  be 
apprehended. 

If  the  stone  is  too  large  to  be  extracted  through  the  urethra  it  may 
be  broken  down  with  the  lithotrite  and  extracted  piecemeal  with  the 


102  BUREAU    OF    ANIIsIAL    INDUSTRY. 

forceps.  The  lithotrite  id  an  instrument  composed  of  a  straight  stem 
bent  for  an  inch  or  more  to  one  side  at  its  free  end  so  as  to  form  an 
obtuse  angle,  and  having  on  the  same  side  a  sliding  bar  moving  in  a 
groove  in  the  stem  and  operated  by  a  screw  so  that  the  stone  may  be 
seized  between  the  two  blades  at  its  free  extremity  and  crushed  again 
and  again  into  pieces  small  enough  to  extract.  Extra  care  is  required 
to  avoid  injury  to  the  urethra  in  the  extraction  of  the  angular  frag- 
ments, and  the  gravel  or  powder  that  can  not  be  removed  in  this  way 
must  be  washed  out  as  advised  below. 

When  a  pultaceous  magma  of  carbonate  of  lime  accumulates  in  the 
bladder  it  must  be  washed  out  by  injecting  water  through  a  catheter 
b}^  means  of  a  force  pump  or  a  funnel,  shaking  it  up  with  the  hand 
introduced  through  the  rectum  and  allowing  the  muddy  liquid  to  flow 
out  through  the  tube.  This  is  to  be  repeated  until  the  bladder  is 
empty  and  the  water  comes  away  clear.  A  catheter  with  a  double 
tube  is  sometimes  used,  the  injection  passing  in  through  the  one  tube 
and  escaping  through  the  other.  But  the  advantage  is  more  apparent 
than  real,  as  the  retention  of  the  water  until  the  magma  has  been 
shaken  up  and  mixed  with  it  hastens  greatly  its  complete  evacuation. 

To  prevent  the  formation  of  a  new  deposit  any  fault  in  feeding  (dry 
grain  and  hay  with  privation  of  water,  excess  of  beans,  pease,  whea.t 
bran^  etc.)  and  disorders  of  stomach,  liver,  and  lungs  must  be  cor- 
rected. Give  abundance  of  soft  drinking  water,  encouraging  the 
animal  to  drink  by  a  handful  of  salt  daily;  let  the  food  be  laxative, 
consisting  largelj^  of  roots,  apples,  pumpkins,  ensilage,  and  give  daily 
in  the  drinking  water  a  dram  of  carbonate  of  potash  or  soda.  Pow- 
dered gentian  root  (3  drams  daily)  will  also  serve  to  restore  the  tone 
of  the  stomach  and  sj^stem  at  large. 

TJTethral  calculits  {stone  in  the  urethra). — This  is  less  frequent  in 
horses  than  in  cattle  and  sheep,  owing  to  the  larger  size  of  the  urethra 
in  the  horse  and  the  absence  of  the  S-shaped  curve  and  vermiform 
appendix.  The  calculi  arrested  in  the  ui'ethra  are  never  formed  there, 
but  consist  of  cystic  calculi  which  have  been  small  enough  to  pass, 
through  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  but  too  large  to  pass  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  urethra  and  escape.  Such  calculi  therefore  are 
primarily  formed  either  in  the  bladder  or  kidney,  and  have  the  chem- 
ical composition  of  the  other  calculi  found  in  those  organs.  They  may 
be  arrested  at  any  point  of  the  urethra,  from  the  neck  of  the  bladder 
back  to  the  bend  of  the  tube  beneath  the  anus,  and  from  that  point 
down  to  the  extremit}"  of  the  penis.  1  have  found  them  most  fre- 
quently in  the  papilla  on  the  extreme  end  of  the  penis,  and  immedi- 
ately behind  this. 

Symjytoms  of  urethral  calculus. — The  sjmiptoms  are  violent  straining 
to  urinate,  but  without  any  discharge,  or  with  the  escape  of  water  in 
drops  only.     Examination  of  the  end  of  the  penis  will  detect  the  swell- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  103 

ing  of  the  papilla  or  the  urethra  behind  it,  and  the  presence  of  a  hard 
mass  in  the  center.  A  probe  inserted  into  the  urethra  will  strike 
against  the  gritty  calculus.  If  the  stone  has  been  arrested  higher  up, 
its  position  may  be  detected  as  a  small,  hard,  sensitive  knot  on  the  line 
of  the  urethra,  in  the  median  line  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  penis,  or 
on  the  floor  of  pelvis  in  the  median  line  from  the  neck  of  the  bladder 
back  to  the  bend  of  the  urethi-a  beneath  the  anus.  In  any  case  the 
urethra  betvreen  the  neck  of  the  bladder  and  the  point  of  obstruction 
is  likely  to  be  filled  with  fluid,  and  to  feel  like  a  distented  tube  fluctu- 
ating on  pressure. 

Treatment  of  urethral  calmihis  may  be  begun  by  an  attempt  to 
extract  the  calculi  by  manipulation  of  the  papilla  on  the  end  of  the 
penis.  This  failing,  the  calculus  may  be  seized  with  a  pair  of  fine- 
pointed  forceps  and  withdrawn  from  the  urethra;  or,  if  necessary,  a 
probe-pointed  knife  may  be  inserted  and  the  urethra  slightly  dilated, 
or  even  laid  open,  and  the  stone  removed.  If  the  stone  has  been 
arrested  higher  up  it  must  be  extracted  by  a  direct  incision  through 
the  walls  of  the  urethra  and  down  upon  the  nodule.  If  in  the  free 
(protractile)  portion  of  the  penis,  that  organ  is  to  be  withdrawn  from 
its  sheath  until  the  nodule  is  exposed  and  can  be  incised.  If  behind 
the  scrotum,  the  incision  must  be  made  in  the  median  line  between  the 
thighs  and  directl}^  over  the  nodule,  the  skin  having  been  rendered 
tense  by  the  fingers  and  thumb  of  the  left  hand.  If  the  stone  has  been 
arrested  in  the  intrapelvic  portion  of  the  urethra,  the  incision  must  be 
made  beneath  the  anus  and  the  calculus  extracted  with  forceps,  as  in 
stone  in  the  bladder.  The  wound  in  the  urethra  may  be  stitched  up, 
and  usually  heals  slowly  but  satisfactoril3^  Healing  will  be  favored 
hy  washing  two  or  three  times  daily  with  a  solution  of  a  teaspoonful 
of  carbolic  acid  in  a  pint  of  water. 

Preputial  calculus  {calculus  in  the  sheath,  or  Mlocular  cavity). — 
These  are  concretions  in  the  sheath,  though  the  term  has  been  also 
applied  to  the  nodule  of  sebaceous  matter  which  accumulates  in  the 
blind  pouches  (bilocular  cavity)  by  the  sides  of  the  papilla  on  the  end 
of  the  penis.  Within  the  sheath  the  concretion  may  be  a  soft,  cheesy- 
like  sebaceous  matter,  or  a  genuine  calculus  of  carbonate,  oxalate, 
phosphate  and  sulphate  of  lime,  carbonate  of  magnesia,  and  organic 
matter.  These  are  easily  removed  with  the  fingers,  after  which  the 
sheath  should  be  washed  out  with  castile  soap  and  warm  water,  and 
smeared  with  sweet  oil. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  RESPIRATORY  ORGANS. 

By  ^V.  IT.  HARnAUGiT,  V.  S. 
[Revised  in  1903  by  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  S.,  V.  M.  D.] 

The  organs  pertaining  to  the  respirator}'  function  ma}'  be  eniimeriited 
in  natural  order  as  follows:  The  nasal  openings,  or  nostrils;  the  nasal 
chambers,  through  which  the  air  passes  in  the  head;  the  sinuses  in  the 
head,  communicating  with  the  nasal  chambers;  the  pharynx,  common 
to  the  functions  of  breathing  and  swallowing;  the  larynx,  at  the  top 
of  the  windpipe;  the  trachea,  or  windpipe;  the  bronchi  (into  which 
the  windpipe  divides),  two  tubes  leading  from  the  windpipe  to  the 
right  and  left  lungs,  respectively;  the  bronchial  tubes,  which  penetrate 
and  convey  air  to  all  parts  of  the  lungs;  the  lungs. 

The  pleura  is  a  thin  membrane  that  envelops  the  lung  and  lines  the 
walls  of  the  thora<;ic  cavity.  The  diaphragm  is  a  muscular  structure, 
completely  separating  the  contents  of  the  thoracic  cavity  from  those 
of  the  abdominal  cavity.  It  is  essentially  a  muscle  of  inspiration,  and 
the  principal  one.  Other  muscles  aid  in  the  mechanism  of  respiration, 
but  the  diseases  or  injuries  of  them  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
diseases  under  consideration. 

Just  within  the  nasal  openings  the  skin  becomes  gradually  but  per- 
ceptibly finer,  until  it  is  succeeded  by  the  mucous  membrane.  Near 
the  junction  of  the  skin  and  membrane  is  a  small  hole,  presenting  the 
appearance  of  having  been  made  with  a  punch;  this  is  the  opening  of 
the  lachrymal  duct,  a  canal  that  conveys  the  tears  from  the  eyes. 
Within  and  above  the  nasal  openings  are  the  cavities,  or  fissures,  called 
the  false  nostrils.  The  nasal  chambers  are  completely  separated,  the 
right  from  the  left,  by  a  cartilaginous  partition,  the  nasal  septum. 
Each  nasal  chamber  is  divided  into  three  cx3ntinuous  compartments  by 
the  two  thin,  scroll-like  turbinated  bones. 

The  mucous  membrane  lining  the  nasal  chambers,  and  in  fact  the 
entire  respiratory  tract,  is  much  more  delicate  and  more  frequently 
diseased  than  the  mucous  membrane  of  any  other  part  of  the  body. 
The  sinuses  of  the  head  are  compartments  which  commiuiicate  with 
the  nasal  chambers  and  are  lined  with  a  continuation  of  the  same 
membrane  that  lines  the  nasal  chambers;  their  presence  increases  the 
volume  and  modifies  the  form  of  the  head  without  increasing  its  weight. 

The  horse,  in  a  normal  condition,  breathes  exclusively  through  the 
nostrils.  The  organs  of  respiration  are  more  liable  to  disease  than 
104 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  105 

the  organs  connected  with  an}^  other  function  of  the  animal,  and,  as 
many  of  the  causes  can  be  avoided,  it  is  both  important  and  profitable 
to  know  and  stud}^  the  causes. 

CAUSES    OF   DISEASES    OF   KESPIKATORY   ORGANS. 

The  causes  of  many  of  the  diseases  of  these  organs  mnj  be  given 
under  a  common  head,  because  even  a  simple  cold,  if  neglected  or 
badly  treated,  may  run  into  the  most  complicated  lung  disease  and 
terminate  fatally.  In  the  spring  and  fall,  when  the  animals  are  chang- 
ing their  coats,  there  is  a  marked  predisposition  to  contract  disease, 
and  consecjiuently  care  should  be  taken  at  those  periods  to  prevent 
other  exciting  causes. 

Badly  ventilated  stables  are  a  frequent  source  of  disease.  It  is  a 
mistake  to  think  that  country  stables  necessafil}^  have  purer  air  than 
citj'  stables.  Stables  on  some  farms  are  so  faultil}^  constructed  that  it 
is  almost  impossible  for  the  foul  air  to  gain  an  exit.  All  stables  should 
have  a  sufficient  supply  of  pure  air,  and  be  so  arranged  that  strong 
drafts  can  not  blow  directly  on  the  animals.  In  ventilating  a  stable, 
it  is  best  to  arrange  to  remove  air  from  near  the  floor  and  admit  it 
through  numerous  small  openings  near  the  ceiling.  The  reason  for 
this  is  that  the  coldest  and  most  impure  air  in  the  stable  is  near  the 
floor  while  that  which  is  warmest  and  purest,  and,  therefore,  can  least 
be  spared  is  near  the  top  of  the  room.  In  summer,  top  exits  and  cross 
currents  should  be  provided  to  remove  excessive  heat.  Hot  stables 
are  almost  always  poorly  ventilated,  and  the  hot  stable  is  a  cause  of 
disease  on  account  of  the  extreme  change  of  temperature  that  a  horse 
is  liable  to  when  taken  out,  and  extreme  changes  of  temperature  are 
to  be  avoided  as  certain  causes  of  disease. 

A  cold,  close  stable  is  invariably  damp,  and  is  to  be  avoided  as  nuich 
as  the  hot,  close,  and  foul  stable.  Horses  changed  from  a  cold  to  a 
warm  stable  are  more  liable  to  contract  cold  than  when  changed  from 
a  warm  to  a  cold  stable.  Pure  air  is  more  essential  than  warmth,  and 
this  fact  should  be  especiall}'  remembered  when  the  stable  is  made 
close  and  foul  to  gain  the  warmth.  It  is  more  economical  to  keep  the 
horse  warm  v/ith  blankets  than  to  prevent  the  ingress  of  pure  air  in 
order  to  make  the  stable  warm. 

Stables  should  be  well  drained  and  kept  clean.  Some  farmers  allow 
large  quantities  of  manure  to  accumulate  in  the  stable.  This  is  a  per- 
nicious practice,  as  the  decomposing  organic  matter  evolves  gases  that 
are  predisposing  or  exciting  causes  of  disease.  When  a  horse  is  over- 
heated it  is  not  safe  to  allow  him  to  dry  by  evaporation;  rubbing  him 
dr}"  and  gradually  cooling  him  out  is  the  wisest  treatment.  When  a 
horse  is  hot — covered  with  sweat — it  is  dangerous  to  allow  him  to 
stand  in  a  draft;  it  is  the  best  plan  fo  walk  him  until  his  temperature 
moderates.     In  such  cases  a  light  blanket  thrown  over  the  animal  may 


106  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

prevent  a  cold.  Overwork  or  overexertion  often  causes  the  most  fatal 
eases  of  congestion  of  the  lungs.  Avoid  prolonged  or  fast  work  when 
the  horse  is  out  of  condition  or  unaccustomed  to  it.  Animals  that  have 
been  working  out  in  cold  rains  should  be  dried  and  cooled  out  and  not 
left  to  drj'  by  evaporation.  When  the  temperature  of  the  weather  is 
at  the  extreme,  either  of  heat  or  cold,  diseases  of  the  organs  of  respi- 
ration are  most  f  recpient. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  farmers  can  give  their  horses  the  par- 
ticular attention  given  to  valuable  racing  and  pleasure  horses,  but  they 
can  most  assuredly  give  them  common-sense  care,  and  this  will  often 
save  the  life  of  a  valuable  animal.  If  the  owner  properly  considers 
his  interests  he  will  stud}^  the  welfare  of  his  horses  so  that  he  may  be 
able  to  instruct  the  servant  in  details  of  stable  management. 

WOUNDS    ABOUT    THE    NOSTRILS. 

Wounds  in  this  neighborhood  are  common,  and  are  generally  caused 
by  snagging  on  a  nail  or  splinter  or  by  the  bite  of  another  horse;  or 
by  getting  "run  into,"  or  by  running  against  something.  Occasion- 
all}'  the  nostril  is  so  badly  torn  and  lacerated  that  it  is  impossible  to 
effect  a  cure  without  leaving  the  animal  blemished  for  life,  but  in  the 
majority  of  instances  the  blemish,  or  scar,  is  due  to  the  want  of  con- 
servative treatment.  As  soon  as  possible  after  the  accident  the  parts 
should  be  brought  together  and  held  there  b}^  stitches.  If  too  much 
time  is  allowed  to  elapse,  the  swelling  of  the  parts  will  considerably 
interfere.  Never  cut  away  any  skin  that  may  be  loose  and  hanging, 
or  else  a  scar  will  certainly  remain.  Bring  the  parts  in  direct  apposi- 
tion and  place  the  stitches  from  a  quarter  to  a  half  inch  apai't,  as  cir- 
cumstances may  demand.  It  is  not  necessary  to  have  special  surgeons' 
silk  and  needles  for  this  operation;  good  linen  thread  or  ordinary  silk 
thread  will  answer.  The  wound  afterwards  only  requires  to  be  kept 
clean.  For  this  purpose  it  should  be  cleansed  and  discharges  washed 
awa}^  daih'  with  a  solution  made  of  carbolic  acid  1  part,  in  water  40 
parts.  If  the  horse  is  inclined  to  rub  the  wound  against  some  object 
on  account  of  the  irritability,  his  head  should  be  tied  by  means  of  two 
halter  ropes  attached  to  the  opposite  sides  of  the  stall  to  prevent  him 
rul)bing  the  wound  open.  The  head  should  be  so  tied  about  ten  days, 
except  when  at  work  or  eating. 

TUMORS   WITHIN   THE    NOSTRILS. 

A  small  globular  tumor  is  sometimes  found  within  the  false  nostril, 
under  that  part  of  the  skin  that  is  seen  to  puff  or  rise  and  fall  when  a 
horse  is  exerted  and  breathing  hard.  These  tumors  contain  matter  of 
a  cheesy  consistency. 

Treatment.— li  the  tumor  is  well  opened  and  the  matter  squeezed 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  107 

out,  nature  will  perform  a  cure.  If  the  opening  is  made  from  the  out- 
side through  the  skin,  it  should  be  at  the  most  dependent  part,  but 
much  the  best  Avay  to  open  the  tumor  is  from  the  inside.  Quiet  the 
animal,  gently  insert  your  finger  up  in  the  direction  of  the  tumor,  and 
you  will  soon  discover  that  it  is  much  larger  inside  than  it  appears  to 
be  on  the  outside.  If  necessary  put  a  twitch  on  the  ear  of  the  horse 
to  quiet  him;  run  the  index  finger  of  j^our  left  hand  against  the  tumor; 
now,  with  the  right  hand,  carefully  insert  the  knife  by  running  the 
back  of  the  blade  along  the  index  finger  of  the  left  hand  until  the 
tamor  is  reached;  with  the  left  index  finger  guide  the  point  of  the 
blade  quickly  and  surel}''  into  the  tumor;  make  the  opening  large;  a 
little  blood  ma}'  flow  out  for  awhile,  but  it  is  of  no  consequence. 
Squeeze  out  the  matter  and  keep  the  part  clean. 

COLD    IN    THE    HEAD,  OR   NASAL    CATARRH. 

Catarrh  is  an  inflammation  of  a  mucous  membrane.  It  is  accom- 
panied by  excessive  secretion.  In  nasal  catarrh  the  inflammation  ma}^ 
extend  from  the  membrane  lining  the  nose  to  the  throat,  the  inside  of 
the  sinuses,  and  to  the  eyes.  The  causes  are  the  .general  causes  of 
respiratory  disease  enumerated  above.  It  is  especially  common  in 
young  horses  and  in  horses  not  acclimated. 

Sijinptoms. — The  membrane  at  the  beginning  of  the  attack  is  drj^, 
congested,  and  irritable;  it  is  of  a  deeper  hue  than  natural,  pinkish 
red  or  red.  Soon  a  watery  discharge  from  the  nostrils  makes  its 
appearance;  the  eyes  may  also  be  more  or  less  afi'ected  and  tears  flow 
over  the  cheeks.  The  animal  has  some  fever,  which  may  be  easily 
detected  by  means  of  a  clinical  thermometer  inserted  in  the  rectum 
or,  roughly,  by  placing  the  finger  in  the  mouth,  as  the  feeling  of  heat 
conxeyed  to  the  finger  will  be  greater  than  natural. 

To  become  somewhat  expert  in  ascertaining  the  changes  of  tempera- 
ture in  the  horse  it  is  only  necessary  to  place  the  finger  often  in  the 
mouths  of  horses  known  to  be  healthy.  After  you  have  become  accus- 
tomed to  the  warmth  of  the  mouth  of  the  healthy  animal  you  will  have 
no  difiiculty  in  detecting  a  marked  increase  of  the  temperature.  The 
animal  may  be  dull;  he  sneezes  or  snorts,  but  does  not  cough  unless 
the  throat  is  affected;  he  expels  the  air  forcibly  through  his  nostrils, 
very  often  in  a  manner  that  may  be  aptl}^  called  "blowing  his  nose." 
A  few  days  after  the  attack  begins  the  discharge  from  the  nostrils 
changes  from  a  watery  to  that  of  a  thick,  mucilaginous  state,  of  a 
yellowish  white  color,  and  may  be  more  or  less  profuse.  Often  the 
appetite  is  lost  and  the  animal  becomes  debilitated. 

Treatment. — This  disease  is  not  serious,  but  inasmuch  as  neglect  or 
bad  treatment  may  cause  it  to  lead  to  something  worse  or  become 
chronic,  it  should  receive  proper  attention.  The  animal  should  not  be 
worked  for  a  time.     A  few  days  of  quiet  rest,  with  pure  air  and  good 


108  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

food,  will  be  of  greater  benefit  than  most  medication.  The  value  of 
pure  air  can  not  be  overestimated,  but  drafts  must  be  avoided.  The 
benefit  derived  from  the  inhalation  of  steam  is  considerable.  This 
is  effected  by  holding  the  horse's  head  over  a  bucketful  of  boiling 
water,  so  that  the  animal  will  be  compelled  to  inhale  steam  with  every 
inhalation  of  air.  Stirring  the  hot  water  with  a  wisp  of  hay  causes 
the  steam  to  arise  in  greater  abundance.  One  may  cause  the  horse  to 
put  his  nose  in  a  bag  containing  cut  hay  upon  which  hot  water  has 
been  poured,  the  bottom  of  the  bag  being  stood  in  a  bucket,  but  the 
bag  must  be  of  loose  texture,  as  gunn}^  sack,  or,  if  of  canvas,  holes 
must  be  cut  in  the  side  to  admit  fresh  air. 

The  horse  may  be  made  to  inhale  steam  four  or  five  times  a  day, 
about.fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  each  time. 

Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  diet.  Give  bran  mashes, 
scalded  oats,  linseed  gruel,  and  grass,  if  in  season.  If  the  horse  evinces 
no  desire  for  this  soft  diet,  it  is  better  to  allow  any  kind  of  food  he 
will  eat,  such  as  hay,  oats,  corn,  etc.,  than  to  keep  him  on  short 
rations. 

If  the  animal  -is  constipated,  relieve  this  symptom  bj^  injections 
(enemas)  of  warm  water  into  the  rectum  three  or  four  times  a  day,  but 
do  not  administer  purgative  medicines,  excepting  of  a  mild  character. 

For  simple  cases  the  foregoing  is  all  that  is  required,  but  if  the 
appetite  is  lost  and  the  animal  appears  debilitated  and  dull,  give  3 
ounces  of  the  solution  of  acetate  of  ammonia  and  2  drams  of  powdered 
chlorate  of  potassium  diluted  with  a  pint  of  water  three  times  a  day  as 
a  drench.  Be  careful  when  giving  the  drench;  do  not  pound  the  horse 
on  the  gullet  to  make  him  swallow;  be  patient,  and  take  time,  and  do 
it  right. 

If  the  weather  be  cold,  blanket  the  animal  and  keep  him  in  a  com- 
fortable stall.  If  the  throat  is  sore,  treat  as  advised  for  that  ailment, 
to  be  described  hereafter. 

If,  after  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  the  discharge  frorti  the  nostrils 
continues,  give  one-half  dram  of  reduced  iron  three  times  a  day. 
This  may  be  mixed  with  damp  feed.  Common  cold  should  be  thor- 
oughly understood  and  intelligently  treated  in  order  to  prevent  more 
dangerous  diseases. 

CHRONIC    CATARRH  (OR   NASAL    GLEET,  OR  COLLECTION   IN  THE  SINUSES). 

This  is  a  subacute  or  chronic  inflammation  of  some  part  of  the  mem- 
brane affected  in  common  cold,  the  disease  just  described.  It  is  mani- 
fested by  a  persistent  discharge  of  a  thick  white  or  yellowish  white 
matter  from  one  or  both  nostrils.  The  commonest  cause  is  a  neg- 
lected or  badly  treated  cold,  and  it  usually  follows  those  cases  where 
the  horse  has  suffered  exposure,  been  overworked,  or  has  not  received 
proper  food,  and,  as  a  consequence,  has  become  debilitated. 

Other  ])ut  less  frequent  causes  for  this  affection  are:  Fractures  of 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  109 

the  bones  that  involve  the  membrane  of  the  sinuses,  and  even  blows 
on  the  head  over  the  sinuses.  Diseased  teeth  often  involve  a  sinus 
and  cause  a  fetid  discharge  from  the  nostril.  Violent  coughing  is  said 
to  have  forced  particles  of  food  into  the  sinus,  which  acted  as  a  cause 
of  the  disease.  Tumors  growing  in  the  sinuses  are  known  to  have 
caused  it.  It  is  also  attributed  to  disease  of  the  turbinated  bones. 
Absorption  of  the  bones  forming  the  walls  of  the  sinuses  has  been 
caused  hj  the  pressure  of  pus  collecting  in  them  and  b}"  tumors  filling 
up  the  cavity. 

Symptoms. — Great  caution  must  be  exercised  when  examining  these 
cases,  for  the  horse  may  have  glanders,  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
horses  have  been  condemned  as  glandered  when  really  there  was 
nothing  ailing  them  but  nasal  gleets  This  affection  is  not  contagious. 
It  may  stubbornly  resist  treatment  and  last  for  a  long  time.  In  most 
cases  the  discharge  is  from  one  nostril  onl}^,  which  may  signify  that 
the  sinuses  on  that  side  of  the  head  are  affected.  The  discharge  may 
be  intermittent,  that  is,  quantities  may  be  discharged  at  times  and 
again  little  or  none  for  a  day  or  so.  Such  an  intermittent  discharge 
usually  signifies  disease  of  the  sinuses.  The  glands  under  and  between 
the  bones  of  the  lower  jaw  may  be  enlarged.  The  peculiar  ragged- 
edged  ulcer  of  glanders  is  not  to  be  found  on  the  membrane  within 
the  nostrils,  but  occasional!}^  sores  are  to  be  seen  there.  If  there  is 
any  doubt  about  it,  stud}^  well  the  symptoms  of  glanders  to  enable  you 
to  be  at  least  competent  to  form  a  safe  opinion. 

The  eye  on  the  side  of  the  discharging  nostril  ma}^  have  a  peculiar 
appearance  and  look  smaller  than  its  fellow.  There  may  be  an 
enlargement,  having  the  nppearance  of  a  bulging  out  of  the  bone 
over  the  part  affected,  between  or  below  the  eyes.  The  breath  may 
be  offensive,  which  indicates  decomposition  of  the  matter  or  bones,  or 
disease  of  the  teeth.  A  diseased  tooth  is  further  indicated  by  the 
horse  holding  his  head  to  one  side  when  eating,  or  by  dropping  the 
food  from  the  mouth  after  partly  chewing  it.  When  j^ou  tap  on 
the  bones  between  the  eyes,  below  the  eyes,  and  above  the  back  teeth 
of  the  upper  jaw,  a  hollow,  drum-like  sound  is  emitted,  but  if  the 
sinus  is  filled  with  pus  or  contains  a  large  tumor  the  sound  emitted 
will  be  the  same  as  if  a  solid  substance  were  struck;  by  this  means 
the  sinus  affected  ma}^  be  located  in  some  instances.  The  hair  ma}^ 
be  rough  over  the  affected  part,  or  even  the  bone  may  be  soft  to 
the  touch  and  the  part  give  somewhat  to  pressure  or  leave  an  impres- 
sion where  it  is  pressed  upon  with  the  finger. 

Treatment. — The  cause  of  the  trouble  must  be  ascertained  before 
treatment  is  commenced.  In  the  many  cases  where  the  animal  is  in 
poor  condition  (in  fact,  in  all  cases)  he  should  have  the  most  nutritive 
food  and  regular  exercise.  The  food,  or  box  containing  it,  should  be 
placed  on  the  ground,  as  the  dependent  position  of  the  head  favors 
the  discharge. 


IIU  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTEY. 

The  cases  that  do  not  require  a  surgical  operation  must,  as  a  rule, 
have  persistent  medical  treatment.  Mineral  tonics  and  local  medica- 
tion are  of  the  most  value.  For  eight  da3^s  give  the  following  mix- 
ture: Reduced  iron,  3  ounces;  powdered  nux  vomica,  1  ounce.  Mix 
and  make  into  sixteen  powders.  Give  one  powder  mixed  with  the  food 
twice  a  day.  Arsenious  acid  (white  arsenic)  in  doses  of  from  3  to  6 
grains  three  times  daily  is  a  good  tonic  for  such  cases.  Sulphur  burnt 
in  the  stable  while  the  animal  is  there  to  inhale  its  fumes  is  also  a 
valuable  adjunct.  Care  should  be  taken  that  the  fumes  of  the  burn- 
ing sulphur  are  sufficiently  diluted  with  air,  so  as  not  to  suffocate  the 
horse.  Chloride  of  lime  sprinkled  around  the  stall  is  good.  Also 
keep  a  quantity  of  the  chloride  under  the  hay  in  the  manger,  so  that 
the  gases  will  be  inhaled  as  the  horse  holds  his  head  over  the  hay 
while  eating.  Keep  the  nostrils  washed,  and  keep  the  discharge 
cleaned  away  from  the  manger  and  stall.  The  horse  may  be  caused 
to  inhale  creolin  vapor  or  the  vapor  of  compound  tincture  of  benzoin 
by  pouring  2  ounces  of  these  drugs  into  hot  water  and  fumigating  in 
the  usual  way. 

If  the  nasal  gleet  is  the  result  of  a  diseased  tooth,  the  tooth  must  be 
removed.  The  operation  of  trephining  is  the  best  possible  way  to 
remove  the  tooth  in  such  cases,  as  it  immediately  opens  the  cavitj^ 
which  can  be  attended  to  direct.  In  all  those  cases  of  nasal  gleet 
where  sinuses  contain  either  collections  of  pus  or  tumors,  the  only 
relief  is  by  the  trephine;  and,  no  matter  how  thoroughly  described, 
this  is  an  operation  that  will  be  very  seldom  attempted  by  the  non- 
professional. It  would  therefore  be  a  waste  of  time  to  give  the  modm 
operandi. 

An  abscess  involving  the  turbinated  bones  is  similar  to  the  collection 
of  pus  in  the  sinuses,  and  must  be  relieved  b}'^  trephining. 

THICKENING    OF    THE    MEMBRANE. 

This  is  sometimes  denoted  by  a  chronic  discharge,  a  snuffling  in  the 
breathing,  and  a  contraction  of  the  nostril.  It  is  a  result  of  common 
cold  and  requires  the  same  treatment  as  prescribed  for  nasal  gleet, 
namely,  the  sulphate  of  iron,  sulphate  of  copper,  iodide  of  potassium, 
etc.  The  membranes  of  both  sides  may  be  aft'ected,  but  one  side  only 
is  the  rule;  and  the  affected  yide  may  be  easily  detected  by  holding  the 
hand  tightly  over  one  nostril  at  a  time.  When  the  healthy  side  is 
closed  in  this  manner,  the  breathing  through  the  affected  side  will 
demonstrate  a  decreased  caliber  or  an  obstruction. 

NASAL   POLYPUS. 

Tumors  with  narrow  bases  (somewhat  pear-shaped)  are  occasionally 
found  attached  to  the  membrane  of  the  nasal  chambers,  and  are 
obstructions  to  breathing  through  the  side  in  which  they  are  located. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  Ill 

They  vary  much  in  size;  some  arc  so  small  that  their  presence  is  not 
manifested,  while  others  almost  completely  fill  up  the  chamber,  thereby 
causing  a  serious  obstruction  to  the  passage  of  air.  The  stem,  or  base, 
of  the  tumor  is  generally  attached  high  up  in  the  chamber,  and  usually 
the  tumor  can  not  be  seen,  but  occasionally  it  increases  in  size  until  it 
can  be  observed  within  the  nostril.  Sometimes,  instead  of  hanging 
down  toward  the  nasal  opening,  it  falls  back  into  the  pharynx.  It 
causes  a  discharge  from  the  nostril,  a  more  or  less  noisy  snuffling  sound 
in  breathing,  according  to  its  size,  a  discharge  of  blood  (if  it  is  injured), 
and  sneezing.  The  side  that  it  occupies  can  be  detected  in  the  same 
way  as  described  for  the  detection  of  the  affected  side  when  the 
breathing  is  obstructed  by  a  thickened  membrane. 

The  only  relief  is  removal  of  the  polypus,  which,  like  all  other  opera- 
tions, should  be  done  by  an  expert  when  it  is  possible  to  secure  one. 
The  operation  is  performed  by  grasping  the  base  of  the  tumor  with 
suitable  forceps  and  twisting  it  round  and  round  until  it  is  torn  from 
its  attachment,  or  by  cutting  it  off  with  a  noose  of  wire.  The  result- 
ing hemorrhage  is  checked  by  the  use  of  an  astringent  lotion,  such  as 
a  solution  of  the  tincture  of  iron,  or  b}'  packing  the  nostrils  with 
surgeon's  gauze. 

PHARY^'GEAL   POLYPUS. 

This  is  exactly  the  same  kind  of  tumor  described  as  nasal  polypus, 
the  only  difference  being  in  the  situation.  Indeed,  the  stem  of  the 
t-umor  may  be  attached  to  the  membrane  of  the  nasal  chamber,  as 
before  explained,  or  it  may  be  attached  in  the  fauces  (opening  of  the 
back  part  of  the  mouth),  and  the  bod}^  of  the  tumor  then  falls  into 
the  pharynx.  In  this  situation  it  mdy  seriousl}^  interfere  with  breath- 
ing. Sometimes  it  drops  into  the  larynx,  causing  the  most  alarming 
symptoms.  The  animal  coughs,  or  tries  to  cough,  saliva  flows  from 
the  mouth,  the  breathing  is  performed  with  the  greatest  difficulty  and 
accompanied  by  a  loud  noise;  the  animal  appears  as  if  strangled  and 
often  falls  exhausted.  When  the  tumor  is  coughed  out  of  the  larynx 
the  animal  regains  quickly  and  soon  appears  as  if  nothing  was  ailing. 
These  sudden  attacks  and  quick  recoveries  point  to  the  nature  of  the 
trouble.  The  examination  mj.ist  be  made  by  holding  the  animal's 
mouth  open  with  a  balling  iron  or  speculum  and  running  the  hand  back 
into  the  mouth.  If  the  tumor  is  within  reach,  it  must  be  removed  in 
the  same  manner  as  though  it  were  in  the  nose. 

BLEEDING    FROM   THE    NOSE. 

This  often  occurs  during  the  course  of  certain  diseases,  namely, 
influenza,  bronchitis,  purpura  hemorrhagica,  glanders,  etc.  But  it  also 
occurs  independent  of  other  affections;  and,  as  before  mentioned,  is  a 
symptom  of  polypus,  or  tumor,  in  the  nose. 


112  BUREAU    OF    A^^IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Injuries  to  the  head,  exertion,  violent  sneezing —causing-  a  rupture 
of  a  small  blood  vessel — also  induce  it.  The  bleeding  is  almost  inva- 
riably from  one  nostril  only,  and  is  never  very  serious.  The  blood 
escapes  in  drops  (very  seldom  in  a  stream),  and  is  not  f  rotlrv  as  when 
the  hemorrhage  is  from  the  lungs.  (See  Bleeding  from  the  lungs, 
p.  135.)  In  most  cases  bathing  the  head  and  washing  out  the  nostril 
with  cold  water  are  all  that  is  necessary.  If  the  cause  is  known,  j-ou 
will  be  guided  according  to  circumstances.  If  the  bleeding  continues, 
pour  ice-cold  water  over  the  face,  between  the  eyes  and  down  over 
the  nasal  chambers.  A  bag  containing  ice  in  small  pieces  applied  to 
the  head  is  often  efEcient.  If  in  spite  of  these  measures  the  hemor- 
rhage continues,  try  plugging  the  nostrils  with  cotton,  toAV,  or  oakum. 
Tie  a  string  around  the  plug  before  it  is  pushed  up  into  the  nostril, 
so  that  it  can  be  safel}^  withdrawn  after  four  or  five  hours.  If  both 
nostrils  are  bleeding,  plug  only  one  nostril  at  a  time.  If  the  hemor- 
rhage is  profuse  and  pcrsistxjnt,  give  a  drench  composed  of  1  dram  of 
acetate  of  lead  dissolved  in  1  pint  of  water;  or  ergot,  1  ounce. 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    TIIARYNX. 

As  already  stated,  the  pharynx  is  common  to  the  functions  of  both 
respiration  and  alimentation.  Fromithis  organ  the  air  passes  into  the 
larynx  and  thence  onward  to  the  lungs.  In  the  posterior  part  of  the 
pharynx  is  the  superior  extremity  of  the  gullet,  the  canal  through 
which  the  food  and  water  pass  to  the  stomach.  Inflammation  of  the 
pharynx  is  a  complication  of  other  diseases,  namelj^,  influenza, 
strangles,  etc.,  and  is  probablj-  alwaj^s  more  or  less  complicated  with 
inflammation  of  the  larynx.  That  it  may  exist  as  an  independent 
affection  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  and  it  is  discussed  as  such  with 
the  diseases  of  the  digestive  tract. 

SORE    THROAT,    OR   LARYNGITIS. 

The  laiynx  is  situated  in  the  space  between  the  lower  jawbones  just 
back  of  the  root  of  the  tongue.  It  may  be  considered  as  a  box  (some- 
what depressed  on  each  side),  composed  principally  of  cartilages  and 
small  muscles,  and  lined  on  the  inside  wnth  a  continuation  of  the  res- 
piratory mucous  membrane.  Posteriori^'  it  opens  into  and  is  continu- 
ous with  the  windpipe.  It  is  the  organ  of  the  voice,  the  vocal  cords 
being  situated  within  it;  but  in  the  horse  this  function  is  of  little  con- 
sequence. It  dilates  and  contracts  to  a  certain  extent,  thus  regulating 
the  volume  of  air  passing  through  it.  The  mucous  membrane  lining 
it  internally  is  so  highly  sensitive  that  if  the  smallest  particle  of  food 
happens  to  drop  into  it  from  the  pharynx  violent  coughing  ensues 
instantly  and  is  continued  until  the  source  of  irritation  is  ejected. 
This  is  a  provision  of  nature  to  prevent  foreign  substances  gaining 
access  to  the  lungs.  That  projection  called  Adam's  apple  in  the  neck  of 
man  is  the  prominent  part  of  one  of  the  cartilages  forming  the  larnyx. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  113- 

Inflammation  of  the  laniyx  is  a  serious  and  sometimes  a  fatal  disease, 
and,  as  before  stated,  is  usually  complicated  with  inflammation  of  the- 
pharynx,  constituting  what  is  popularh^  known  as  "sore  throat."  The 
chief  causes  are  chilling  and  exposure. 

Symjytoms. — About  the  first  symptom  noticed  is  cough,  followed  by 
difficulty  in  swallowing,  which  may  be  due  to  soreness  of  the  mem- 
brane of  the  pharynx,  over  which  the  food  or  water  must  pass,  or  to 
the  pain  caused  by  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  necessary  to  impel 
the  food  or  water  onward  to  the  gullet;  or  this  same  contraction  of  the 
muscles  may  cause  a  pressure  on  the  larynx  and  produce  pain.  In 
many  instances  the  difficulty  in  swallowing  is  so  great  that  water,  and-^ 
in  some  cases  food,  is  returned  through  the  nose.  This,  however,, 
does  not  occur  from  laryngitis  alone,  but  only  when  the  pharynx  is- 
involved  in  the  inflammation.  The  glands  between  the  lower  jaw- 
bones and  below  the  ears  may  be  swollen.  Pressure  on  the  larynx' 
induces  coughing.  The  head  is  more  or  less  "poked  out,"  and  has 
the  appearance  of  being  stifily  carried.  The  membrane  in  the  nose'- 
becomes  red.  A  discharge  from  the  nostrils  soon  appears.  As  the- 
disease  advances,  the  breathing  may  assume  a  more  or  less  noisj'  char- 
acter; sometimes  a  harsh  rasping  snore  is  emitted  with  every  respira-- 
tion,  the  breathing  becomes  hurried,  and  occasionalh"  the  animal 
seems  threatened  with  suffocation. 

Treatment. — In  all  cases  steam  the  nostrils,  as  has  been  advised  for- 
cold  in  the  head.  In  bad  cases  cause  the  steam  to  be  inhaled  continu- 
ously for  hours — until  relief  is  afforded.  Have  a  fresh  bucketful  of 
boiling  water  ever}'  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes.  In  each  bucketful  of 
water  put  a  tablespoonf  ul  of  oil  of  turpentine,  or  compound  tincture  of 
benzoin,  the  vapor  of  which  will  be  carried  along  with  the  steam  to- 
the  affected  parts  and  have  a  beneficial  effect.  In  mild  eases  steaming; 
the  nostrils  five,  six,  or  seven  times  a  day  will  suflice. 

The  animal  should  be  placed  in  a  comfortable,  dr}'  stall  (a  box  stall- 
preferred),  and  should  have  a  pure  atmosphere  to  breathe.     The  body 
should  be  l)lanketed,  and  bandages  applied  to  the  legs.     The  diet  should 
consist  of  soft  food — bran  mashes,  scalded  oats,  linseed  gruel,  and,  best' 
of  all,  grass,  if  in  season,  which  should  be  fresh.     The  manger,  or' 
trough,  should  not  be  too  high  nor  too  low,  but  a  temporary  one  should- 
be  constructed  at  about  the  height  he  carries  his  head.     Having  tc- 
reach  too  high  or  too  low  ma}'  cause  so  much  pain  that  the  animal 
would  rather  forego  satisfying  what  little  appetite  he  might  have  than- 
inflict  pain  Iw  craning  his  head  for  food  or  water.     A  supply  of  fresh, 
water  should  be  before  him  all  the  time;  he  will  not  drink  too  much, 
nor  ,vill  the  cold  water  hurt  him.     Constipation  (if  present)  must  be- 
relieved  be  enemas  of  warm  water,  administered  three  or  four  times- 
during  the  twentj'-four  hours. 
14384—03 8 


114  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

A  liniment  composed  of  2  ounces  of  olive  oil  unci  1  ounce  each  of 
solution  of  ammonia  and  tincture  of  cantharides,  well  shaken  together, 
may  be  thoroughly  rublxid  in  about  the  throat  from  ear  to  ear,  and 
about  six  inches  down  over  the  windpipe,  and  in  the  space  between  the 
lower  jaws.  This  liniment  should  be  applied  once  a  da}^  for  two  or 
three  days. 

If  the  animal  is  breathing  with  great  difficult}-,  persevere  in  steam- 
ing the  nostrils,  and  dissolve  2  drams  of  chlorate  of  potassium  in  ever}" 
gallon  of  water  he  will  drink;  even  if  he  can  not  swallow  much  of  it, 
and  even  if  it  is  returned  through  the  nostrils,  it  will  be  of  some  benelit 
to  the  pharynx  as  a  gargle. 

An  electuary  of  acetate  of  potash,  2  drams,  honey,  and  licorice  powder 
may  be  spread  on  the  teeth  with  a  paddle  ever}-  few  hours.  If  the 
pain  of  coughing  is  great,  2  or  3  grains  of  morphine  may  be  added  to 
the  electuary. 

When  the  breathing  begins  to  be  loud  relief  is  afforded  in  some  cases 
by  giving  a  drench  composed  of  2  drams  of  fluid  extract  of  I'aborandi 
in  half  a  pint  of  water.  If  benefit  is  derived,  this  drench  may  be 
repeated  four  or  five  hours  after  the  first  dose  is  given.  It  will  cause 
a  free  flow  of  saliva  from  the  month. 

In  urgent  cases,  when  suffocation  seems  inevitable,  the  oj)eration  of 
tracheotomy  must  be  performed.  To  describe  this  operation  in  words 
that  would  make  it  comprehensible  to  the  general  reader  is  a  more 
difficult  task  than  performing  the  operation,  which,  in  the  hands  of 
the  expert,  is  simple  and  attended  with  little  danger. 

The  operator  should  be  provided  with  a  tracheotomy  tube  (to  be 
purchased  from  any  veterinary  instrument  maker)  and  a  sharp  knife,  a 
sponge,  and  a  bucket  of  clean  cold  water.  The  place  to  be  selected  for 
opening  the  windpipe  is  that  part  which  is  found,  upon  examination, 
to  be  least  covered  with  muscles,  about  5  or  6  inches  below  the 
throat.  Right  here,  then,  is  the  place  to  cut  through.  Have  an  assist- 
ant hold  the  animal's  head  still.  Grasp  your  knife  firmly  in  the  right 
hand,  select  the  spot  and  make  the  cut  from  above  to  below  directly 
on  the  median  line  on  the  anterior  surface  of  the  windpipe.  Make  the 
cut  about  2  inches  long  hi  the  w'indj>i]pe ;  this  necessitates  cutting  three 
or  four  rings.  One  bold  stroke  is  usually  sufficient,  but  if  it  is  neces- 
sary to  make  several  other  cuts  to  finish  the  operation,  do  not  hesitate. 
Your  purpose  is  to  make  a  hole  in  the  windpipe  sufficiently  large  to 
admit  the  tracheotomy  tube.  It  is  quickly  manifested  when  the  wind- 
pipe is  severed;  the  hot  air  rushes  out,  and  when  air  is  taken  in  it  is 
sucked  in  with  a  noise.  A  slight  hemorrhage  may  result  (it  never 
amounts  to  much),  which  is  easily  controlled  by  washing  the  wound 
with  a  sponge  and  cold  water,  but  use  care  not  to  get  any  water  in  the 
windpipe.  Do  not  neglect  to  instruct  your  assistant  to  hold  the  head 
down  immediately  after  the  operation,  so  that  the  neck  will  be  in  a 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  115 

horizontal  line.  This  will  prevent  the  blood  getting  into  the  wind- 
pipe and  allow  it  to  drop  directly  on  the  ground.  If  you  have  the 
self -adjustable  tube,  it  retains  its  place  in  the  wound  without  further 
trouble  after  it  is  inserted.  The  other  kind  requires  to  be  secured  in 
position  b}^  means  of  two  tapes  or  strings  tied  around  the  neck.  After 
the  hemorrhage  is  somewhat  abated,  sponge  the  blood  away  and  see 
that  the  tube  is  thoroughly  clean,  then  insert  it,  directing  the  tube 
downward  toward  the  lungs. 

The  immediate  relief  this  operation  affords  is  gratifying  to  behold. 
The  animal,  a  few  minutes  before  on  the  verge  of  death  from  suffoca^ 
tion,  emitting  a  loud  wheezing  sound  with  every  breath,  with  haggard 
countenance,  body  swaying,  pawing,  gasping,  fighting  for  breath,  now 
breathes  tranquilly,  and  may  be  in  search  of  something  to  eat. 

The  tube  should  be  removed  once  a  day  and  cleaned  with  the  carbolic 
acid  solution  (1  to  20),  and  the  discharge  washed  away  from  the  wound 
with  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  1  part  to  40  parts  water.  Several 
times  a  day  the  hand  should  be  held  over  the  opening  in  the  tube  to 
test  the  animaFs  ability  to  breath  through  the  nostrils,  and  as  soon  as 
it  is  demonstrated  that  breathing  can  be  performed  in  the  natural  way 
the  tube  should  be  removed,  the  wound  thoroughly  cleansed  with  the 
carbolic  acid  solution  (1  to. 40),  and  closed  by  inserting  four  or  five 
stitches  tlirmujK  the  skin  and  muscle.  Do  not  include  the  cartilages  of 
the  windpipe  in  the  stitches.  Apply  the  carbolic  acid  solution  to  the 
wound  three  or  four  times  a  day  until  healed.  When  the  tube  is 
removed  to  clean  it  the  lips  of  the  wound  may  be  pressed  together  to 
ascertain  whether  or  not  tlie  horse  can  breathe  through  the  larynx. 
The  use  of  the  tube  should  be  discontinued  as  soon  as  possible. 

It  is  true  that  tracheotomy  tubes  are  seldom  to  be  found  on  farms, 
and  especially  when  most  urgently  required.  In  such  instances  there 
is  nothing  left  to  be  done  but,  with  a  strong  needle,  pass  a  wax  end  or 
other  strong  string  through  each  side  of  the  wound,  including  the  car- 
tilage of  the  windpipe,  and  keep  the  wound  open  ]>y  tying  the  strings 
over  the  neck. 

During  the  time  the  tube  is  used  the  other  treatment  advised  must 
not  be  neglected.  After  a  few  days  the  discharge  from  the  nostrils 
becomes  thicker  and  more  profuse.  This  is  a  good  symptom  and  sig- 
nifies that  the  acute  stage  has  passed.  At  any  time  during  the  attack, 
if  the  horse  becomes  weak,  give  whisky  or  aromatic  spirits  of  ammo- 
nia, 2  ounces  in  water.  Do  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  put  the  animal  back 
to  work,  but  give  plenty  of  time  for  a  complete  recovery.  Gentle  and 
gradually  increasing  exercise  may  be  given  as  soon  as  the  horse  is  able 
to  stand  it.  The  food  should  be  carefully  selected  and  of  good  qual- 
it}'.     Tonics,  as  iron  or  arsenic,  ma}"  be  employed. 

If  abscesses  form  in  connection  with  the  disease  thej^  must  be  opened 
to  allow  the  escape  of  pus,  but  do  not  rashly  plunge  a  knife  into  swol- 


116  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

len  glands;  wait  until  3^011  arc  certain  the  swelling  contains  pus.  The 
formation  of  pus  maj'^  be  encouraged  by  the  constant  application  of 
poultices  for  hours  at  a  time.  The  best  poultice  for  the  purpose  is 
made  of  linseed  meal,  with  sufficient  hot  water  to  make  a  thick  paste. 
If  the  glands  remain  swollen  for  some  time  after  the  attack,  rub  well 
over  them  an  aj^plication  of  the  following:  Biniodide  of  mercur}^  1 
dram;  lard,  1  ounce;  mix  well.  This  may  be  applied  once  every  day 
until  the  part  is  blistered. 

Sore  throat  is  also  a  symptom  of  other  diseases,  such  as  influenza, 
s.tranglos,  purpura  hemorrhagica,  etc.,  which  diseases  ma}-  be  consulted 
under  their  proper  headings. 

After  a  severe  attack  of  inflammation  of  the  larynx  the  mucous  mem- 
brane may  be  left  in  a  thickened  condition,  or  an  ulceration  of  the  part 
may  ensue,  either  of  which  are  liable  to  produce  a  chronic  cough.  For 
the  ulceration  it  is  useless  to  prescribe,  because  it  can  neither  be  diag- 
nosed nor  topically  treated  by  the  nonprofessional. 

If  a  chronic  cough  remains  after  all  the  other  symptons  have  disap- 
peared, it  is  advisable  to  give  1  dram  of  iodide  of  potassium  dissolved 
in  a  bucketful  of  drinking  water  one  hour  before  feeding,  three  times 
a  day,  for  a  month  if  necessary.  Also  rub  in  well  the  preparation  of 
iodide  of  mercury  (as  advised  for  the  swollen  glands)  about  the  throat, 
from  ear  to  ear,  and  in  the  space  between  the  lower  jaw  bones.  The 
application  may  be  repeated  cver}^  third  day  until  the  part  is  blistered. 

SPASM    OF   THE    LARYNX. 

The  symptoms  are  as  follows:  Sudden  seizure  by  a  violent  fit  of 
coughing;  the  horse  may  reel  and  fall,  and  after  a  few  minutes  recover 
and  be  as  well  as  ever.  The  treatment  recommended  is  thus:  Three 
drams  of  bromide  of  potassium  three  times  a  day,  dissolved  in  the 
drinking  water,  or  give  as  a  drench  in  about  a  half  pint  of  water,  for 
a  week.  Then  give  1  dram  of  powdered  nux  vomica  (either  on  the 
food  or  shaken. with  water  as  a  drench)  once  a  day  for  a  few  weeks. 

CROUr   AND    DIPHTHERIA. 

Neither  of  these  diseases  affects  the  horse.  But  these  names  are 
sometimes  wrongly  applied  to  severe  lar3'ngitis  or  phaiTngitis,  or  to 
forage  poisoning,  in  which  the  throat  is  paralyzed  and  becomes  exces- 
sivel}'  inflamed  and  gangrenous. 

THICK   WIND   AND    ROARING. 

Horses  that  are  affected  with  a  chronic  disease  that  causes  a  loud 
unnatural  noise  in  breathing  are  said  to  have  thick  wind,  or  to  be 
roarers.  This  class  does  not  include  those  affected  with  severe  sore 
throat,  as  in  these  cases  the  breathing  is  nois}^  onl}^  during  the  attack 
of  the  acute  disease. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  117 

Thick  wind  is  caused  by  an  obstruction  to  the  free  jDassage  of  the 
air  in  some  part  of  the  respiratory  tract.  Nasal  polj^pi,  thickening  of 
the  membrane,  pharyngeal  pol3^pi,  deformed  bones,  paralysis  of  the 
wing  of  the  nostril,  etc.,  are  occasional  causes.  The  noisy  breathing 
of  horses  after  having  been  idle  and  put  to  sudden  exertion  is  not  due 
to  any  disease  and  is  onh^  temporary.  Ver}^  often  a  nervous,  excitable 
horse  will  make  a  noise  for  a  short  time  when  started  off,  generally 
caused  b}^  the  cramped  position  in  which  the  head  and  lieck  are  forced 
in  order  to  hold  him  back. 

Many  other  causes  may  occasion  temporary",  intermitting,  or  perma- 
nent noisy  respiration,  but  chronic  roaring  is  caused  by  paralj'^sis  of 
the  muscles  of  the  larynx;  and  almost  invariably  it  is  the  muscles  of 
the  left  side  of  the  larynx  that  are  affected. 

In  chronic  roaring  the  noise  is  made  when  the  air  is  drawn  into  the 
lungs;  and  only  when  the  disease  is  far  advanced  is  a  sound  produced 
when  the  air  is  expelled,  and  even  then  it  is  not  near  so  loud  as  during 
inspiration. 

In  a  normal  condition  the  muscles  dilate  the  aperture  of  the  larynx 
by  moving  outward  the  cartilage  and  vocal  cord,  allowing  a  sufficient 
volume  of  air  to  rush  through.  But  when  the  muscles  are  paralyzed, 
the  cartilage  and  vocal  cord  that  are  normal  1}^  controlled  by  the  affected 
muscles  lean  into  the  tube  of  the  larnyx,  so  that  when  the  air  rushes 
in  it  meets  this  obstruction  and  the  noise  is  produced.  When  the  air 
is  expelled  from  the  Itings  its  very  force  pushes  the  cartilage  and  vocal 
cords  out,  and  consequently  noise  is  not  produced  in  the  expiratory  act. 

The  paralysis  of  the  muscles  is  due  to  derangement  of  the  nerve 
that  supplies  them  with  energy.  The  muscles  of  both  sides  a.re  not 
supplied  by  the  same  nerve;  there  is  a  right  and  a  left  nerve,  each 
supplying  its  respective  side.  The  reason  why  the  muscles  on  the 
left  side  are  the  ones  usually  parah^zed  is  owing  to  the  difference  in 
the  anatomical  arrangement  of  the  nerves.  The  left  nerve  is  much 
longer  and  more  exposed  to  interference  than  the  right  nerve. 

In  chronic  roaring  there  is  no  evidence  of  anj^  disease  of  the  larynx 
other  than  the  wasted  condition  of  the  muscles  in  question.  The 
disease  of  the  nerve  is  generally  located  far  from  the  larynx.  Disease 
of  parts  contiguous  to  the  nerve  along  any  part  of  its  course  may 
interfere  with  its  proper  function.  Enlargement  of  lymphatic  glands 
within  the  chest  through  which  the  nerve  passes  on  its  way  back  to 
the  larynx  is  the  most  frequent  interruption  of  nervous  supply,  and 
cojisequently  roaring.  When  roaring  becomes  confirmed  medical 
treatment  is  entirely  useless,  as  it  is  impossible  to  restore  the  wasted 
muscle  and  at  the  same  time  remove  the  cause  of  the  interruption  of 
the  nervous  supply.  Before  roaring  becomes  permanent  the  condi- 
tion may  be  benefited  by  a  course  of  iodide  of  potassium,  if  caused  by 
disease  of  the  lymphatic  glands.     Electricit}^  has  been  used  with  indif- 


118  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

ferent  success.  Blistering  or  firing  over  the  laiynx  is,  of  course,  not 
worthy  of  trial  if  the  disease  is  due  to  interference  of  the  nerve  sup- 
ply. The  administration  of  strychnia  (nux  vomica)  on  the  ground 
that  it  is  a  nerve  tonic  with  the  view  of  stimulating  the  affected  mus- 
cles is  treating  only  the  result  of  the  disease  without  considering  the 
cause,  and  is  therefore  useless.  The  operation  of  extirpating  the  col- 
lapsed cartilage  and  vocal  cord  is  believed  to  be  the  only  relief,  and, 
as  this  operation  is  critical  and  can  only  be  performed  by  the  skillful 
veterinarian,  it  will  not  be  described  here. 

From  the  foregoing  description  of  the  disease  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
name  "roaring,"  by  which  the  disease  is  generally  known,  is  only  a 
symptom  and  not  the  disease.  Chronic  roaring  is  also  in  man}'  cases 
accompanied  I)}'  a  cough.  The  best  waj'  to  test  whether  a  horse  is  a 
"roarer"  is  either  to  make  him  pull  a  load  rapidly  up  a  hill  or  over  a 
sandy  road  or  soft  ground;  or,  if  he  is  a  saddle  horse,  gallop  him  up 
a  hill  or  over  soft  ground.  The  ol)ject  is  to  make  him  exert  himself. 
Some  horses  require  a  great  deal  more  exertion  than  others  before  the 
characteristic  sound  is  emitted.  The  greater  the  distance  he  is  forced, 
the  more  he  will  appear  exhausted  if  he  is  a  roarer;  in  bad  cases  the 
animal  becomes  utterly  exhausted,  the  breathing  is  rapid  and  difficult, 
the  nostrils  dilate  to  the  fullest  extent,  and  the  animal  appears  as  if 
suffocation  was  imminent. 

An  animal  that  is  a  roarer  should  not  be  used  for  breeding  purposes. 
The  taint  is  transmissible  in  many  instances. 

Grunting. — A  common  test  used  hj  veterinarians  when  examining 
"  the  wind"  of  a  horse  is  to  see  if  he  is  a  "grunter."  This  is  a  sound 
emitted  during  expiration  when  the  animal  is  suddenly  moved,  or 
startled,  or  struck  at.  .  If  he  grunts  he  is  further  tested  for  roaring. 
Grunters  are  not  always  roarers,  but,  as  it  is  a  common  thing  for  a 
roarer  to  grunt,  such  an  animal  must  be  looked  upon  with  suspicion 
until  he  is  thoroughly  tried  b}^  pulling  a  load  or  galloped  up  a  hill. 
The  test  should  be  a  severe  one.  Horses  suffering  with  pleurisy, 
pleurodj'nia,  or  rheumatism,  and  other  affections  accompanied  with 
much  pain,  will  grunt  when  moved,  or  when  the  pain  is  aggravated, 
but  grunting  under  these  circumstances  does  not  justif}'  the  term  of 
"grunter"  being  applied  to  the  horse,  as  the  grunting  ceases  when  the 
animal  recovers  from  the  disease  that  causes  the  pain. 

High  hlmoing. — This  term  is  applied  to  a  nois}'  l)reathing  made  l)y 
some  horses.  It  is  distinctlj^  a  nasal  sound,  and  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  "roaring."  The  sound  is  produced  by  the  action  of  the 
nostrils.  It  is  a  habit  and  not  an  unsoundness.  Contrary  to  roaring, 
when  the  animal  is  put  to  severe  exertion  the  sound  ceases.  An  animal 
that  emits  this  sound  is  called  a  "high-blower."  Some  horses  have, 
naturally,  very  narrow  nasal  openings,  and  they  may  emit  sounds 
louder  than  usual  in  their  breath insr  when  exercised. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  119 

Whistlinf/  is  only  one  of  the  variations  of  the  sound  emitted  by  a 
horse  called  a  "roarer,"  and  therefore  needs  no  further  notice,  except 
to  remind  the  reader  that  a  whistling  sound  may  be  produced  during 
an  attack  of  severe  sore  throat  or  inflammation  of  the  larynx,  which 
passes  away  with  the  disease  that  causes  it. 

CHRONIC   BRONCHITIS. 

This  ma}^  be  due  to  the  same  causes  as  acute  bronchitis  or  it  may 
follow  the  latter  disease.  An  attack  of  the  chronic  form  is  liable  to 
be  converted  into  acute  bronchitis  by  a  very  slight  cause.  This 
chronic  affection  in  most  instances  is  associated  with  thickening  of  the 
walls  of  the  tubes.  Its  course  is  slower,  it  is  less  severe,  and  is  not 
accompanied  with  as  much  fever  as  the  acute  form.  If  the  animal  is 
exerted,  the  breathing  becomes  quickened  and  he  soon  shows  signs  of 
exhaustion.  In  many  instances  the  animal  keeps  up  strength  and 
appearances  moderately  well,  but  in  other  cases  the  appetite  is  lost, 
flesh  gradually  disappears,  and  he  becomes  emaciated  and  debilitated. 
It  is  accompanied  b}'^  a  persistent  cough,  which  in  some  cases  is  husky, 
smothered,  or  muffled,  while  in  other  cases  it  is  hard  and  clear.  A 
whitish  matter  is  discharged  from  the  nose,  which  may  be  curdled  in 
some  instances.  If  the  ear  is  placed  against  the  chest  behind  the  shoulder 
blade,  the  rattle  of  the  air  passing  through  the  mucus  can  be  heard 
within. 

Treatment. — Rest  is  necessary,  as  even  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances  a  cure  is  difficult  to  effect.  The  animal  can  not  stand 
exertion  and  should  not  be  compelled  to  undergo  it.  The  animal 
should  have  much  the  same  general  care  and  medical  treatment  pre- 
scribed for  the  acute  form.  Arsenious  acid  in  tonic  doses  (3  to  7  grains) 
three  times  daily  ma\'  be  given.  As  arsenic  is  irritant,  it  must  bo 
mixed  with  a  considerable  bulk  of  moist  feed  and  never  given  alone. 
Arsenic  may  be  given  in  the  form  of  Fowler's  solution,  1  ounce  three 
tunes  daily  in  the  drinking  water.  An  application  of  mustard  applied 
to  the  breast  is  a  beneficial  adjunct.  The  diet  should  be  the  most 
nourishing.  Avoid  bulky  food.  Linseed  mashes,  scalded  oats,  and, 
if  in  season,  grass  and  green-blade  fodder  are  the  best  diet. 

THE    LUNGS, 

The  lungs  are  the  essential  organs  of  respiration.  They  consist  of 
two  (right  and  left)  spongy  masses,  commonly  called  the  "lights," 
situated  entirely  within  the  thoracic  cavity.  On  account  of  the  space 
taken  up  by  the  heart,  the  left  lung  is  the  smaller.  Externally,  they 
are  completely  covered  by  the  pleura.  The  structure  of  the  lung 
consists  of  a  light,  soft,  but  very  strong  and  remarkably  elastic  tissue, 
which  can  only  be  torn  with  difficulty.  Each  lung  is  divided  into  a 
certain  number  of  lobes,  which  are  subdivided  into  numberless  lobules 


120  BL'REAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

(little  lobes).  A  little  ])ronchial  tube  terminates  in  every  one  of  these 
lobules.  The  little  tube  then  divides  into  minute  branches  which 
open  into  the  air  cells  (pulmonary  vesicles)  of  the  lunjrs.  The  air  cells 
are  little  sacs  having  a  diameter  varying  from  one-seventieth  to  one 
two-hundredth  of  an  inch;  the}^  have  but  one  opening,  the  communi- 
cation with  the  branches  of  the  little  bronchial  tu])es.  Small  blood 
vessels  ramify  in  the  walls  of  the  air  cells.  The  air  cells  arc  the 
consummation  of  the  intricate  structures  forming  the  respiratory 
apparatus.  They  are  of  prime  importance,  all  the  rest  being  com- 
plementary. It  is  here  that  the  exchange  of  gases  takes  place.  As 
before  stated,  the  walls  of  the  cells  are  very  thin;  so,  also,  are  the 
walls  of  the  blood  vessels.  Through  these  walls  escapes  from  the 
blood  the  carbonic  acid  gas  that  has  been  absorbed  by  the  blood  in  its 
circulation  through  the  different  parts  of  the  body;  and  through  these 
walls  is  absorbed  by  the  blood,  from  the  air  in  the  air  cells,  the  oxygen 
gas  which  is  the  life-giving  element  of  the  atmosplicre. 

CONGESTION    OF    THE    LUXGS. 

Congestion  is  essentially  an  excess  of  blood  in  the  vessels  of  the 
parts  affected.  Congestion  of  the  lungs  in  the  horse,  when  it  exists 
as  an  independent  affection,  is  generally  caused  by  overexertion  when 
the  animal  is  not  in  a  fit  condition  to  undergo  more  than  moderate 
exercise.  Veiy  often  what  is  recognized  as  congestion  of  the  lungs 
is  but  a  symptom  of  exhaustion  or  dilatation  of  the  heart. 

The  methods  practiced  by  the  trainers  of  running  and  trotting 
horses  will  give  an  idea  of  what  is  termed  "putting  a  horse  in  condi- 
tion "  to  stand  severe  exertion.  The  animal  at  first  gets  walking 
exercises,  then  after  some  time  he  is  made  to  go  faster  and  farther 
each  day;  the  amount  of  work  is  daily  increased  until  the  horse  is 
said  to  be  "in  condition."  An  animal  so  prepared  runs  no  risk  of 
being  affected  Avith  congestion  of  the  lungs,  if  he  is  otherwise  healthy. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  the  horse  is  kept  in  the  stable  for  the  purpose 
of  laying  on  fat  or  for  want  of  something  to  do,  the  muscular  sj'stcm 
becomes  soft,  and  the  horse  is  not  in  condition  to  stand  the  severe 
exertion  of  going  fast  or  far,  no  matter  how  health}^  he  ma}^  be  in 
other  respects.  If  such  a  horse  be  given  a  hai-d  ride  or  drive,  he  maj' 
start  oft'  in  high  spirits,  but  soon  becomes  exhausted,  and  if  he  is 
pushed  he  will  slacken  his  pace,  show  a  desire  to  stop,  and  may  stag- 
ger or  even  fall.  Examination  will  show  the  nostrils  dilated,  the 
flanks  heaving,  the  countenance  haggard,  and  the  appearance  of  suffo- 
cation. The  heart  and  muscles  were  not  accustomed  to  the  sudden 
and  severe  strain  put  upon  them;  the  heart  became  unable  to  perform 
its  work;  the  blood  accumulated  in  the  vessels  of  the  lungs,  which 
eventually  became  engorged  with  the  stagnated  l)lood,  constituting 
congestion  of  the  lungs. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  121 

The  animal,  after  having  undergone  severe  exertion,  ma}'^  not 
exhibit  alarming  S3'mptoms  until  returned  to  the  stable;  then  he  will 
be  noticed  standing  with  his  head  down,  legs  spread  out,  the  e^'es 
wildly  staring  or  dull  and  sunken.  The  breathing  is  very  rapid  and. 
almost  gasping;  the  body  is  covered  with  perspiration  in  most  cases, 
which,  however,  may  soon  evaporate,  leaving  the  surface  of  the  body 
and  the  legs  and  ears  cold;  the  breathing  is  both  abdominal  and  tho- 
racic; the  chest  rises  and  falls  and  the  flanks  are  powerfull}-  brought 
into  action.  If  the  pulse  can  be  felt  at  all  it  will  be  found  beating 
very  frequently,  one  hundred  or  so  to  a  minute.  The  heart  ma}"  be 
felt  tumultuousl}"  thumping  if  the  hand  is  placed  against  the  chest, 
behind  the  left  elbow,  or  it  may  be  scarcely  perceptible.  The  animal 
may  tremble  all  over  the  body.  If  the  ear  is  placed  against  the  side 
of  the  chest  a  loud  murmur  will  be  heard  and  perhaps  a  fine  crackling 
sound. 

One  can  scarcely  fail  to  recognize  a  case  of  congestion  of  the  lungs 
when  brought  on  by  overexertion,  as  the  history  of  the  case  indicates 
the  nature  of  the  ailment.  In  all  cases  of  suffocation  the  lungs  are 
congested.     It  is  also  seen  in  connection  with  other  diseases. 

Treatment. — If  the  animal  is  attacked  by  the  disease  while  on  the  road,, 
stop  him  immediatel^^  Do  not  attempt  to  return  to  the  stables.  If  he 
is  in  the  stable,  make  arrangements  at  once  to  insure  an  unlimited  sup- 
pi}'  of  pure  air.  If  the  weather  is  warm,  out  in  the  open  air  is  the  best 
place,  but  if  too  cold  let  him  stand  with  head  to  the  door.  Let  him 
stand  still;  he  has  all  he  can  do,  if  he  obtains  sufficient  pure  air  to  sus- 
tain life.  If  he  is  encumbered  with  harness  or  saddle,  remove  it  at 
once  and  rub  the  body  with  cloths  or  wisps  of  hav  or  straw.  This 
stimulates  the  circulation  in  the  skin,  and  thus  aids  in  relieving  the 
lungs  of  the  .extra  quantit}'  of  blood  that  is  stagnated  there.  If  you 
have  three  or  four  assistants,  let  them  rub  the-  body  and  legs  well,  until 
the  skin  feels  natural;  rub  the  legs  until  they  are  warm,  if  possible. 
When  the  circulation  is  reestablished,  put  bandages  on  the  legs  from 
the  hoofs  up  as  far  as  possible.  Throw  a  blanket  over  the  bodj"  and 
let  the  rubbing  be  done  under  the  blanket.  Diffusible  stimulants  are 
the  medicines  indicated — brand}",  whisky  (or  even  ale  or  beer  if  noth- 
ing else  is  at  hand),  ether,  and  aromatic  spirits  of  ammonia.  Two 
ounces  each  of  spirits  of  nitrous  ether  and  alcohol,  given  as  a  drench 
diluted  with  a  pint  of  water,  every  hour  until  relief  is  afforded,  is 
among  the  best  remedies.  Or,  give  a  quarter  of  a  pint  of  whisky  in  a 
pint  of  water  every  hour,  or  the  same  quantity  of  brandy  as  often,  or 
a  quart  of  ale  every  hour,  or  1  ounce  of  tincture  of  arnica  in  a  pint  of 
water  every  hour  until  five  or  six  doses  have  been  given.  ^\  none  of 
these  remedies  is  at  hand,  2  ounces  of  oil  of  turpentine,  shaken  with  a 
half  pint  of  milk,  may  be  given  once,  but  not  r«  ".ated.  The  animal 
may  be  bled  from  the  jugular  vein.     Do  not  ta^vfe  more  than   5  or  G 


122  BUBEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

quarts  from  the  vein,  and  do  not  repeat  the  bleeding.     The  blood  thus 
drawn  will  have  a  tarry  appearance. 

When  the  alarming  symptoms  have  subsided  active  measures  may 
be  stopped,  but  care  must  be  used  in  the  general  treatment  of  the  ani- 
mal for  several  days,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  congestion  may 
be  followed  by  pneumonia.  The  animal  should  have  a  comfortable 
stall,  where  he  will  not  be'  subjected  to  drafts  or  sudden  changes  of 
temperature;  he  should  be  blanketed  and  the  legs  kept  bandaged. 
The  air  should  be  pure,  a  plentiful  supply  of  fresh  cold  water  always 
in  the  stall,  and  a  diet  composed  principally  of  bran  mashes,  scalded 
oats,  and,  if  in  season,  grass.  When  ready  for  use  again  the  horse 
should  at  first  receive  moderate  exercise  onl3%  which  maj'  be  daily 
increased  until  he  may  safely  be  put  to  regular  work. 

PNEUMOXIA,  OR   LLING    FEVER. 

Pneumonia  is  inflammation  of  the  lungs.  The  chief  varieties  of 
pneumonia  arc  catarrhal — already  discussed  in  connection  with  bron- 
chitis, under  the  name  of  broncho-pneumonia — and  the  fibrinous  or 
croupous  variety.  The  latter  form  receives  its  name  from  the  fact 
that  the  air  spaces  are  choked  with  coagulated  fibrin  thrown  out  from 
the  blood.  This  causes  the  diseased  portions  of  the  lungs  to  become 
as  fii-m  as  liver,  in  which  condition  they  are  said  to  be  hepatized.  As 
air  is  excluded  by  the  inflammatory  product,  the  diseased  lung  will 
not  float  in  water. 

The  inflammation  usually  begins  in  the  lower  part  of  the  lung  and 
extends  upward.  The  first  stage  of  the  disease  consists  of  conges- 
tion, or  cngorg'cment,  of  the  blood  vessels,  followed  by  leakage  of 
serum  containing  fibrin  from  the  blood  vessels  into  the  air  passages. 
The  fluids  thus  escaping  into  the  air  cells  and  in  the  minute  branches 
of  the  little  bronchial  tubes  become  coagulated. 

The  pleura  co\'ering  the  affected  parts  may  be  more  or  less  inflamed. 
A  continuance  of  the  foregoing  phenomena  is  marked  bj'  a  further 
escape  of  the  constituents  of  the  blood,  and  a  change  in  the  membrane 
of  the  cells,  which  become  swollen.  The  exudate  that  fills  the  air  cells 
and  minute  bronchial  branches  undergoes  disintegration  and  softening 
when  healing  commences. 

The  favorable  termination  of  pneumonia  is  in  resolution,  that  is,  a 
restoration  to  health.  This  is  gradually  brought  about  by  the  exuded 
material  contained  in  the  air  cells  and  lung  tissues  becoming  broken 
lown  and  softened  and  absorbed  or  expectorated  tlirough  the  nostrils. 
|;i  .nr'  '  '^ssels  return  to  their  natural  state,  and  the  blood  circulates 
I.:  :;<  ei  [  -"■  ■'  In  the  cases  that  do  not  terminate  so  happily  the 
iiiijg  uia^  je..'-  „v  ^.*f  i^renous  (or  mortified),  or  an  abscess  may  form, 
or  the  disease  ii    v^  <     <>— ^r.-o  into  the  chronic  variety. 

Pneumoriisv  rr.>i    '-     v .    ..'    -  induced  by  any  of  the  influences  named 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  123 

as  general  causes  for  diseases  of  the  organs  of  respiration,  but  in 
man}^  instances  it  is  due  to  neglect.  A  common  cold  or  sore  throat 
may  be  followed  by  pneumonia  if  neglected  or  improperly  treated. 
An  animal  may  be  debilitated  b}'  a  cold,  and  when  in  this  weakened 
state  may  be  compelled  to  undergo  exertion  beyond  his  strength;  or 
he  ma}^  be  kept  in  bad  quarters,  such  as  a  badly  ventilated  stable, 
where  the  foul  gases  are  shut  in  and  the  pure  air  is  shut  out;  or  the 
stable  may  be  so  open  that  parts  of  the  body  are  exposed  to  drafts  of 
cold  air.  An  animai  is  predisposed  to  pneumonia  when  debilitated  b}'' 
any  constitutional  disease,  and  especially  during  convalescence  if 
exposed  to  any  of  the  exciting  causes.  Foreign  bodies,  such  as  food, 
accidentall}^  getting  in  the  lungs  by  way  of  the  windpipe,  as  well  as 
the  inhalation  of  irritating  gases  and  smoke,  ofttimes  produce  fatal 
attacks  of  inflammation  of  the  lung  and  bronchial  tubes.  Pneumonia 
is  frequent!}''  seen  in  connection  with  other  diseases,  such  as  influenza, 
purpura  hemorrhagica,  strangles,  glanders,  etc.  Pneumonia  and 
pleurisy  arc  most  common  during  cold,  damp  weather,  and  especially 
during  the  prevalence  of  the  cold  north  and  northeasterl}'  winds. 
Wounds  puncturing  the  thoracic  cavit}^  may  cause  pneumonia. 

Sijmj)toms.—  Pneumonia,  when  a  primary'  disease,  is  ushered  in  b}'  a 
chill,  more  or  less  prolonged,  which  in  many  cases  is  seen  neither  by 
the  owner  nor  the  attendant,  but  is  overlooked.  The  breathing 
becomes  accelerated,  and  the  animal  hangs  its  head  and  has  a  ver}-  dull 
appearance.  The  mouth  is  hot  and  has  a  sticky  feeling  to  the  touch; 
the  heat  conveyed  to  the  finger  in  the  mouth  demonstrates  a  fever;  if 
the  thermometer  is  placed  in  the  rectum  the  temperature  will  be  found 
to  have  risen  to  103°  F.  or  higher.  The  pulse  is  frequent,  beating 
from  fifty  or  sixty  to  eighty  or  more  a  minute.  There  is  usuall}^  a 
dr}"  cough  from  the  beginning,  which,  however,  changes  in  character 
as  the  disease  advances;  for  instance,  it  may  become  moist,  or  if 
pleurisy  sets  in,  the  cough  will  be  peculiar  to  the  latter  affection;  that 
is,  cut  short  in  the  endeavor  to  suppress  it.  In  some  cases  the  dis- 
charge from  the  nostrils  is  tinged  with  blood,  while  in  other  cases  it 
has  the  appearance  of  muco-pus.  The  appetite  is  lost  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent,  but  the  desire  for  water  is  increased,  particularly  during 
the  onset  of  the  fever.  The  membrane  within  the  nostrils  is  red  and 
at  first  drj",  but  sooner  or  later  becomes  moist.  The  legs  are  cold. 
The  bowels  are  more  or  less  constipated,  and  what  dung  is  passed  is 
usually  covered  with  a  slimy  mucus.  The  urine  is  passed  in  smaller 
quantities  than  usual  and  is  of  a  darker  color. 

The  animal  prefers  to  have  the  head  where  the  freshest  air  cai    r.'^, 
obtained.     When  affected  with  pneumonia  a  horse  r-.,  ^      ,. 

but  persists  in  standing  from  the  beginning  of  the      '   q^. 
if  pneumonia  is  complicated  with  pleuris3^  '^'  .   -v,    -:    .     •   ^^.  ..•     •  st-. 
less  and  lie  down  for  a  few  moments  to  q,        ,  ii        -  -f^  .j.  •  .ntio 


124  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

pains,  but  lie  soon  rises.  In  pneumonia  the  ))roathing  is  rapid  and 
difficult,  but  when  the  pneumonia  is  complicated  with  pleurisy  the  ribs 
are  k(^pt  as  still  as  possible  and  the  l)reathin<r  is  abdominal;  that  is,  the 
abdominal  muscles  are  now  made  to  do  as  much  of  the  work  as  they 
can  perform.  If  pleurisy  is  not  present  there  is  little  pain.  To  the 
ordinary  observer  the  animal  may  not  appear  dangerousl}'  ill,  as  he 
does  not  show  the  seriousness  of  the  ailment  b}^  violence,  as  in  colic, 
but  a  careful  observer  will  discover  at  a  glance  that  the  trouble  is 
something  more  serious  than  a  cold.  By  percussion  it  will  l)e  show^i 
that  some  portions  of  the  chest  are  less  resonant  than  in  health,  indi- 
cating exclusion  of  air.  If  the  air  is  wholly  excluded  the  percussion 
is  quite  dull,  as  that  elicited  by  percussion  over  the  thigh. 

By  auscultation  important  information  may  be  gained.  When  the 
ear  is  placed  against  the  chest  of  a  health}^  horse  the  respiratory  mur- 
mur is  heard  more  or  less  distinctl}^,  according  to  the  part  of  the  chest 
that  is  beneath  the  ear.  In  the  very  first  stage  of  pneumonia  this 
murmur  is  louder  and  hoarser;  and,  also,  tJiere  is  heard  a  fine  crack- 
ling sound  something  similar  to  that  produced  when  salt  is  thrown  in 
a  fire.  After  the  affected  part  becomes  solid  there  is  an  absence  of 
sound  over  that  particular  part.  After  absorption  begins  one  may 
again  hear  sounds  that  are  of  a  more  or  less  moist  character  and  resem- 
ble a  bubbling  or  gurgling  noise,  which  graduall}"  change  until  the 
natural  sound  is  heard  announcing  return  to  health. 

When  a  fatal  termination  is  approaching  all  the  s3'mptoms  become 
intensified.  The  breathing  becomes  still  more  rapid  and  difficult;  the 
flanks  heave;  the  animal  stares  wildl}^  about  as  if  seeking  aid  to  drive 
off  the  feeling  of  suffocation;  the  body  is  bathed  with  sweat;  the  horse 
staggers,  but  quickly  recovers  his  balance;  he  may  now,  for  the  first 
time  during  the  attack,  lie  down;  he  does  so,  however,  in  the  hope  of 
relief,  which  he  fails  to  find,  and  with  difficulty  struggles  to  his  feet; 
he  pants;  the  nostrils  flap;  he  staggers  and  sways  from  side  to  side 
and  backwards  and  forwards,  but  still  tries  to  retain  the  standing 
position,  even  by  propping  himself  against  the  stall.  It  is  no  use,  as 
after  an  exhausting  fight  for  breath  he  goes  down;  the  limbs  stretch 
out  and  become  rigid.  In  fatal  cases  death  usually  occurs  in  from  ten 
to  twenty  daj^s  after  the  beginning  of  the  attack.  On  the  other  hand, 
when  the  disease  is  terminating  favorabl}'-  the  signs  are  obvious.  The 
fever  abates  and  the  animal  gradually  improves  in  appetite;  he  takes 
more  notice  of  things  around  him;  his  spirits  improve;  he  has  a  gen- 
eral appearance  of  returning  health,  and  he  lies  dowm  and  rests.  In 
the  majority  of  cases  pneumonia,  if  properly  treated,  terminates  in 
recovery. 

Treatment  -The  comfort  and  surroundings  of  the  patient  must  be 
attended  to, first.  The  quarters  should  be  the  best  that  can  be  pro- 
vided.    Pure  rir  is  essential.     Avoid  placing  the  animal  in  a  stall 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  125 

where  he  may  be  exposed  to  drafts  of  cold  air  and  sudden  changes  of 
temperature.  It  is  much  better  for  the  animal  if  the  air  is  cold  and 
pure  than  if  it  is  warm  and  foul.  It  is  better  to  make  the  animal  com- 
fortable with  warm  clothing  than  to  make  the  stable  warm  by  shutting 
off  the  ventilation.  The  animal  should  have  an  unlimited  supplj^  of 
fresh  cold  drinking  water  from  the  start.  Blanket  the  body.  Rub 
the  legs  until  they  are  warm  and  then  put  bandages  on  them  from  the 
hoofs  up  to  the  knees  and  hocks.  If  warmth  can  not  be  reestablished 
in  the  legs  by  hand  rubbing  alone,  apply  dry  ground  mustard  and  rub 
well  in.  The  bandages  should  be  removed  once  or  twice  every  da}^, 
the  legs  well  rubbed,  and  the  l)andages  replaced.  Much  harm  is  often 
done  by  clipping  off  hair  and  rubbing  in  powerful  blistering  com- 
pounds. They  do  positive  injury  and  retard  recovery,  and  should  not 
be  allowed.  Much  benefit  may  be  derived  from  hot  applications  to 
the  sides  of  the  chest  if  the  facilities  are  at  hand  to  apply  them.  If 
the  weather  be  not  too  cold,  and  if  the  animal  is  in  a  comfortable 
stable,  the  following  method  may  be  tried:  Have  a  tub  of  hot  water 
handy  to  the  stable  door;  soak  a  woolen  blanket  in  the  water,  then 
quickly  wring  as  much  water  as  possible  out  of  it  and  wrap  it  around 
the  chest.  See  that  it  fits  closely  to  the  skin;  do  not  allow  it  to  sag 
down  so  that  air  may  get  between  it  and  the  skin.  Now  wrap  a  drj' 
blanket  over  the  wet  hot  one  and  hold  in  place  with  three  girths. 
The  hot  blanket  should  be  renewed  every  half  hour,  and  while  it  is 
off  being  wetted  and  wrung  the  dry  one  should  remain  over  the  wet 
part  of  the  chest  to  prevent  reaction.  The  hot  applications  should  be 
kept  up  for  three  or  four  hours,  and  when  stopped  the  skin  should  be 
quickly  rubbed  as  dry  as  possible,  an  application  of  alcohol  rubbed 
over  the  wet  part,  and  a  dry  blanket  snugly  fitted  over  the  animal. 
If  the  hot  applications  appear  to  benefit,  they  mny  be  tried  on  three 
or  four  consecutive  days.  Unless  every  facility  and  circumstance 
favors  the  application  of  heat  in  the  foregoing  manner,  do  not  attempt 
it.  If  the  weather  is  very  cold  or  any  of  the  details  are  omitted,  more 
harm  than  good  ma}^  result.  Mustard  may  be  applied  by  making  a 
paste  with  a  pound  of  freshly  ground  mustard  mixed  with  warm  water. 
This  is  to  be  spread  evenly  over  the  sides  back  of  the  shoulder  blades 
and  down  to  the  median  line  below  the  chest.  Care  should  be  taken 
to  avoid  rubbing  the  mustard  upon  the  thin  skin  immediately  back  of 
the  elbow.  The  mustard-covered  area  should  be  covered  with  a  j^aper 
and  this  with  a  blanket  passed  up  from  below  and  fastened  over  the 
back.  The  blanket  and  paper  should  be  removed  in  from  one  to  two 
hours.  When  pneumonia  follows  another  disease,  the  system  is  always 
more  or  less  debilitated  and  requires  the  careful  use  of  stimulants 
from  the  beginning.  To  still  further  weaken  the  animal  by  bleeding 
him  is  one  of  the  most  effectual  methods  of  retarding  recovery,  even 
if  it  does  not  hasten  a  fatal  termination. 


126  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Another  and  oftentimes  a  fatal  mistake  made  by  the  nonprofessional 
is  the  indiscrinnnate  and  reckless  use  of  aconite.  This  drug  is  one  of 
the  most  active  poisons,  and  should  not  be  handled  by  anyone  who 
does  not  thoroughly  understand  its  action  and  uses.  It  is  only  less 
active  than  prussic  acid  in  its  poisonous  effects.  It  is  a  common 
opinion,  often  expressed  by  nonprofessionals,  that  aconite  is  a  stimu- 
lant. Nothing  could  be  more  erroneous;  in  fact,  it  is  just  the  reverse. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  sedatives  used  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine. In  fatal  doses  it  kills  by  paralyzing  the  very  muscles  used  in 
breathing;  it  weakens  the  action  of  the  heart,  and  should  not  be  used. 
Do  not  give  purgative  medicines.  If  constipation  exists,  overcome  it 
by  an  allowance  of  laxative  diet,  such  as  scalded  oats,  bran,  and  linseed 
mashes,  and,  if  in  season,  grass.  If  the  costiveness  is  not  relieved  by 
the  laxative  diet,  give  an  enema  of  about  a  quart  of  warm  water  three 
or  four  times  a  day. 

A  diet  consisting  principally  of  bran  mashes,  scalded  oats,  and,  when 
in  season,  grass  or  corn  fodder  is  preferable  if  the  animal  retains  an 
appetite;  but  if  no  desire  is  evinced  for  food  of  this  i>articular  descrip- 
tion, then  the  animal  must  be  allowed  to  eat  anything  that  will  be 
taken  spontaneously.  Hay  tea,  made  by  pouring  l)oiling  water  over 
good  hay  in  a  large  bucket  and  allowing  it  to  stand  until  cool,  then 
straining  off  the  liquid,  will  sometimes  create  a  desire  for  food.  The 
animal  may  be  allowed  to  drink  as  much  of  it  as  he  desires.  Corn  on 
the  cob  is  often  eaten  when  ever3^thing  else  is  refused.  Bread  may  be 
tried,  also  apples  or  carrots.  If  the  animal  can  be  persuaded  to  drink 
milk,  it  may  be  supported  by  it  for  days.  Three  or  4  gallons  of 
sweet  milk  may  be  given  during  the  day,  in  which  maj^  be  stirred 
3  or  4  fresh  eggs  to  each  gallon  of  milk.  Some  horses  will  di-ink 
milk,  while  others  will  refuse  to  touch  it.  It  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  all  food  nuist  be  taken  by  the  horse  as  he  desires  it.  No 
food  should  be  forced  down  him.  If  the  animal  will  not  eat,  3'ou  will 
only  have  to  wait  until  a  desire  is  shown  for  food.  All  kinds  may  be 
offered,  first  one  thing  and  then  another,  but  food  should  not  be 
allowed  to  remain  long  in  trough  or  manger;  the  very  fact  of  it  con- 
stantly being  before  him  will  cause  him  to  loathe  it.  When  the  animal 
has  no  appetite  for  anything,  the  stomach  is  not  in  a  proper  state  to 
digest  food,  and  if  it  is  poured  or  drenched  into  him  it  will  only  cause 
indigestion  and  aggravate  the  case.  It  is  a  good  practice  to  do  nothing 
wdien  there  is  nothing  to  be  done  that  will  benefit.  This  refers  to 
medicine  as  well  as  food.     Nothing  is  well  done  that  is  overdone. 

There  are  many  vakiable  medicines  used  for  the  different  stages  and 
different  types  of  pneumonia,  but  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer  it  is 
useless  to  refer  to  them  here,  as  this  work  is  intended  for  the  use  of 
those  who  are  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  disease  to  recognize 
its  various  types  and  stages;  therefore  they  would  only  confuse.     If 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  127 

3'ou  can  administer  a  ball  or  capsule,  or  have  anyone  at  hand  who  is 
capable  of  doing  it,  a  dram  of  sulphate  of  c^uinine  in  a  capsule,  or 
made  into  a  ball,  with  sufficient  linseed  meal  and  molasses,  given  every 
three  hours  during  the  height  of  the  fever,  -will  do  good  in  many 
cases.  The  ball  of  carbonate  of  ammonia,  as  advised  in  the  treatment 
of  bronchitis,  may  be  tried  if  the  animal  is  hard  to  drench.  The  heart 
should  be  kept  strong  b}^  administering  digitalis  in  doses  of  2  drams  of 
the  tincture  every  three  hours,  or  strja'hnia  1  grain  made  into  a  pill 
with  liquorice  powder  three  times  daily. 

If  the  horse  becomes  very  much  debilitated,  stimulants  of  a  more 
pronounced  character  are  required.  The  following-  drench  is  useful: 
Rectified  spirits,  3  ounces;  spirits  of  nitrous  ether,  2  ounces;  water,  1 
pint.  This  may  be  repeated  every  four  or  five  hours  if  it  seems  to 
benefit;  or  6  ounces  of  good  whisky,  diluted  with  a  pint  of  water, 
may  be  given  as  often,  instead  of  the  foregoing. 

During  the  period  of  conv^alescence  good  nutritive  food  should  be 
allowed  in  a  moderate  quantity.  Tonic  medicines  should  be  substi- 
tuted for  those  used  during  the  fever.  The  same  medicines  advised 
for  the  convalescing  period  of  bronchitis  are  equall}?^  efficient  in  this 
case,  especially  the  iodide  of  potash.  Likewise,  the  same  general 
instructions  apply  here. 

The  chief  causes  of  death  m  pneumonia  are  heart  failure  from 
exhaustion,  suffocation,  or  blood  poisoning  from  death  (gangrene)  of 
lung  tissue.  The  greater  the  area  of  lung  tissue  diseased  the  greater 
the  danger,  hence  double  pneumonia  is  more  fatal  than  pneumonia  of 
one  lung. 

THE    WINDPIPE, 

Tlie  windpipe,  or  trachea,  as  it  is  technically  called,  is  the  flexible 
tube  that  extends  from  the  larynx,  which  it  succeeds  at  the  throat, 
to  above  the  base  of  the  heart  in  the  chest,  where  it  terminates  b}^ 
dividing  into  the  right  and  left  bronchi — the  tubes  going  to  the  right 
and  left  lung,  respectively.  The  windpipe  is  composed  of  about  fifty 
incomplete  rings  of  cartilage  united  by  ligaments.  A  muscular  layer 
is  situated  on  the  superior  surface  of  the  rings.  Internally  the  tube 
is  lined  with  a  continuation  of  the  mucous  membrane  that  lines  the 
entire  respiratory  tract,  which  here  has  very  little  sensibility  in 
contrast  to  that  lining  the  laiynx,  which  is  endowed  with  exquisite 
sensitiveness. 

The  windpipe  is  not  subject  to  any  special  disease,  but  is  more  or 
less  affected  during  laryngitis  (sore  throat),  influenza,  bronchitis, 
etc.,  and  requires  no  special  treatment.  The  membrane  may  be  left  in 
a  thickened  condition  after  these  attacks.  One  or  more  of  the  rings 
may  be  accidently  fractured,  or  the  tube  may  be  distorted  or  mal- 
formed as  the  result  of  violent  injury.  After  the  operation  of  trache- 
otomy it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  a  tumor  or  malformation  as  a  result, 


128  BUKEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTKY. 

or  sequol,  of  the  operation.  In  passing  over  this  section  attention  is 
mereh'  called  to  these  defects,  as  they  require  no  particular  attention 
in  the  way  of  treatment.  However,  it  may  be  stated  that  any  one  of 
the  before-mentioned  conditions  ma}"  constitute  one  of  the  causes  of 
noisy  respiration  described  as  "thick  wind." 

GUTTURAL    POUCHES.  ' 

These  two  sacks  are  situated  above  the  throat,  and  communicate 
with  the  pharj'nx,  as  well  as  with  the  cavity  of  the  tympanum  of  the 
ear.  They  are  peculiar  to  solipeds.  Normally,  the}-  contain  air. 
Their  function  is  unknown. 

One  or  both  guttural  pouches  ma}"  contain  pus.  The  symptoms  are 
as  follows:  Swelling  on  the  side  below  the  ear  and  an  intermittent  dis- 
charge of  matter  from  one  or  both  nostrils,  especially  when  the  head 
is  depressed. 

The  swelling  is  soft,  and,  if  pressed  upon,  matter  will  escape  from 
the  nose  if  the  head  is  depressed.  As  before  mentioned,  these  pouches 
communicate  with  the  phar3'nx,  and  through  this  small  opening  mat- 
ter ma}"  escape.  A  recovery  is  probable  if  the  animal  is  turned  out 
to  graze,  or  if  he  is  fed  from  the  ground,  as  the  dependent  position  of 
the  head  favors  the  escape  of  matter  from  the  pouches.  In  addition 
to  this,  give  the  tonics  recommended  for  nasal  gleet.  If  this  treat- 
ment fails  an  operation  must  be  performed,  which  should  not  be 
attempted  by  anyone  unacquainted  with  the  anatomy  of  the  part. 

BRONCHITIS   AND    BRONCHO-rNEUMONIA. 

Bronchitis  is  an  inflanuuation  of  the  bronchial  tubes.  When  this 
inflammation  extends  to  the  air  sacs  at  the  termini  of  the  smallest 
branches  of  the  bronchial  tubes,  the  disease  is  broncho-pneumonia. 
Bronchitis  affecting  the  larger  tubes  is  less  serious  than  when  the 
smaller  are  involved.  The  disease  may  be  either  acute  or  chronic. 
The  causes  are  generally  much  the  same  as  for  other  diseases  of  the 
respiratory  organs,  noticed  in  the  beginning  of  this  article.  The 
special  causes  are  these:  The  inhalation  of  irritating  gases  and  smoke 
and  fluids  or  solids  gaining  access  to  the  parts.  Bronchitis  is  occa- 
sionally associated  with  influenza  and  other  specific  fevers.  It  also 
supervenes  on  common  cold  or  sore  throat. 

Symjytams. — The  animal  appears  dull;  the  appetite  is  partially  or 
wholly  lost;  the  head  hangs;  the  breathing  is  quickened;  the  cough, 
at  first  dry,  and  having  somewhat  the  character  of  a  "barking  cough," 
is  succeeded  in  a  few  days  by  a  moist,  rattling  cough;  the  mouth  is 
hot;  the  visible  membranes  in  the  nose  are  red;  the  pulse  is  frequent, 
and  during  the  first  stage  is  hard  and  quick,  but  as  the  disease  advances 
becomes  smaller  and  more  frequent.  There  is  a  discharge  from  the 
nostrils  that  is  at  first  whitish,  but  later  becomes  creamy  or  frothy,  and 


Pl.ATK  IX 


Haines.ilf"l.nft..>r  riemiu°  juli 

INSTRUMENTS    USED  IN   DIFFICULT  LABOR. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  12^ 

still  later  it  is  sometimes  tinged  with  blood,  and  occasionall}^  it  may 
be  of  a  brownish  or  rusty  color.  By  auscultation,  or  placing  the  ear 
to  the  sides  of  the  chest,  unnatural  sounds  can  now  be  heard.  The 
air  passing  through  the  diseased  tubes  causes  a  wheezing  sound  when 
the  small  tubes  are  affected,  and  a  hoarse,  cooing,  or  snoring  sound 
when  the  larger  tubes  are  involved.  After  one  or  two  days  the  dry 
stage  of  the  disease  is  succeeded  by  a  moist  state  of  the  membrane. 
The  ear  now  detects  a  different  sound,  caused  by  the  bursting  of  the 
bubbles  as  the -air  passes  through  the  fluid,  which  is  the  exudate  of 
inflammation  and  the  augmented  mucous  secretions  of  the  membrane. 
The  mucus  may  be  secreted  in  great  abundance,  which,  by  blocking 
up  the  tubes,  may  cause  a  collapse  of  a  large  extent  of  breathing  sur- 
face. Usually  the  mucus  is  expectorated,  that  is,  discharged  through 
the  nose.  The  matter  is  coughed  up,  and  when  it  reaches  the  larynx 
much  of  it  may  be  swallowed,  and  some  is  discharged  from  the  nos- 
trils. The  hoi'se  can  not  spit,  like  the  human  being,  nor  does  the 
matter  coughed  up  gain  access  to  the  mouth.  If  in  serious  cases  all 
the  sjniiptoms  become  aggravated,  the  breathing  is  labored,  short,  and 
quick,  it  usually  indicates  that  the  inflammation  has  reached  the  breath- 
ing cells  and  that  catarrhal  pneumonia  is  established.  In  this  case  the 
ribs  rise  and  fall  much  more  than  natural.  This  fact  alone  is  enough 
to  exclude  the  idea  that  the  animal  may  be  affected  with  pleurisy, 
because,  in  pleurisy,  the  ribs  are  as  nearly  flxed  as  in  the  power  of  the 
animal  to  do  so,  and  the  breathing  accomplished  to  a  great  extent  by 
aid  of  the  abdominal  muscles.  The  horse  persists  in  standing  through- 
out the  attack.  He  prefers  to  stand  with  head  to  a  door  or  win- 
dow to  gain  all  the  fresh  air  possible,  but  may  occasionally  wander 
listlessly  about  the  stall  if  not  tied.  The  bowels  most  likely  are  con- 
stipated; the  dung  is  covered  with  slimy  mucus.  The  urine  is 
decreased  in  quantity  and  darker  in  color  than  usual.  The  animal 
shows  more  or  less  thirst;  in  some  cases  the  mouth  is  full  of  saliva. 
The  discharge  from  the  nose  increases  in  quantity  as  the  disease 
advances  and  inflammation  subsides.  This  is  rather  a  good  sjmiptom, 
as  it  shows  one  stage  has  passed.  The  discharge  then  gradually 
decreases,  the  cough  becomes  less  rasping,  but  of  more  frequent 
occurrence,  until  it  gradually  disappears  with  the  return  of  health. 

Bronchitis,  affecting  the  smaller  tubes,  is  one  of  the  most  fatal 
diseases,  while  that  of  the  larger  tubes  is  never  very  serious.  It  must 
be  stated,  however,  that  it  is  an  exceedingly  difficult  matter  for  a  non- 
expert to  discriminate  between  the  two  forms,  and,  further,  it  may  as 
well  be  said  here  that  the  nonexpert  will  have  difficulty  in  discrimi- 
nating between  bronchitis  and  pneumonia. 

Treatment. — The  matter  of  first  importance  is  to  insure  a  pure 
atmosphere  to  breathe,  and  next  to  make  the  patient's  quarters  as  com- 
fortable as  possible.  A  well-ventilated  box  stall  serves  best  for  all 
14384— 03 9 


130  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

purposes.  Cover  the  body  with  a  blanket,  light  or  heav}^,  as  the 
season  of  the  year  demands.  Hand  rub  the  legs  until  they  are  warm, 
then  wrap  them  in  cotton  and  apply  flannel  or  Derby  bandages  from 
the  hoofs  to  the  knees  and  hocks.  If  the  legs  can  not  be  made  warm 
with  hand  rubbing  alone,  apply  dry  mustard.  Rub  in  thoroughly  and 
then  put  on  the  bandages.  Also  rub  mustard  paste  well  over  the  side 
of  the  chest,  covering  the  space  beginning  immediately  behind  the 
shoulder  blade  and  running  back  about  eighteen  inches,  and  from  the 
median  line  beneath  the  breast  to  within  ten  inches  of  the  ridge  of  the 
backbone.  Repeat  the  application  to  the  side  of  the  chest  about  three 
days  after  the  first  one  is  applied. 

Compel  the  animal  to  inhale  steam  from  a  bucketful  of  boiling  water 
containing  a  tablespoonf  ul  of  oil  of  turpentine  and  spirits  of  camphor, 
as  advised  for  cold  in  the  head.  In  serious*  cases  the  steam  should  be 
inhaled  every  hour,  and  in  an}^  case  the  oftener  it  is  done  the  greater 
will  be  the  beneficial  results.  Three  times  a  day  admini'stcr  an  electu- 
ary containing  acetate  of  potash  (2  drams),  with  licorice  and  molasses 
or  honey.  It  is  well  to  keep  a  bucketful  of  cold  water  before  the  ani 
mal  all  the  time.  If  the  horse  is  prostrated  and  has  no  appetite,  give 
the  following  drench:  Spirits  of  nitrous  ether,  2  ounces;  rectified 
spirits,  3  ounces;  water,  1  pint.  Repeat  the  dose  every  four  or  five 
hours  if  it  appears  to  benefit.  AVlien  the  horse  is  hard  to  drench,  give 
the  following:  Pulverized  carbonate  of  ammonia,  3  drams;  linseed 
meal  and  molasses  sufficient  to  make  the  whole  into  a  stiff  mass;  wrap 
it  with  a  small  piece  of  tissue  paper  and  give  as  a  ball.  This  ball  may 
be  repeated  every  four  or  five  hours.  When  giving  the  ball  care 
should  be  taken  to  prevent  its  breaking  in  the  mouth,  as  in  case  of 
such  accident  it  w^ill  make  the  mouth  sore,  w^hich  may  prevent  the  ani- 
mal from  eating.  If  the  bowels  are  constipated,  give  enemas  of  warm 
water.     Do  not  give  purgative  medicines.     Do  not  bleed  the  animal. 

If  the  animal  retains  an  appetite,  a  soft  diet  is  preferable,  such  as 
scalded  oats,  bran  mashes,  and  grass  if  in  season.  If  he  refuses  cooked 
food,  allow^  in  small  quantities  anything  he  will  eat.  Hay,  cob  corn, 
oats,  bread,  apples,  and  carrots  may  all  be  tried  in  turn.  Some  horses 
will  drink  sweet  milk  when  they  refuse  all  other  kinds  of  food,  and 
especially  is  this  the  case  if  the  drinking  water  is  withheld  for  a  while. 
One  or  2  gallons  at  a  time,  four  or  five  times  a  day,  will  support  life. 
Bear  in  mind  that  when  the  disease  is  established  recovery  can  not 
occur  in  less  than  two  or  three  weeks  and  more  time  may  be  necessary. 
Good  nursing  and  patience  are  required. 

When  the  symptoms  have  abated  and  nothing  remains  of  the  disease 
except  the  cough  and  a  white  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  all  other 
medicines  should  be  discontinued  and  a  course  of  tonic  treatment  pur- 
sued. Give  the  following  mixture:  Reduced  iron,  3  ounces;  powdered 
gentian,  8  ounces;  mix  well  together  and  divide  into  sixteen  powders. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  131 

Give  a  powder  ever}^  night  and  morning  mixed  with  bran  and  oats,  if 
the  animal  will  eat  it,  or  shaken  with  about  a  pint  of  flaxseed  tea  and 
administered  as  a  drench. 

If  the  cough  remains  after  the  horse  is  apparently  well,  give  1  dram 
of  iodide  of  potassium  dissolved  in  a  bucketful  of  drinking  water  one 
hour  before  each  meal  for  two  or  three  weeks  if  necessary.  Do  not 
put  the  animal  to  work  too  soon  after  recovery.  Allow  ample  time  to 
regain  strength.  This  disease  is  prone  to  become  chronic  and  may 
run  into  an  incurable  case  of  thick  wind. 

PLEURISY. 

The  thoracic  cavity  is  divided  into  two  lateral  compartments,  each 
containing  one  lung  and  a  part  of  the  heart.  Each  lung  has  its  sepa- 
rate pleural  membrane,  or  covering.  The  pleura  is  the  thin  glistening 
membrane  that  covers  the  lung  and  also  completely  covers  the  internal 
walls  of  the  chest.  It  is  very  thin,  and  to  the  ordinary  observer  appears 
to  be  part  of  the  lung,  which,  in  fact,  it  is  for  all  practical  purposes. 
The  smooth,  shiny  surface  of  the  lung,  as  well  as  the  smooth,  shiny 
surface  so  familiar  on  the  rib,  is  the  pleura.  In  health  this  surface  is 
always  moist.  A  fluid  is  thrown  off  by  the  pleura,  which  causes  the 
surface  to  be  constantly  moist.  This  is  to  prevent  the  effects  of  fric- 
tion between  the  lungs  and  the  walls  of  the  chest  and  other  contiguous 
parts  which  come  in  contact.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  lungs 
are  dilating  each  time  a  breath  is  taken  in,  and  contracting  each 
time  a  breath  of  air  is  expelled.  It  may  be  readily  seen  that  if  it  were 
not  for  the  moistened  state  of  the  surface  of  the  pleura  the  continual 
dilation  and  contraction  and  the  consequent  rubbing  of  the  parts  against 
each  other  would  cause  serious  friction. 

Inflammation  of  this  membrane  is  called  pleuris}-.  Being  so  closely 
united  with  the  lung,  it  can  not  alwaj^s  escape  participation  in  the 
disease  when  the  latter  is  inflamed.  Pleurisy  may  be  due  to  the  same 
predisposing  and  exciting  causes  as  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this 
work  as  general  causes  for  diseases  of  the  organs  of  respiration,  such 
as  exposure  to  sudden  changes  of  temperature,  confinement  in  damp 
stables,  etc.  It  may  be  caused  by  wounds  that  penetrate  the  chest,  for 
it  must  be  remembered  that  such  wounds  must  necessarily  pierce  the 
pleura.  A  fractured  rib  may  involve  the  pleura.  The  inflammation 
following  such  wounds  may  be  circumscribed,  that  is,  confined  to  a 
small  area  surrounding  the  wound,  or  it  may  spread  from  the  wound 
and  involve  a  large  portion  of  the  pleura.  The  pleura  may  be  involved 
secondaril}"  when  the  heart  or  its  membrane  is  the  primary  seat  of  the 
disease.  It  may  occur  in  conjunction  with  bronchitis,  influenza,  and 
other  diseases.  Diseased  growths  that  interfere  with  the  pleura  may 
induce  pleurisy.  The  most  frequent  cause  of  pleurisy  is  an  extension 
of  inflammation  from  adjacent  diseased  lung.     It  is  a  common  com- 


132  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

plication  of  pneumonia.  Pleurisy  will  be  described  here  as  an  inde- 
pendent affection,  although  it  should  be  remembered  that  it  is  very 
often  associated  with  the  foregoing  diseases.  ' 

The  first  lesion  of  pleurisy  is  overfilling  of  the  blood  vessels  that 
ramify  in  this  membrane,  and  drjniess  of  the  surface.  This  is  fol- 
lowed b}'  the  formation  of  a  coating  of  coagulated  fibrin  on  the 
diseased  pleura  and  the  transudation  of  serum  which  collects  in  the 
chest.  This  serum  may  contain  flakes  of  fibrin  and  it  may  be  straw 
colored  or  red  from  an  admixture  of  blood.  The  quantity  of  this 
accumulation  may  amount  to  several  gallons. 

Symptoms. — ^When  the  disease  exists  as  an  independent  affection  it 
is  ushered  in  by  a  chill,  but  this  is  usually  overlooked.  About  the 
first  thing  noticed  is  the  disinclination  of  the  animal  to  move  or  turn 
round.  When  made  to  do  so  he  grunts  or  groans  with  pain.  He 
stands  stiff;  the  ribs  are  fixed,  that  is,  the  ribs  move  very  little  in  the 
act  of  breathing,  but  the  abdomen  works  more  than  natural;  both  the 
fore  feet  and  elbows  may  be  turned  out;  during  the  onset  of  the 
attack  the  animal  may  be  restless  and  act  as  if  he  had  a  slight  colic; 
he  may  even  lie  down,  but  does  not  remain  long  down,  for  when  he 
finds  no  relief  he  soon  gets  up.  After  effusion  begins  these  signs  of 
restlessness  disappear.  Every  movement  of  the  chest  causes  pain, 
therefore  the  cough  is  peculiar;  it  is  short  and  suppressed,  and  comes 
as  near  being  no  cougli  as  the  animal  can  make  it  in  his  desire  to  sup- 
press it.  The  breathing  is  hurried,  the  mouth  is  hot,  the  temperature 
being  elevated  from  102^  or  103°  to  105°  F.  The  usual  sj^mptoms 
that  accompany  fever  are  present,  such  as  costivcness,  scanty  dark- 
colored  urine,  etc.  The  pulse  is  frequent,  perhaps  TO  or  more  a 
minute,  and  is  hard  and  Aviry.     The  legs  and  cars  are  cold. 

Percussion  is  of  valuable  service  in  this  affection.  After  effusion 
occurs,  the  sound  produced  by  percussing  over  the  lower  part  of  the 
chest  is  dull.  B}-  striking  different  parts  One  may  come  to  a  spot  of 
greater  or  less  extent  where  the  blows  cause  much  pain  to  be  evinced. 
The  animal  may  grunt  or  groan  every  time  it  is  struck.  Another 
method  of  detecting  the  affected  part  is  to  press  the  fingers  between 
the  ribs,  each  space  in  succession,  beginning  behind  the  elbow,  until 
5^ou  arrive  at  a  place  where  the  pressure  causes  more  flinching  than  at 
any  other  part.  Auscultation  ii  also  useful.  In  the  first  stage,  when 
the  surfaces  are  dry  and  rough,  one  ma}'^  hear  a  friction  sound  ver}' 
much  like  that  produced  b}^  rubbing  two  pieces  of  coarse  paper 
together.  The  sound  appears  immediatel}^  under  the  ear  and  is  dis- 
tinct. No  such  friction  sound  occurs  when  the  membrane  is  health}^, 
as  the  natural  moisture,  heretofore  mentioned,  prevents  the  friction. 
In  many  cases  this  friction  is  so  pronounced  that  it  may  be  felt  by 
placing  the  hand  over  the  affected  part.     When  the  dry  stage  is  sue- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  133 

ceecled  by  the  exudation  of  fluid,  this  friction  sound  disappears.  After 
the  effusion  into  the  cavity  takes  place  there  sometimes  is  heard  a 
tinkling  or  metallic  sound,  due  to  dropping  of  the  exudate  from  above 
into  the  collected  fluid  in  the  bottom  of  the  cavity,  as  the  collected 
fluid  more  or  less  separates  the  lung  from  the  chest  walls. 

Within  two  or  three  days  the  urgent  symptoms  may  abate  owing  to 
the  exudation  of  the  fluid  and  the  subsidence  of  the  pain.  The  fluid 
ma}^  now  undergo  absorption,  and  the  case  terminate  favorabl}^  within 
a  week  or  ten  days. 

If  the  quantity  of  the  effusion  is  large,  its  own  volume  retards  the 
process  of  absorption  to  a  great  'extent,  and  consequently  convales- 
cence is  dela^'ed.  In  severe  cases  the  pulse  becomes  more  frequent, 
the  breathing  more  hurried  and  labored,  the  flanks  work  like  bellows, 
the  nostrils  flap,  the  eyes  stare  wildly,  the  countenance  expresses  much 
anxiety,  and  general  signs  of  dissolution  are  plain.  After  a  time 
swellings  appear  under  the  chest  and  abdomen  and  down  the  legs. 
The  accumulation  in  the  chest  is  called  hydrothorax,  or  dropsy  of  the 
chest.  AVhen  this  fluid  contains  pus  the  case  usually  proves  fatal. 
The  condition  of  pus  within  the  cavity  is  called  empyema. 

Pleurisy  may  affect  only  a  small  area  of  one  side  or  it  ma}^  affect 
both  sides.     It  is  oftener  confined  to  the  right  side. 

Treatment. — The  instructions  in  regard  to  the  general  management 
of  bronchitis  and  pneumonia  must  be  adhered  to  in  the  treatment  of 
pleurisy.  Comfortable  quarters,  pure  air,  warm  clothing  to  the  body 
and  bandages  to  the  legs,  a  plentiful  supply  of  pure  cold  water,  the 
laxative  food,  etc.,  in  this  case  are  equall}"  necessary  and  efficacious. 
The  hot  applications  applied  to  the  chest  as  directed  in  the  treatment 
of  pneumonia  are  very  beneficial  in  pleurisy,  and  should  be  kept  up 
while  the  symptoms  show  the  animal  to  be  in  pain. 

During  the  first  few  days,  when  pain  is  manifested  by  restlessness, 
apply  hot  packs  to  the  sides  diligently.  After  four  or  five  days,  when 
the  symptoms  show  that  the  acute  stage  has  somewhat  subsided,  mus- 
tard may  be  applied  as  recommended  for  pneumonia.  From  the  begin- 
ning the  following  drench  may  be  given  ever}^  six  hours,  if  the  horse 
takes  a  drench  kindly:  Solution  of  the  acetate  of  ammonia,  8  ounces; 
spirits  of  nitrous  ether,  1  ounce;  bicarbonate  of  potassium,  3  drams; 
water,  1  pint. 

If  the  patient  becomes  debilitated,  the  stinudants  as  prescribed  for 
pneumonia  should  be  used  according  to  the  same  directions.  The 
same  attention  should  be  given  to  the  diet.  If  the  animal  will  partake 
of  the  bran  mashes,  scalded  oats,  and  grass,  it  is  the  best;  but  if  he 
refuses  the  laxative  diet,  then  he  should  be  tried  with  different  kinds 
of  food  and  allowed  whichever  kind  he  desires. 

In  tlie  beginning  of  the  attack,  if  the  pain  is  severe,  causing  the 


134  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

animal  to  lie  down  or  paw,  morphine  may  be  given  by  the  mouth  in 
S-g-rain  closes,  or  the  fluid  extract  of  Cannabis  indica  may  be  used  in 
doses  of  2  to  4  drams. 

If  the  case  is  not  progressing  favorably  in  ten  or  twelve  days  after 
the  beginning  of  the  attack,  convalescence  is  delayed  by  the  fluid  in  the 
chest  failing  to  be  absorbed.  The  animal  becomes  dull  and  weak  and 
evinces  little  or  no  desire  for  food.  The  breathing  becomes  still  more 
rapid  and  diflicult.  Anefl'ort  must  now  be  made  to  excite  the  absorp- 
tion of  the  effusion.  An  application  of  liniment  or  mild  blister 
should  be  rubbed  over  the  lower  part  of  both  sides  and  the  bottom  of 
the  chest.  The  following  drench  may  be  given  three  times  a  day,  for 
seven  or  eight  da3's,  if  it  is  necessary  and  appears  to  benefit:  Tincture 
of  the  perchloride  of  iron,  1  ounce;  tincture  of  gentian,  2  ounces; 
water,  1  pint.  Also  give  1  dram  of  iodide  of  potassium,  dissolved  in 
the  drinking  water  an  hour  before  feeding,  every  night  and  morning 
for  a  week  or  two. 

Ilydrothorax  is  sometimes  difficult  to  overcome  b}'  means  of  the  use 
of  medicines  alone,  when  the  operation  is  performed  of  tapping  the  chest 
to  allow  an  escape  for  the  accumulated  fluid.  The  operation  is  performed 
with  a  combined  instrument  called  the  trocar  and  canula.  The  punc- 
ture is  made  in  the  lower  part  of  the  chest,  in  the  space  between  the 
eighth  and  ninth  ribs.  Wounding  of  the  intercostal  artery  is  avoided 
b}-  inserting  the  instrument  as  near  as  possible  to  the  anterior  edge  of 
the  rib.  If  the  operation  is  of  benefit,  it  is  only  so  when  j^erformed 
before  the  strength  is  lowered  beyond  recovery.  The  operation 
merely  receives  a  passing  notice  here,  as  it  is  not  presumed  that  the 
nonprofessional  will  attempt  it,  although  it  is  attended  with  little 
danger  or  difficulty  in  the  hands  of  the  expert. 

There  have  been  described  here  bronchitis,  pneumonia,  and  pleurisy 
mainly  as  they  occur  as  independent  diseases,  but  it  should  be  remem- 
bered that  the}^  merge  into  each  other,  and  may  occur  together  at  one 
time.  While  it  is  true  that  much  more  might  have  been  said  in 
regard  to  the  different  stages  and  tj^pes  of  the  afl'ections,  and  also  in 
regard  to  the  treatment  of  each  stage  and  each  particular  type,  the 
plan  adopted  of  advising  plain,  conservative  treatment  is  considered 
the  wisest  on  account  of  simplifying  as  much  as  possible  a  subject  of 
which  the  reader  is  supposed  to  know  ver}-  little. 

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 

This  is  the  state  in  which  an  animal  is  affected  with  pleuris}-  and 
pneumonia  combined,  which  is  not  infrequentl}'  the  case.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  attack  only  one  of  the  affections  may  be  present,  but 
the  other  soon  follows.  It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  pleura  is 
closely  adherent  to  the  lung.  The  pleura  on  this  account  is  frequently 
more  or  less  affected  by  the  spreading  of  the  inflammation  from  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  135 

lung-  tissue.  There  is  a  comljination  of  the  symptoms  of  both  diseases, 
but  to  the  ordinary  observer  the  symptoms  of  pleurisy  are  the  most 
obvious.  The  course  of  treatment  to  be  pursued  differs  in  no  manner 
from  that  given  for  the  affections  when  they  occur  independently. 
The  symptoms  will  l)e  your  g-uide  as  to  the  advisability  of  giving  oil 
and  laudanum  for  the  pain  if  the  pleurisy  is  very  severe.  Do  not 
resort  to  it  unless  it  is  necessary  to  allay  the  pain. 

BEONCHO-PLEURO'PNEUMONIA. 

This  is  the  term  or  terms  applied  when  bronchitis,  pleurisy,  and 
pneumonia  all  exist  at  once.  It  is  imi)ossible  for  one  w^ho  is  not  an 
expert  to  diagnose  the  state  with  certainty.  The  apparent  symptoms 
are  the  same  as  when  the  atiimal  is  affected  with  pleuro-pueumonia. 

SUPPURATION    AND   ABSCESS    IN    THE    LUNG. 

There  are  instances,  and  especially  when  the  surroundings  of  the 
patient  have  been  bad  or  the  disease  is  of  an  especially  severe  type, 
when  pneumonia  terminates  in  an  abscess  in  the  lung.  Sometimes, 
when  the  inflammation  has  been  extreme,  suppuration  in  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  lung  takes  place.  Impure  air,  the  result  of  improper  ven- 
tilation, is  among  the  most  frequent  causes  of  this  termination.  The 
symptoms  pf  suppuration  in  the  lung  are  chronic  pneumonia,  a  solidi- 
fied area  of  lung  tissue,  continued  low  fever,  and,  in  some  cases,  offen- 
sive smell  of  the  breath,  and  the  discharge  of  the  matter  from  the 
nostrils. 

MOETIFICATION. 

Gangrene,  or  mortification,  means  a  death  of  the  part  affected. 
Occasionally,  owing  to  the  intensity  of  the  inflammation  or  bad  treat- 
ment, pneumonia  and  pleuro-pneumonia  terminate  in  mortification, 
which  is  soon  followed  by  the  death  of  the  animal.  Perhaps  the  most 
common  cause  of  this  complication  is  the  presence  of  a  foreign  body 
in  the  lung,  as  food  particles  or  medicine.  Rough  drenching  or  drench- 
ing through  the  nostrils  may  cause  this  serious  condition. 

HEMOPTYSIS,  OR   BLEEDING   FROM   THE    LUNGS. 

Bleeding  from  the  lungs  may  occur  during  the  course  of  congestion 
of  the  lungs,  bronchitis,  pneumonia,  influenza,  purpura  hemorrhagica, 
or  glanders.  An  accident  or  exertion  may  cause  a  rupture  of  a  vessel. 
Plethora  and  hypertrophy  of  the  heart  predispose  to  it.  Following 
the  rupture  of  a  vessel  the  blood  may  escape  into  the  lung  tissue  and 
cause  a  serious  attack  of  pneumonia,  or  it  m.ay  fill  up  the  bronchial 
tubes  and  prove  fatal  by  suflocating  the  animal.  When  the  hemorrhage 
is  from  the  lungs  it  is  accompanied  by  coughing;  the  blood  is  frothy, 
of  a  bright  red  color,  and  comes  from  both  nostrils;  whereas  when  the 


136  BUEEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

bleeding  is  merely  from  a  rupture  of  a  vessel  in  some  part  of  the  head 
(heretofore  described  as  bleeding  from  the  nose)  the  blood  is  most 
likely  to  issue  from  one  nostril  only,  and  the  discharge  is  not  accom- 
panied b}^  coughing.  The  ear  may  be  placed  against  the  windpipe 
along  its  course,  and  if  the  blood  is  from  the  lungs  a  gurgling  or 
rattling  sound  will  be  heard.  When  it  occurs  in  connection  with 
another  disease  it  seldom  requires  special  treatment.  When  caused 
by  accident  or  overexertion  the  animal  should  be  kept  c|uiet.  If  the 
hemorrhage  is  profuse  and  continues  for  scleral  hours,  1  dram  of  the 
acetate  of  lead  dissolved  in  a  pint  of  water  may  be  given  as  a  drench, 
or  1  ounce  of  the  tincture  of  the  pcrchloride  of  iron,  diluted  with  a 
pint  of  water,  may  be  given  instead  of  the  lead.  It  is  rare  that  the 
hemorrhage  is  so  profuse  as  to  require  internal  remedies.  But  hem- 
orrhage into  the  lung  may  occur  and  cause  death  by  suffocation  with- 
out the  least  manifestation  of  it  by  the  discharge  of  blood  from  the 
nose. 

CONSUMPTION. 

Pulmonary  consumption,  or  tuberculosis,  has  been  recognized  in  the 
horse  in  a  number  of  instances.  The  symptoms  are  as  of  chronic 
pneumonia  or  pleurisy.     There  is  no  treatment  for  the  disease. 

HEAVES,  BROKEN    Vv^IND,  OR    ASTHMA. 

Much  confusion  exists  in  the  popular  mind  in  regard  to  the  nature 
of  heaves.  Many  horsemen  loosely  apply  the  term  to  all  ailments 
where  the  breathing  is  difficult  or  nois}'.  Scientific  veterinarians  are 
well  acquainted  with  the  phenomena  and  localit}'  of  the  affection,  but 
there  is  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  as  regards  the  exact  cause.  Asthma 
is  generally  thought  to  be  due  to  spasm  of  the  small  circular  muscles 
that  surround  the  bronchial  tubes.  The  continued  existence  of  this 
affection  of  the  muscles  leads  to  a  paral3'sis  of  them,  and  the  forced 
breathing  to  emph3\s<'ma,  which  always  accompanies  heaves. 

Heaves  is  usually  associated  with  disorder  of  the  function  of  diges- 
tion or  to  an  error  in  the  clioice  of  food.  Feeding  on  clover  haj'  or 
damaged  hay  or  straw,  too  bulky  and  innutritions  food,  and  keeping 
the  horse  in  a  dusty  atmosphere  or  a  badl}'  ventilated  stable,  produce  or 
predsipose  to  heaves.  Horses  brought  from  a  high  to  a  low  level  are 
predisposed. 

In  itself  broken  wind  is  not  a  fatal  disease,  but  death  is  generally 
caused  by  an  affection  closely  connected  with  it.  After  death,  if  the 
organs  are  examined,  the  lesions  found  depend  much  upon  the  length 
of  time  broken  wind  has  affected  the  animal.  In  recent  cases  very 
few  changes  are  noticeable,  but  in  animals  that  have  been  broken- 
winded  for  a  long  time,  the  changes  are  w^ell  marked.  The  lungs  are 
paler  than  natural,  and  of  much  less  weight  in  proportion  to  the  volume, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  137 

as  evidenced  by  floating-  thfim  in  water.  The  walls  of  the  small  bron- 
chial tubes  and  the  membrane  of  the  larger  tubes  are  thickened.  The 
right  side  of  the  heart  is  enlarged  and  its  cavities  dilated.  The  stomach 
is  enlarged  and  its  walls  stretched.  The  important  change  found  in 
the  lungs  is  a  condition  technically  called  pulmonary  emph^'sema.  This 
is  of  two  varieties:  First,  what  is  termed  vesicular  emphysema,  wdiich 
consists  of  an  enlargement  of  the  capacity  of  the  air  cells  (air  vesicles) 
by  dilation  of  their  walls.  The  second  form  is  called  interlobular,  or 
interstitial,  emphysema,  and  follows  the  first.  In  this  variety  the  air 
finds  its  wa}^  into  the  lung  tissue  between  tlie  air  cells  or  the  tissue 
between  the  small  lobules. 

Sympfoms. — Almost  everj^  experienced  horseman  is  able  to  detect 
heaves.  The  peculiar  movement  of  the  flanks  and  abdomen  point  out 
the  ailment  at  once.  But  in  recent  cases  the  aflfected  animal  does  not 
always  exhibit  the  characteristic  breathing  unless  exerted  to  a  certain 
extent.  The  cough  which  accompanies  this  disease  is  peculiar  to  it. 
It  is  diflicult  to  describe,  but  the  sound  is  short,  and  something  like  a 
grunt.  When  air  is  inspired,  that  is,  taken  in,  it  appears  to  be  done 
in  the  same  manner  as  in  health;  it  may  possibly  be  done  a  little 
quicker  than  natural,  but  not  enough  to  attract  any  notice.  It  is  when 
the  act  of  expiration  (or  expelling  the  air  from  the  lungs)  is  performed 
that  the  great  change  in  the  breathing  in  perceptible.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  the  lungs  have  lost  much  of  their  elasticity,  and,  in 
consequence,  of  their  power  of  contracting  on  account  of  the  degener- 
ation of  the  walls  of  the  air  cells,  and  also  on  account  of  the  paralj^sis 
of  nuiscular  tissue  before  mentioned.  The  air  passes  into  them  f  reel}', 
but  the  power  to  expel  it  is  lost  to  a  great  extent  by  the  lungs;  there- 
fore the  abdominal  muscles  are  brought  into  play.  These  muscles, 
especially  in  the  region  of  the  flank,  are  seen  to  contract,  then  pause 
for  a  moment,  then  complete  the  act  of  contracting,  thus  making  a 
double  bellows-like  movement  at  each  expiration,  a  sort  of  jerky  motion 
with  every  breath.  The  double  expiratorj^  movement  may  also  be 
detected  by  allowing  the  horse  to  exhale  against  the  face  or  back  of 
the  hand.  It  wall  be  observed  that  the  expirator}^  current  is  not  con- 
tinuous, but  is  broken  into  two  jets.  When  the  animal  is  exerted  a 
wheezing  noise  accompanies  the  breathing.  This  noise  may  be  heard 
to  a  less  extent  when  the  animal  is  at  rest  if  the  ear  be  applied  to  the 
chest. 

As  before  remarked,  indigestion  is  often  present  in  these  cases. 
The  animal  ma}"  have  a  depraved  appetite,  as  shown  by  a  desire  to  eat 
dirt  and  soiled  bedding,  which  he  often  devours  in  preference  to  the 
clean  food  in  the  trough,  or  manger.  The  stomach  is  liable  to  be  over- 
loaded with  indigestible  food.  The  abdomen  may  assume  that  form 
called  "potbellied."  The  animal  frequently  passes  wind  of  a  very 
offensive  odor.     When  first  put  to  work  dung  is  passed  frequently; 


138  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

the  bowels  are  often  loose.  The  animal  ca*n  not  stand  much  work,  as 
the  muscular  system  is  soft.  Round-chested  horses  are  said  to  be  pre- 
disposed to  the  disease,  and  it  is  certain  that  in  cases  of  long  standing 
the  chest  usually  becomes  rounder  than  natural. 

Certain 'individuals  become  very  expert  in  managing  a  horse  affected 
with  heaves  in  suppressing  the  symptoms  for  a  short  time.  The}^  take 
advantage  of  the  fact  that  the  breathing  is  much  easier  when  the  stom- 
ach and  intestines  are  empty.  They  also  resort  to  the  use  of  medicines 
that  have  a  depressing  effect.  When  the  veterinarian  is  examining  a 
horse  for  soundness,  and  he  suspects  that  the  animal  has  been  "fixed," 
he  usually  gives  the  horse  as  much  water  as  he  will  drink  and  then  has 
him  ridden  or  driven  rapidly  up  a  hill  or  on  a  heavy  road.  This  will 
bring  out  the  characteristic  breathing  of  heaves  if  the  horse  is  so 
afflicted,  but  will  not  cause  the  symptoms  of  heaves  in  a  healthy  horse. 
All  broken-winded  horses  have  the  cough  peculiar  to  the  affection,  but 
it  is  not  regular.  A  considerable  time  may  elapse  before  it  is  heard 
and  then  it  may  come  on  in  paroxysms,  especially  when  first  brought 
out  of  the  stable  into  the  cold  air,  or  when  excited  by  work,  or  after 
a  drink  of  cold  water.  The  cough  is  usually  the  first  symptom  of  the 
disease. 

Treatment. — When  the  disease  is  established  there  is  no  cure  for  it. 
Proper  attention  paid  to  the  diet  will  relieve  the  distressing  symptoms 
to  a  certain  extent,  but  they  will  undoubtedly  reaj^pear  in  their  intensity 
the  first  time  the  animal  overloads  the  stomach  or  is  allowed  food  of 
bad  qualit}^  Clover  hay  or  bulkj^  food  which  contains  but  little  nutri- 
ment have  much  to  do  with  the  cause  of  the  disease,  and  therefore 
should  be  entirely  omitted  when  the  animal  is  affected,  as  well  as  before. 
It  has  been  asserted  that  the  disease  is  unknown  where  clover  hay  is 
never  used.  The  diet  should  be  confined  to  food  of  the  best  quality 
and  in  the  smallest  quantity.  The  bud  effect  of  moldy  or  dusty  ha}^ 
fodder,  or  food  of  anj-  kind  can  not  be  overestimated.  A  small  quantity 
of  the  best  haj^  once  a  day  is  sufiicient.  This  should  be  cut  and  damp- 
ened. The  animal  should  invariably  be  v>  atered  before  feeding;  never 
directly  after  a  meal.  The  animal  should  not  be  worked  immediately 
after  a  meal.  Exertion,  when  the  stomach  is  full,  invariably  aggravates 
the  symptoms.  Turning  on  pasture  gives  relief.  Carrots,  potatoes, 
or  turnips  chopped  and  mixed  with  oats  or  corn  are  a  good  diet.  Half 
a  pint  to  a  pint  of  thick,  dark  molasses  with  each  feed  is  useful. 

Arsenic  is  efiicacious  in  palliating  the  s^^mptoms.  It  is  best  adminis- 
tered in  the  form  of  the  solution  of  arsenic,  as  Fowlers  solution  or  as 
the  white  powdered  arscnious  acid.  Of  the  former  the  dose  is  1  ounce 
to  the  drinking  water  three  times  daily.  Of  the  latter  one  maj^  give 
3  grains  in  each  feed.  These  qiiantities  may  be  cautiousl}^  increased  as 
the  animal  becomes  accustomed  to  the  drug.  If  the  bowels  do  not  act 
regularly,  a  pint  of  raw  linseed  oil  ma}^  be  givea-once  or  twice  a  mouth, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  139 

or  a  handful  of  Glauber's  salt  ma}'  be  given  in  the  feed  twice  daih',  so 
long  as  necessar}^.  It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind  that  all  medical 
treatment  is'  of  secondary  consideration;  careful  attention  j)aid  to  the 
diet  is  of  greatest  importance.  Broken- winded  animals  should  not  bo 
used  for  breeding  purposes.  A  predisposition  to  the  disease  may  be 
inherited. 

CHRONIC    COUGH. 

A  chronic  cough  may  succeed  the  acute  diseases  of  the  respiratory 
organs,  such  as  pneumonia,  bronchitis,  laryngitis,  etc.  It  accompanies 
chronic  roaring,  chronic  bronchitis,  broken  wind.  It  may  succeed 
influenza.  As  previously  stated,  cough  is  but  a  symptom  and  not  a 
disease  in  itself.  Chronic  cough  is  occasionally  associated  with  dis- 
eases other  than  those  of  the  organs  of  respiration.  It  ma}^  be  a  symp- 
tom of  chronic  indigestion  or  of  worms.  In  such  cases  it  is  caused  hj  a 
reflex  nervous  irritation.  The  proper  treatment  in  all  cases  of  chronic 
cough  is  to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  disease  of  which  it  is  a  symptom, 
and  then  cure  the  disease  if  possible,  and  the  cough  will  cease. 

The  treatment  of  the  afi'ections  will  be  found  under  their  appropriate 
heads,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

PLEURO-DYNIA. 

This  is  a  form  of  rheumatism  that  affects  the  intercostal  muscles; 
that  is,  the  muscles  between  the  ribs.  The  apparent  symptoms  are 
ver}'  similar  to  those  of  pleurisy.  The  animal  is  stiff  and  not  inclined 
to  turn  around;  the  ribs  are  kept  in  a  fixed  state  as  much  as  possible. 
If  the  head  is  pulled  round  suddenly,  or  the  affected  side  struck  with 
the  hand,  or  if  the  spaces  between  the  ribs  are  pressed  with  the  fingers, 
the  animal  will  flinch  and  perhaps  emit  a  grunt  or  groan  expressive  of 
much  pain.  It  is  distinguished  from  pleurisy  by  the  absence  of  fever, 
cough,  the  friction  sound,  the  effusion  into  the  chest,  and  by  the  exist- 
ence of  rheumatism  in  other  parts.  The  treatment  for  this  affection 
is  the  same  as  for  rheumatism  affecting  other  parts. 

WOUNDS   PENETEATING    THE   WALLS    OF    THE    CHEST. 

A  wound  penetrating  the  wall  of  the  chest  admits  air  into  the 
thoracic  cavity  outside  of  the  lung.  This  condition  is  known  as 
pneumo-thorax  and  ma}-  result  in  collapse  of  the  lung.  The  wound 
ma}'  be  so  made  that  when  the  walls  of  the  chest  are  dilating  a 
little  air  is  sucked  in,  but  during  the  contraction  of  the  wall  the 
contained  air  presses  against  the  torn  part  in  such  a  manner  as 
entirely  to  close  the  wound;  thus  a  small  quantity  of  air  gains  access 
with  each  inspiration,  while  none  is  allowed  to  escape  until  the  lung  is 
pressed  into  a  very  small  compass  and  forced  into  the  anterior  part  of 
the  chest.     The  same  thing  may  occur  from  a  broken  rib  inflicting  a 


140  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

wound  in  the  lung.  In  this  form  too  air  gains  access  from  the  lung, 
and  there  may  not  even  be  an  opening  in  the  walls  of  the  chest.  In 
such  cases  the  air  maj-  be  absorbed,  when  a  spontaneous  cure  is  the 
result.  But  when  the  s^miptoms  are  urgent  it  is  recommended  that 
the  air  be  removed  by  a  trocar  and  canula  or  by  an  aspirator. 

It  is  evident  that  the  treatment  of  woiuids  that  penetrate  the  thoracic 
cavity  should  be  prompt.  It  should  be  quickl}'  ascertained  whether 
or  not  a  foreign  body  i-emains  in  the  wound,  then  it  should  be  thor- 
oughly cleaned  with  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  1  part  in  water  40 
parts.  The  wound  should  then  be  closed  inmiediatcl3%  If  it  is  an 
incised  wound  it  should  be  closed  with  sutures  or  with  adhesive  plasters; 
if  torn  or  lacerated,  adhesive  plaster  may  be  used  or  a  bandage  around 
the  chest  over  the  dressing.  At  all  events,  air  must  be  prevented 
from  getting  into  the  chest  as  soon  and  as  effectuall}'  as  possible.  The 
after  treatment  of  the  wound  should  principal!}'  consist  in  keeping  the 
parts  clean  with  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  and  applj' ing  fresh  dressing 
as  often  as  required  to  keep  the  wound  in  a  healthy  condition.  Care 
should  be  taken  that  the  discharges  from  the  wound  have  an  outlet  in 
the  most  dependent  part.  (See  Wounds  and  their  treatment,  p.  459.) 
If  pleurisy  supervenes,  it  should  be  treated  ^s  advised  under  that  head. 

THUMPS,    OR    SPASM    OF   THE    DIAPTIRAOM. 

"Thumps''  is  generall}^  thought  b}'  the  inexperienced  to  be  a  pal- 
pitation of  the  heart.  AYliile  it  is  true  that  palpitation  of  the  heart 
is  sometimes  called  "thumps,-'  it  must  not  be  confounded  with  the 
affection  under  consideration. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  article  on  the  diseases  of  the  organs  of 
respiration,  the  diaphragm  was  briefly  referred  to  as  the  principal  and 
essential  muscle  of  respiration.  Spasmodic  or  irregular  contractions 
of  it  in  man  are  manifested  bj^  what  is  familiarly  known  as  hiccoughs. 
Thumps  in  the  horse  is  similar  to  hiccoughs  in  man,  although  the 
peculiar  noise  is  not  made  in  the  throat  of  the  horse  in  all  cases. 

There  should  be  no  difficulty  in  distinguishing  this  affection  from 
palpitation  of  the  heart.  The  jerky  motion  affects  the  whole  body, 
and  is  not  confined  to  the  region  of  the  heart.  If  one  hand  is  placed 
on  the  body  at  about  the  middle  of  the  last  rib,  Avhile  the  other  hand 
is  placed  over  the  heart  behind  the  left  elbow,  it  will  be  easily  demon- 
strated that  there  is  no  connection  between  the  thumping  or  jerking 
of  the  diaphragm  and  the  beating  of  the  heart.  In  fact,  when  the 
animal  is  affected  with  spasms  of  the  diaphragm  the  beating  of  the 
heart  is  usuall}^  much  weaker  and  less  perceptible  than  natural. 
Thumps  is  produced  by  causes  similar  to  those  that  produce  congestion 
of  the  lungs  and  dilatation  or  palpitation  of  the  heart,  and  may  occur  in 
connection  with  these  conditions.     If  not  relieved,  death  usually  results 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  141 

from  congestion  or  edema  of  the  lungs,  as  the  breathing  is  interfered 
with  hy  the  inordinate  action  of  this  important  m.uscle  of  inspiration 
so  much  that  proper  aeration  of  the  blood  can  not  take  place.  The 
treatment  should  be  as  prescribed  for  congestion  of  the  lungs,  and,  in 
addition,  antispasmodics,  such  as  1  ounce  of  sulphuric  ether  in  warm 
water  or  3  drams  of  asafetida. 

KUrTUKE    OF   THE    DIAPIIKAGM. 

Post-mortem  examinations  after  colic  or  severe  accident  sometimes 
reveal  rupture  of  the  diaphragm.  This  may  take  place  after  death, 
from  the  generation  of  gases  in  the  decomposing  carcass,  which  dis- 
tend the  intestines  so  that  the  diaphragm  is  ruptured  by  the  great 
pressure  against  it.  The  symptoms  are  intensely  difficult  respiration 
and  great  depression.     There  is  no  treatment. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  GENERATIVE  ORGANS. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  Y.  S., 
Professor  of  Veterinary  Science,  etc.,  in  Cornell  University. 

[Revised  in  1903  by  the  author.] 
CONGESTION    AND    INFLAMMATION    OF   THE    TESTICLES,  OR    ORCHITIS. 

In  the  prime  of  life,  in  vigorous  healtli,  and  on  stimulating  food, 
stallions  are  subject  to  congestion  of  the  testicles,  which  become 
swollen,  hot,  and  tender,  but  without  any  active  inflammation.  A 
reduction  of  the  grain  in  the  feed,  the  administration  of  1  or  2  ounces 
of  Glauber's  salts  daily  in  the  food,  and  the  bathing  of  the  affected 
organs  daily  with  tepid  water  or  alum  water  will  usualh'  restore  them 
to  a  healthy  condition. 

When  the  factors  producing  congestion  are  cxtraordinaril}-  potent, 
when  there  has  been  frequent  copulation  and  heav}^  grain  feeding, 
when  the  weather  is  warm  and  the  animal  has  had  little  exercise,  and 
when  the  proximity  of  other  horses  or  mares  excite  the  generative 
instinct  without  gratification,  this  congestion  may  grow  to  actual 
inflammation.  Among  the  other  causes  of  orchitis  are  blows  and  pen- 
etrating wounds  implicating  the  testicles,  abrasions  of  the  scrotum  by 
a  chain  or  rope  passing  inside  the  thigh,  contusions  and  frictions  on 
the  gland  under  rapid  paces  or  heavy  draft,  compression  of  the  blood 
vessels  of  the  spermatic  cord  by  the  inguinal  ring  under  the  same  cir- 
cumstances, and,  finally,  sympathetic  disturbance  in  cases  of  disease 
of  the  kidneys,  bladder,  or  urethra.  Stimulants  of  the  generative 
functions,  like  rue,  savin,  tansy,  cantharides,  and  damiana,  may  also 
be  accessory  causes  of  congestion  and  inflammation.  Finally,  certain 
specific  diseases  like  maladie  du  coi't,  glanders,  and  tuberculosis,  local- 
ized in  the  testicles,  will  cause  inflammation. 

Symptoms. — Apart  from  actual  wounds  of  the  parts,  the  symptoms 
of  orchitis  are  swelling,  heat,  and  tenderness  of  the  testicles,  strad- 
dling with  the  hind  legs  alike  in  standing  and  walking,  stiffness  and 
dragging  of  the  hind  liml)s  or  of  the  limb  on  the  affected  i>ide,  arching 
of  the  loins,  abdominal  pain,  manifested  by  glancing  back  at  the  flank, 
with  more  or  less  fever,  elevated  bod}^  temperature,  accelerated  pulse 
and  breathing,  inappetence,  and  dullness.  In  bad  cases  the  scanty 
urine  may  be  reddish  and  the  swelling  may  extend  to  the  skin  and 
142 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  143 

envelopes  of  the  testicle,  which  may  become  thickened  and  doughy, 
pitting  on  i^ressure.  The  swelling  may  be  so  much  greater  in  the 
convoluted  excretory  duct  along  the  upper  border  of  the  testicle  as  to 
suggest  the  presence  of  a  second  stone.  Even  in  the  more  violent 
attacks  the  intense  suffering  abates  somewhat  on  the  second  or  third 
day.  If  it  lasts  longer  it  is  likely  to  give  rise  to  the  formation  of 
matter  (abscess).  In  exceptional  cases  the  testicle  is  struck  with 
gangrene,  or  death.  Improvement  may  go  on  slowly  to  complete 
recovery,  or  the  malad}^  may  subside  into  a  subacute  and  chronic  form 
with  induration.  Matter  (abscess)  may  be  recognized  by  the  presence 
of  a  soft  spot,  where  pressure  with  two  fingers  will  detect  fluctuation 
from  one  to  the  other.  When  there  is  liquid  exudation  into  the 
scrotum,  or  sack,  fluctuation  may  also  be  felt,  but  the  liquid  can  be 
made  out  to  be  around  the  testicle  and  can  be  pressed  up  into  the 
abdomen  through  the  inguinal  canal.  When  abscess  occurs  in  the  cord 
the  matter  may  escape  into  the  scrotal  sac  and  cavity  of  the  abdomen 
and  pyemia  ma}'  follow. 

Treatment  consists  in  perfect  rest  and  quietude,  the  administration 
of  a  purgative  (1  to  \\  pounds  Glauber's  salts),  and  the  local  appli- 
cation of  an  astringent  lotion  (acetate  of  lead  3  drams,  extract  of 
belladonna  2  drams,  and  water  1  quart)  upon  soft  rags  or  cotton  wool, 
kept  in  contact  with  the  part  by  a  suspensory  bandage.  This  bandage, 
of  great  value  for  support,  may  be  made  nearly  triangular  and  tied  to 
a  girth  around  the  loins  and  to  the  vipper  part  of  the  same  surcingle 
by  two  bands  carried  backward  and  upward  between  the  thighs.  In 
severe  cases  scarifications  one-fourth  inch  deep  serve  to  relieve  vascu- 
lar tension.  When  abscess  is  threatened  its  formation  may  be  favored 
by  warm  fomentations  or  poultices,  and  on  the  occurrence  of  fluctua- 
tion the  knife  may  be  emplo3''ed  to  give  free  escape  to  the  pus.  The 
resulting  cavity  may  be  injected  daily  with  a  weak  carbolic-acid  lotion, 
or  salol  may  be  introduced.  The  same  agents  may  be  used  on  a  gland 
threatened  with  gangrene,  but  its  prompt  removal  by  castration  is  to 
be  preferred,  antiseptics  being  applied  freely  to  the  resulting  cavity. 

SARCOCELE. 

This  is  an  enlarged  and  indurated  condition  of  the  gland,  resvilting 
from  chronic  inflammation,  though  it  is  often  associated  with  a  specific 
deposit,  like  glanders.  In  this  condition  the  natural  structure  of  the 
gland  has  given  place  to  embryonal  tissue  (small  round  cells,  with  a 
few  fibrous  bundles),  and  its  restoration  to  health  is  very  im.probal>lo. 
Apart  from  active  inflammation,  it  may  increase  very  slowly.  The 
diseased  testicle  is  enlarged,  firm,  nonelastic,  and  comparatively  insensi- 
ble. The  skin  of  the  scrotum  is  tense,  and  it  may  be  edematous  (pit- 
ting on  pressure),  as  are  the  deeper  envelopes  and  spennatic  cord. 
If  liquid  is  present  in  the  sac,  the  sj'mptoms  are  masked  somewhat. 


144  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

As  it  increases  it  causes  awkward,  straddling,  dragging  movement  of 
the  bind  limbs,  or  lameness  on  the  affected  side.  The  spermatic  cord 
often  increases  at  the  same  time  with  the  testicle,  and  the  inguinal 
ring  being  thereby  stretched  and  enlarged,  a  portion  of  intestine  may 
escape  into  the  sac,  complicating  the  disease  wath  hernia. 

The  onl}"  rational  and  effective  treatment  is  castration,  and  even  this 
nm}'  not  succeed  when  the  disease  is  specific  (glanders,  tuberculosis). 

HYDROCELE,    OR   DROPSY    OF   THE    SCROTUM. 

This  mu}^  be  mereh'  an  accompaniment  of  dropsy  of  the  abdomen, 
the  cavity  of  which  is  continuous  with  that  of  the  scrotum  in  horses. 
It  may  be  the  result,  however,  of  local  disease  in  the  testicle,  sper- 
matic cord,  or  walls  of  the  sac. 

Symptoms. — The  sj'mptoms  are  enlargement  of  the  scrotum,  and 
fluctuation  under  the  fingers,  the  testicle  being  recognized  as  floating 
in  water.  By  pressure  the  liquid  is  forced,  in  a  slow  stream  and  with 
a  perceptible  thrill,  into  the  abdomen.  Sometimes  the  cord  or  the 
scrotum  is  thickened  and  pits  on  pressure. 

Treatment  may  be  the  same  as  for  ascites,  j'ct  when  the  effusion  has 
resulted  from  inflammation  of  the  testicle  or  cord,  astringent  applica- 
tions (chalk  and  vinegar)  may  be  applied  to  these.  Then,  if  the  liquid 
is  not  reabsorbed  under  diuretics  and  tonics,  it  may  be  drawn  off 
through  the  nozzle  of  a  hypodermic  syringe  which  has  been  first 
passed  through  carbolic  acid.  In  geldings  it  is  best  to  dissect  out  the 
sacs. 

VARICOCELE. 

This  is  an  enlargement  of  the  venous  network  of  the  spermatic  cord, 
and  gives  rise  to  general  thickening  of  the  cord  from  the  testicle  up  to 
the  ring.  The  same  astringent  dressings  may  be  tried  as  in  hydrocele, 
and,  this  failing,  castration  may  be  resorted  to. 

ABNORMAL    NUMBER    OF    TESTICLES. 

Sometimes  one  or  both  testicles  are  wanting;  in  most  such  cases, 
however,  the}^  are  merely  partially  developed,  and  retained  in  the 
inguinal  canal  or  abdomen  (cryptorchid).  In  rare  cases  there  may  be 
a  third  testicle,  the  animal  becoming  to  this  extent  a  double  monster. 
Teeth,  hair,  and  other  indications  of  a  second  fetus  have  likewise  been 
found  in  the  testicle  or  scrotum. 

DEGENERATION    OF   THE    TESTICLES. 

The  testicles  ma}^  become  the  seat  of  fibrous,  calcareous,  fatty,  carti- 
laginous, or  cj'stic  degeneration,  for  all  of  which  the  appropriate  treat- 
ment is  castration.     The}'  also  become  the  seat  of  cancer,  glanders, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOBSE.  145 

or  tuberculosis,  and  castration  is  requisite,  though  with  less  hope  of 
arresting  the  disease.  Finally,  they  may  become  infested  with  cystic 
tapeworms  or  larval  stages  of  the  armed  roundworm  {Sfrongylus^ 
equinus). 

WARTS   ON    THE    PENIS. 

These  are  best  removed  hj  seizing  them  between  the  thumb  and 
forefinger  and  twisting  them  oif .  Or  they  may  be  cut  off  with  scissors^ 
and  the  roots  cauterized  with  nitrate  of  silver. 

DEGENERATION    OF    PENIS  (PAPILLOMA,  OR    EPITHELIOMA). 

The  penis  of  the  horse  is  subject  to  great  cauliflower-like  grov/ths 
on  its  free  end,  which  extend  back  into  the  substance  of  the  organ^ 
obstruct  the  passage  of  urine,  and  cause  very  fetid  discharges.  The 
only  resort  is  to  cut  them  off,  together  with  whatever  portion  of  the 
panis  has  become  diseased  and  indurated.  The  operation,  which 
should  be  performed  by  a  veterinary  surgeon,  consists  in  cutting 
through  the  organ  from  its  upper  to  its  lower  aspect,  twisting  or  tying 
the  two  dorsal  arteries,  and  leaving  the  urethra  longer  by  half  an  inch- 
to  1  inch  than  the  adjacent  structures. 

EXTRAVASATION    OF    BLOOD    IN    THE    PENIS. 

As  the  result  of  kicks,  blows,  or  of  forcible  striking  of  the  yard  od, 
the  thighs  of  the  mare  which  it  has  failed  to  enter,  the  penis  may 
become  the  seat  of  effusion  of  blood  from  one  or  more  ruptured  blood 
vessels.  This  gives  rise  to  a  more  or  less  extensive  swelling  on  one  or 
more  sides,  followed  by  some  heat  and  inflammation,  and  on  recovery 
a  serious  curving  of  the  organ.  The  treatment  in  the  early  stages- 
may  be  the  application  of  lotions,  of  alum,  or  other  astringents,  ta 
limit  the  amount  of  effusion  and  favor  absorption.  The  penis  should 
be  suspended  in  a  sling. 

PARALYSIS   OF   THE    PENIS. 

This  results  f i  om  blows  and  other  injuries,  and  also  in  some  cases-- 
f rom  too  frequent  and  exhausting  service.  The  j^ard  hangs  from  the 
sheath,  flaccid,  pendulous,  and  often  cold.  The  passage  of  urine- 
occurs  with  lessened  force,  and  especially  without  the  final  jets;  In 
cases  of  local  injury  the  inflammation  should  first  be  subdued  by 
astringent  and  emollient  lotions,  and  in  all  cases  the  system  should 
be  invigorated  by  nourishing  diet,  while  30-grain  doses  of  nux  vomica 
are  given  twice  a  day.  Finally,  a  weak  current  of  electricit}^  sent 
through  the  penis  from  just  beneath  the  anus  to  the  free  portion  of 
the  yard,  continued  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  and  repeated  daily,, 
may  prove  successful. 
14384—03 10 


146  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

SEIiF- ABUSE,    OR   MASTURBATION. 

Some  stallions  acquire  this  vicious  habit,  stimulating  the  sexual 
instinct  to  the  discharge  of  semen  by  rubbing  the  penis  against  the 
belly  or  between  the  fore  limbs.  The  only  remedy  is  a  mechanical 
one,  the  fixing  of  a  net  under  the  penis  in  such  fashion  as  will  prevent 
the  extension  of  the  penis,  or  so  prick  the  organ  as  to  compel  the 
animal  to  desist  through  pain. 

MALADIE    DU    COIT,    OR    DOURINE. 

This  is  propagated,  like  sj'philis,  by  the  act  of  copulation  and  affects 
stallions  and  mares.  It  has  been  long  known  in  northern  Africa, 
Arabia,  and  Continental  Europe.  It  was  imported  into  Illinois  in  1882 
in  a  Percheron  horse. 

From  one  to  ten  dsLys  after  copulation,  or  in  stallions  it  may  be 
after  some  weeks,  there  is  irritation,  swelling,  and  a  livid  redness  of 
the  external  organs  of  generation,  sometimes  followed  bj^  the  eruption 
of  small  blisters  one-fifth  of  an  inch  across  on  the  penis,  the  vulva, 
clitoris,  and  vagina,  and  the  consequent  rupture  of  these  vesicles  and 
the  formation  of  ulcers  or  small  open  sores.  Vesicles  have  not  been 
noticed  in  this  disease  in  the  dry  climate  of  Illinois.  In  the  mare 
there  is  frequent  contraction  of  the  vulva,  urination,  and  the  discharge 
of  a  watery  and  later  a  thick  viscid  liquid  of  a  whitish,  yellowish, 
or  reddish  color,  which  collects  on  and  soils  the  tail.  The  swelling  of 
the  vulva  increases  and  decreases  alternately,  affecting  one  part  more 
than  another  and  giving  a  distorted  ap)pearance  to  the  opening.  The 
affection  of  the  skin  leads  to  the  appearance  of  circular  white  spots, 
which  may  remain  distinct  or  coalesce  into  extensive  patches  which 
persist  for  months.  This,  with  the  soiled  tail,  red,  swollen,  puckered,- 
and  distorted  vulva,  and  an  increasing  weakness  and  paralysis  of  the 
hind  limbs,  serves  to  characterize  the  affection.  The  mare  rarely 
breeds,  but  will  take  the  male  and  thus  propagate  the  disease.  The 
disease  winds  up  with  great  emaciation  and  stupidity  and  death  in 
four  months  to  two  years.  In  horses  which  serve  few  mares  there 
may  be  only  swelling  of  the  sheath  for  a  year,  but  with  frequent 
copulation  the  progress  is  more  rapid.  The  penis  may  be  enlarged, 
shrunken,  or  distorted;  the  testicles  are  unusually  pendent  and  may 
be  enlarged  or  wasted  and  flabby;  the  skin,  as  in  the  mare,  shows 
white  spots  and  patches.  Later  the  penis  becomes  partially  paralyzed 
and  hangs  out  of  the  sheath;  swelling  of  the  adjacent  lymphatic  glands 
(in  the  groin),  and  even  of  distant  ones,  and  of  the  sldn  appears,  and 
the  hind  limbs  become  weak  and  unsteady.  In  some  instances  the 
glands  under  the  jaw  swell,  and  a  discharge  flows  from  the  nose,  as  in 
glanders.  In  other  cases  the  itching  of  the  skin  leads  to  gnawing  and 
extensive  sores.     Weakness,  emaciation,  and  stupidity  increase  until 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  147 

death,  in  fatal  cases,  jet  the  sexual  desire  does  not  seem  to  fail.  A 
stallion  without  sense  to  eat,  except  when  food  was  put  in  his  mouth, 
would  still  neigh  and  seek  to  follow  mares.  In  mild  cases  an  apparent 
recover}^  may  ensue,  and  through  such  animals  the  disease  is  propa- 
gated to  new  localities  to  be  roused  into  activity  and  extension  under 
the  stimulus  of  service.  The  diseased  nerve  centers  are  the  seat  of 
cryptogamic  growths.     (Thannhoffer.) 

Treatment  of  the  malady  has  proved  eminently  unsatisf actor}-.  It 
belongs  to  the  purely  contagious  diseases,  and  should  be  stamped  out 
b}-  the  remorseless  slaughter  or  castration  of  every  horse  or  mare  that 
has  had  sexual  congress  with  a  diseased  animal. 

CASTRATION   OF    STALLIONS. 

This  is  usually  done  at  one  j^ear  old,  but  may  be  accomplished  at  a 
few  weeks  old  at  the  expense  of  an  imperfect  development  of  the 
fore  parts.  The  simplicity  and  safety  of  the  operation  are  greatest  in 
the  young.  The  delay  till  two,  three,  or  four  years  old  will  secure  a 
better  development  and  carriage  of  the  fore  parts.  The  essential 
part  of  castration  is  the  safe  removal  or  destruction  of  the  testicle 
and  the  arrest  or  prevention  of  bleeding  from  the  spermatic  artery 
found  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  cord.  Into  the  many  methods  of 
accomplishing  this  limited  space  forbids  us  to  enter  here,  so  that  the 
method  most  commonly  adopted,  castration  by  clamps,  will^alone  be 
noticed.  The  animal  having  been  thrown  on  his  left  side,  and  the 
right  hind  foot  drawn  up  on  the  shoulder,  the  exposed  scrotum, 
penis,  and  sheath  are  washed  with  soap  and  w  ater,  any  concretion  of 
sebum  being  carefulh^  removed  from  the  bilocular  cavity  in  the  end 
of  the  penis.  The  left  spermatic  cord,  just  above  the  testicle,  is  now 
seized  in  the  left  hand,  so  as  to  render  the  skin  tense  over  the  stone, 
and  the  right  hand,  armed  with  the  knife,  makes  an  incision  from 
before  backward,  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  from  and  parallel  to 
the  median  line  betAveen  the  thighs,  deep  enough  to  expose  the  testicle 
and  long  enough  to  allow  that  organ  to  start  out  through  the  skin. 
At  the  moment  of  making  this  incision  the  left  hand  must  grasp  the 
cord  very  firmly,  otherwise  the  sudden  retraction  of  the  testicle  by 
the  cremaster  muscle  tsv%j  draw  it  out  of  the  hand  and  upwards 
tlirough  the  canal  and  even  into  the  abdomen.  In  a  few  seconds, 
when  the  struggle  and  retraction  have  ceased,  the  knife  is  inserted 
through  the  cord,  between  its  anterior  and  posterior  portions,  and  the 
latter,  the  one  which  the  muscle  retracts,  is  cut  completely  through. 
The  testicle  will  now  hang  limp,  and  there  is  no  longer  any  tendency 
to  retraction.  It  should  be  pulled  down  until  it  will  no  longer  hang 
loose  below  the  wound  and  the  clamps  applied  around  the  still  attached 
portion  of  the  cord,  close  up  to  the  skin.  The  clamps,  which  may  be 
made  of  any  tough  wood,  are  grooved  along  the  center  of  the  surfaces 


148  BUREAU    OF    AJS'IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

opposed  to  each  other,  thereby  fultilling  two  important  indications — 
(a)  enabling  the  clamps  to  hold  more  securely  and  (h)  providing  for 
the  application  of  an  antiseptic  to  the  cord.  For  this  purpose  a  dram 
of  sulphate  of  copper  may  be  mixed  with  an  ounce  of  vaseline  and 
pressed  into  the  groove  in  the  face  of  each  clamp.  In  applying  the 
clamp  over  the  cord  it  should  be  drawn  so  close  with  pincers  as  to  press 
out  all  blood  from  the  compressed  cord  and  destroy  its  vitalit3%  and 
the  cord  applied  upon  the  compressing  clamps  should  be  so  hard- 
twined  that  it  will  not  stretch  later  and  slacken  the  hold.  When  the 
clamp  has  been  fixed  the  testicle  is  cut  off  one-half  to  1  inch  below  it, 
and  the  clamp  may  be  left  thus  for  twenty -four  hours;  then,  by  cut- 
ting the  cord  around  one  end  of  the  clamp,  the  latter  may  be  opened 
and  the  stump  liberated  without  an}^  danger  of  bleeding.  Should  the 
stump  hang  out  of  the  wound'it  should  be  pushed  inside  with  the  luiger 
and  left  there.  The  wound  should  begin  to  discharge  white  matter 
on  the  second  day  in  hot  Aveather  or  the  third  in  cold,  and  from  that 
time  a  good  recover}'  rnay  be  expected. 

CONDITIONS   FAVORABLE    TO    SUCCESSFUL    CASTRATION. 

The  young  horse  suffers  less  from  castration  than  the  old,  and  very 
rarely  perishes.  Good  health  in  the  subject  is  all  important.  Castra- 
tion should  never  be  attempted  during  the  prevalence  of  strangles, 
influenza,  catarrhal  fever,  contagious  pleuris}^,  bronchitis,  pneumonia, 
purpura  liemorrhagica,  or  other  specific  disease,  nor  on  subjects  that 
have  been  kept  in  close,  ill  ventilated,  filthy  buildings,  where  the 
system  is  liable  to  have  been  charged  with  putrid  bacteria  or  other 
products.  AVarm  weather  is  to  be  preferred  to  cold,  but  the  fly  time 
should  be  avoided  or  the  flies  kept  at  a  distance  by  the  application  of 
a  watery  solution  of  tar,  carbolic  acid,  or  camphor  to  the  wound. 

CASTRATION    OF   CRTPTORCHIDS    (rIDGLINGS). 

This  is  the  removal  of  a  testicle  oi-  testicles  that  have  failed  to 
descend  into  the  scrotum,  but  have  been  detained  in  the  inguinal 
canal  or  inside  the  abdomen.  The  manipulation  requires  an  accurate 
anatomical  knovvledge  of  the  parts,  and  special  skill,  experience,  and 
manual  dexterit}',  and  can  not  be  made  clear  to  the  unprofessional 
mind  in  a  short  notice.  It  consists,  however,  in  the  discovery  and 
removal  of  the  missing  gland  b}^  exploring  through  the  natural  chan- 
nel (the  inguinal  canal),  or,  in  case  it  is  absent,  through  the  inguinal 
ring  or  through  an  artificial  opening  made  in  front  and  above  that 
channel  between  the  a]>dominal  nuiscles  and  the  strong  fascia  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  thigh  (Poupart's  ligament).  Whatever  method  is 
used,  the  skin,  hands,  and  instruments  should  be  rendered  aseptic 
with  a  solution  of  mercuric  chloride  1  part,  water  2,000  parts  (a  car- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  149 

bolic  acid  lotion  for  the  instruments),  and  the  spermatic  cord  is  best 
torn  through  by  the  ecraseur.  In  man}^  such  cases,  too,  it  is  desirable 
to  sew  up  the  external  wound  and  keep  the  animal  still,  to  favor 
healing  of  the  wound  by  adhesion. 

paijV  after  castkation. 

Some  horses  are  pained  and  verj^  restless  for  some  hours  after  cas- 
tration, and  this  may  extend  to  cramps  of  the  bowels  and  violent  colic. 
This  is  best  kept  in  check  by  carefully  rubbing  the  patient  dry  when 
he  rises  from  the  operation,  and  then  leading  him  in  hand  for  some 
time.  If  the  pain  still  persists  a  dose  of  laudanum  (1  ounce  for  an 
adult)  may  be  given. 

BLEEDING    AFTER   CASTRATION. 

Bleeding  from  the  wound  in  the  scrotum  and  from  the  little  artery 
in  the  posterior  portion  of  the  spermatic  cord  alwaj^s  occurs,  and  in 
warm  weather  may  appear  to  be  quite  free.  It  scarcely  ever  lasts, 
however,  over  fifteen  minutes,  and  is  easily  checked  b}^  dashing  cold 
water  against  the  part. 

Bleeding  from  the  spermatic  arteiy  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  cord 
may  be  dangerous  when  due  precaution  has  not  been  taken  to  prevent 
it.  In  such  case  the  stump  of  the  cord  should  be  sought  for  and 
the  arter}'^  twisted  with  artery  forceps  or  tied  with  a  silk  thread. 
If  the  stump  can  not  be  found,  pledgets  of  tow  wet  with  tincture  of 
muriate  of  iron  may  be  stuffed  into  the  canal  to  favor  the  formation 
of  clot  and  the  closure  of  the  arteiy. 

STRANGULATED    SPERMATIC    CORD. 

If  in  castration  the  cord  is  left  too  long,  so  as  to  hang  out  of  the 
wound,  the  skin  wound  in  contracting  grasj^s  and  strangles  it,  pre- 
venting the  free  return  of  blood  and  causing  a  steadily  advancing 
svv'elling.  In  addition  the  cord  becomes  adherent  to  the  lips  of  the 
wound  in  the  skin,  whence  it  derives  an  increased  supply  of  blood, 
and  is  thereby  stimulated  to  more  rapid  swelling.  The  subject  walks 
stifil}",  with  straddling  gait,  loses  appetite,  and  has  a  rapid  pulse  and 
high  fever.  Examination  of  the  wound  discloses  the  partial  closure 
of  the  skin  wound,  and  the  protrusion  from  its  lips  of  the  end  of  the 
cord,  red,  tense,  and  varying  in  size  from  a  hazelnut  upward.  If 
there  is  no  material  swelling  and  little  protrusion  the  wound  ma}^  be 
enlarged  with  the  knife  and  the  end  of  the  cord  broken  loose  from  any 
connection  with  the  skin,  and  pushed  up  inside.  If  the  swelling  is 
larger,  the  mass  constitutes  a  tumor  and  must  be  removed.  (See 
below.) 


150  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

SWELLING    OF    THE    SHEATH,    PENIS,  AND   ABDOMEN. 

This  occurs  in  certain  unhealthy  states  of  the  system,  in  unhealthy 
seasons,  as  the  result  of  operating  without  cleausing  the  sheath  and 
penis,  or  of  keeping  the  subject  in  a  filthy,  impure  building,  as  the 
result  of  infecting  the  wound  by  hands  or  instruments  bearing  septic 
bacteria,  or  as  the  result  of  premature  closure  of  the  wound,  and 
imprisonment  of  matter. 

Pure  air  and  cleanliness  of  groin  and  wound  are  to  be  secured. 
Antiseptics,  like  the  mercuric  chloride  lotion  (1  part  to  2,000)  are  to  be 
applied  to  the  parts;  the  wound,  if  closed,  is  to  be  opened  anew,  any 
accumulated  matter  or  blood  washed  out,  and  the  antiseptic  liquid 
freely  applied.  The  most  tense  or  dependent  parts  of  the  swelling  in 
sheath  or  penis,  or  beneath  the  belly,  should  be  pricked  at  intervals 
of  3  or  4:  inches,  and  to  a  depth  of  half  an  inch,  and  antiseptics  freely 
used  to  the  surface.  Fomentations  with  warm  water  may  also  be  used 
to  favor  oozing  from  the  incisions  and  to  encourage  the  formation  of 
white  matter  in  the  original  wounds,  which  must  not  be  allowed  to 
close  again  at  once.  A  free;  cream-like  discharge  implies  a  healthy 
action  in  the  sore,  and  is  the  precursor  of  recovery. 

PIIYMOSIS   AND    PARAPHYMOSIS. 

In  cases  of  swelling,  as  above,  the  penis  maj-  be  imprisoned  within 
the  sheath  (phymosis)  or  protruded  and  swollen  so  that  it  can  not  be 
retracted  into  it  (paraphymosis).  In  these  cases  the  treatment  indi- 
cated above,  and  especially  the  scarifications,  will  prove  a  useful  pre- 
liminary resort.  The  use  of  astringent  lotions  is  always  desirable, 
and  in  case  of  the  protruded  penis  the  application  of  an  elastic  or 
simple  linen  bandage,  so  as  to  press  out  the  blood  and  accumulated 
fluid,  will  enable  the  operator  to  return  it. 

TUMORS    ON    THE    SPERMATIC    CORD. 

These  arc  due  to  rough  handling  or  dragging  upon  the  cord  in  cas- 
tration, to  strangulation  of  undul}^  long  cords  in  the  external  wound, 
to  adhesion  of  the  end  of  the  cord  to  the  skin,  to  inflammation  of  the 
cord  succeeding  exposure  to  cold  or  wet,  or  to  the  presence  of  infec- 
tion {Stajphylococcus  lotriomyces).  These  tumors  give  rise  to  a  stiff, 
straddling  gait,  and  may  be  felt  as  hard  masses  in  the  groin  connected 
above  with  the  cord.  The}^  may  continue  to  grow  slowly  for  many 
years  until  they  reach  a  weight  of  15  or  20  pounds,  and  contract  adhe- 
sions to  all  surrounding  parts.  If  disconnected  from  the  skin  and 
inguinal  canal  they  may  be  removed  in  the  same  manner  as  the  testicle, 
while  if  larger  and  firmlj^  adherent  to  the  skin  and  surrounding  parts 
generally,  they  must  l)c  carefullj^  dissected  from  the  parts,  the  arteries 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  151 

being  tied  as  they  are  reached  and  the  cord  finally  torn  through  with 
an  ecraseur.  When  the  cord  has  become  swollen  and  indurated  up  into 
the  abdomen  such  removal  is  impossible,  though  a  partial  destruction 
of  the  mass  nmy  still  be  attempted  by  passing  white-hot  pointed  irons 
upward  toward  the  inguinal  ring  in  the  center  of  the  thickened  and 
indurated  cord. 

CASTRATION    BY    THE    COVERED    OPERATION. 

This  is  only  required  in  case  of  hernia  or  protrusion  of  bowels  or 
omentum  into  the  sack  of  the  scrotum,  and  consists  in  the  return  of 
the  hernia  and  the  application  of  the  caustic  clamps  over  the  cord  and 
inner  walls  of  the  inguinal  canal,  so  that  the  walls  of  the  latter  become 
adherent  above  the  clamps,  the  canal  is  obliterated,  and  further  pro- 
trusion is  hindered.  For  the  full  description  of  this  and  of  the  opera- 
tion for  hernia  in  geldings,  see  remarks  on  hernia. 

CASTRATION    OF   THE    MARE. 

Castration  is  a  much  more  dangerous  operation  in  the  mare  than  in 
the  females  of  other  domesticated  quadrupeds,  and  should  never  be 
resorted  to  except  in  animals  that  become  unmanageable  on  the  recur- 
rence of  heat,  and  that  will  not  breed  or  that  are  utterly  unsuited  to 
breeding.  Formerly  the  operation  was  extensively  practiced  in 
Europe,  the  incision  being  made  through  the  flank,  and  a  large  pro- 
portion of.  the  subjects  perished.  By  operating  through  the  vagina 
the  risk  can  be  largely  obviated,  as  the  danger  of  unhealthy  inflamma- 
tion in  the  wound  is  greatly  lessened.  The  animal  should  be  fixed  in 
a  trevis,  with  each  foot  fixed  to  a  post  and  a  sling  placed  under  the 
bod}^,  or  it  may  be  thrown  and  put  under  chloroform.  The  manual 
operation  demands  special  professional  knowledge  and  skill,  but  it 
consists  essentially  in  making  an  opening  through  the  roof  of  the 
vagina  just  above  the  neck  of  the  vfomb,  then  following  with  the  hand 
each  horn  of  the  womb  until  the  ovary  on  that  side  is  reached  and 
grasped  between  the  lips  of  forceps  and  twisted  oS.  It  might  be 
torn  off  by  an  ecraseur  especially  constructed  for  the  purpose.  The 
straining  that  follows  the  operation  ma}^  be  checked  by  ounce  doses  of 
laudanum,  and  any  risk  of  protrusion  of  the  bowels  may  be  obviated 
b}^  applying  the  truss  advised  to  prevent  e version  of  the  womb.  To 
further  prevent  the  pressure  of  the  abdominal  contents  against  the 
vaginal  wound  the  marc  should  be  tied  short  and  high  for  twenty-four 
or  forty-eight  hours,  after  which  1  have  found  it  best  to  remove  the 
truss  and  allow  the  privilege  of  lying  down.  Another  important  point 
is  to  give  bran  mashes  and  other  laxative  diet  only,  and  in  moderate 
quantity,  for  a  fortnight,  and  to  unload  the  rectum  by  copious  injec- 
tions of  warm  water  in  case  it  should  threaten  to  become  impacted. 


152  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

STERILITY. 

Sterility  ma}'  be  in  the  male  or  in  the  female.  If  due  to  the  .stallion, 
then  all  the  mares  put  to  him  remain  barren;  if  due  to  the  liiare,  she 
alone  fails  to  conceive. 

In  the  stallion  sterility  may  be  due  to  the  following  causes:  (a) 
Imperfect  development  of  the  testicles,  as  in  cases  in  which  they  are 
retained  within  the  abdomen;  (h)  inflammation  of  the  testicles,  result- 
ing in  induration;  (c)  i'dtty  degeneration  of  the  testicles,  in  stallions 
liberally  fed  on  starchy  food  and  not  sufficiently  exercised;  (d)  fatty 
degeneration  of  the  excretoiy  ducts  of  the  testicles  {vasa  defereniia); 
{e)  inflammation  or  ulceration  of  these  ducts;  {/)  inflammation  or 
ulceration  of  the  mucous  membrane  covering  the  penis;  {(/)  injuries 
to  the  penis  from  blows  (often  causing  paralysis);  (A)  warty  growths 
on  the  end  of  the  penis;  (/)  tumors  of  other  kinds  (largely  pigmentary), 
affecting  the  testicles  or  penis;  (_/)  nervous  diseases  which  abolish  the 
sexual  appetite  or  that  control  the  muscles  which  is  essential  to  the 
act  of  coition;  (/•)  azoturia  with  resulting  weakness  or  paralysis  of 
the  muscles  of  the  loins  or  the  front  of  the  thigh  (above  the  stifle); 
(l)  os'sification  (anchylosis)  of  the  joints  of  the  back  or  loins,  which 
render  the  animal  unable  to  rear,  or  mount;  (m)  spavins,  ringbones, 
or  other  painful  affections  of  the  hind  limbs,  the  pain  of  which  in 
mounting  causes  the  animal  to  suddenly  stop  short  in  the  act.  In  the 
first  three  of  these  only  (  a,  h,  and  c)  is  there  real  sterilit}'^  in  the  sense 
of  the  nondevelopment  or  imperfect  development  of  the  male  vivify- 
ing element  (spermatozoa).  In  the  other  examples  the  secretion  may 
be  perfect^in  kind  and  amount,  but  as  copulation  is  prevented  it  can 
not  reach  and  impregnate  the  ovum. 

In  the  mare  barrenness  is  equally  due  to  a  variety  of  causes.  In  a 
number  of  breeding  studs  the  proportion  of  sterile  mares  has  varied 
from  20  to  40  per  cent.  It  may  be  due  to:  (a)  Imperfect  development 
of  the  ovary  and  nonmaturation  of  ova;  (l)  cystic  or  other  tumors  of 
the  ovary;  (c)  fatty  degeneration  of  the  ovary  in  ver}''  obese,  pampered 
mares;  (d)  fatty  degeneration  of  the  excretory  tubes  of  the  ovaries 
(Fallopian  tubes);  {c^  catarrh  of  the  womb,  with  nuicopurulent  dis- 
charge; (/)  irritable  condition  of  the  womb,  with  profuse  secretion, 
straining,  and  ejection  of  the  semen;  {(/)  nervous  irritability,  leading 
to  the  same  expulsion  of  the  male  element;  (/<)  high  condition  (ple- 
thora), with  profuse  secretion  and  excitement;  (?)  low  condition,  with 
imperfect  maturation  of  the  ova  and  lack  of  sexual  desire;  (J)  poor 
feeding,  overwork,  and  chronic  debilitating  diseases,  as  leading  to  the 
condition  just  named;  {/c)  closure  of  the  neck  of  the  womb,  tempora- 
rily b}'  spasm  or  permanently  by  inflammation  and  induration;  (/)  clo- 
sure of  the  entrance  to  the  vagina  through  imperforate  h3'men,  a  rare, 
though  not  unknown,  condition  in  the  mare;  (r/i)  acquired  indisposition 
to  breed,  seen  in  old,  hard-worked  mares  which  are  first  put  to  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  153 

stallion  when  aged;  (n)  change  of  climate  has  repeatedlj^  been  followed 
b}^  barrenness;  (o)  h3'bridity,  which  in  male  and  female  alike  usually 
entails  sterilit}- . 

Treatment.— The  treatment  of  the  majority  of  these  conditions  will 
be  found  dealt  with  in  other  parts  of  this  work,  so  that  it  is  onl}'"  nec- 
essar}^  here  to  name  them  as  causes.  Some,  however,  must  be  spe- 
cially referred  to  iu  this  place.  Stallions  with  undescended  testicles 
are  beyond  the  reach  of  medicine,  and  should  be  castrated  and  devoted 
to  other  uses.  Indurated  testicles  may  sometimes  be  remedied  in  the 
early  stages  by  smearing  with  a  weak  iodine  ointment  dail}"  for  a  length 
of  time,  and  at  the  same  time  invigorating  the  S3^stem  by  liberal  feeding 
and  judicious  work.  Fatty  degeneration  is  best  met  b}'  an  albuminoid 
diet  (wheat  bran,  cotton-seed  meal,  rape  cake)  and  constant  well-regu- 
lated work.  Saccharine,  starch}',  and  fatty  food  (potatoes,  wheat,  corn, 
etc.)  are  to  be  specially  avoided.  In  the  mare  one  diseased  and  irri- 
table ovary  should  be  removed,  to  do  away  with  the  resulting  excita- 
bility of  the  remainder  of  the  generative  organs.  An  irritable  womb, 
with  frequent  straining  and  the  ejection  of  a  profuse  secretion,  may 
sometimes  be  corrected  b}"  a  restricted  diet  and  full  but  well-regulated 
work.  Even  fatigue  will  act  beneficiall}^  in  some  such  cases,  hence 
the  practice  of  the  Aiab  riding  his  mare  to  exhaustion  just  before 
service.  The  perspiration  in  such  a  case,  like  the  action  of  a  purga- 
tiv-e  or  the  abstraction  of  blood  just  before  service,  benefits,  by  ren- 
dering the  blood  vessels  less  full,  by  lessening  secretion  in  the  womb 
and  elsewhere,  and  thus  counteracting  the  tendency  to  the  ejection  and 
loss  of  semen.  If  these  means  are  ineffectual,  a  full  dose  of  camphor 
(2  di*ams)  or  of  salacin  may  at  times  assist.  Low  condition  and  anemia 
demand  just  the  opposite  kind  of  treatment — rich,  nourishing,  albumi- 
noid food,  bitter  tonics  (gentian),  sunshine,  gentle  exercise,  liberal 
grooming,  and  supporting  treatment  generally  are  here  in  order. 
Spasmodic  closure  of  the  neck  of  the  womb  is  common  and  is  easily 
remedied  in  the  mare  b}"  dilatation  with  the  fingers. 

The  hand,  smeared  with  belladonna  ointment  and  with  the  fingers 
drawn  into  the  form  of  a  cone,  is  introduced  through  the  vagina  until 
the  projecting,  rounded  neck  of  the  womb  is  felt  at  its  anterior  end. 
This  is  opened  by  the  careful  insertion  of  one  finger  at  a  time  until 
the  fingers  have  been  passed  through  the  constricted  neck  into  the 
open  cavity  of  the  womb.  The  introduction  is  made  with  a  gentle, 
rotary  motion,  and  all  precipitate  violence  is  avoided,  as  abrasion, 
laceration,  or  other  cause  of  irritation  is  likel}'  to  interfere  with  the 
retention  of  the  semen  and  with  impregnation.  If  the  neck  of  the 
womb  is  rigid  and  un^delding  from  the  induration  w4iich  follows  inflam- 
mation— a  rare  condition  in  the  mare,  though  common  in  the  cow — 
more  force  will  be  requisite,  and  it  ma}^  even  be  needful  to  incise  the 
neck  to  the  depth  of  one-sixth  of  an  inch  in  four  or  more  opposite  direc- 
tions prior  to  forcible  dilatation.     The  incision  ma}'  be  made  with  a 


154  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

probe-pointed  knife,  and  should  be  done  by  a  professional  man  if  pos- 
sible. The  subsequent  dilatation  ma}"  be  best  effected  by  the  slow 
expansion  of  sponge  or  seaweed  tents  inserted  into  the  narrow  canal. 
In  such  cases  it  is  best  to  let  the  wounds  of  the  neck  heal  before  put- 
ting- to  horse.  An  imperforate  h3^nen  mar  be  frcel}^  incised  in  a 
crucial  manner  until  the  £>assao-e  will  admit  the  human  hand.  An 
ordinary  knife  may  be  used  for  this  purpose,  and  after  the  operation 
the  stallion  may  be  admitted  at  once  or  only  after  the  wounds  have 
healed. 

INDICATIONS   OF   PREGNANCY. 

As  the  mere  fact  of  service  by  the  stallion  does  not  insure  preg- 
nane}', it  is  important  that  the  result  should  be  determined,  to  save 
the  mare  from  unnecessai-y  and  dangerous  work  or  medication  when 
actually  in  foal  and  to  obviate  wasteful  and  needless  precautions  when 
she  is  not. 

The  cessation  and  nonrecurrence  of  the  symptoms  of  heat  (horsing) 
arc  most  significant  though  not  an  infallible  sign  of  conception.  If 
the  sexual  excitement  speedily  subsides  and  the  mare  persistently 
refuses  the  stallion  for  a  month,  she  is  probably  pregnant.  In  very 
exceptional  cases  a  mare  will  accept  a  second  or  third  service  after 
weeks  or  months,  though  pregnant,  and  some  mares  will  refuse  the 
horse  persistent!}',  though  conception  has  not  taken  place,  and  this  in 
spite  of  warm  weather,  good  condition  of  the  mare,  and  liberal  feed- 
ing. The  recurrence  of  heat  in  the  pregnant  mare  is  most  likely  to 
take  place  in  hot  weather.  If  heat  merely  persists  an  undue  length  of 
time  after  service,  or  if  it  reappears  shortly  after,  in  warm  weather 
and  in  a  comparatively  idle  mare,  on  good  feeding,  it  is  less  signifi- 
cant, while  the  persistent  absence  of  heat  under  such  conditions  may 
be  usually  accepted  as  proof  of  conception. 

An  unwonted  gentleness  and  docility  on  the  part  of  a  previously 
irritable  or  vicious  mare,  and  supervening  on  service,  is  an  excellent 
indication  of  pregnancy,  the  generative  instinct  which  caused  the 
excitement  having  been  satisfied. 

An  increase  of  fat,  with  softness  and  fiabbiuess  of  muscle,  a  loss  of 
energy,  indisposition  for  active  work,  a  manifestation  of  laziness, 
indeed,  and  of  fatigue  early  and  easily  induced,  when  preceded  by 
service,  will  usually  imply  conception. 

Enlargement  of  the  abdomen,  especially  in  its  lower  third,  with 
slight  falling  in  beneath  the  loins  and  hoUowness  of  the  back  are  sig- 
nificant symptoms,  though  they  may  be  entirely  absent.  Swelling  and 
firmness  of  the  udder,  with  the  smoothing  out  of  its  wrinkles,  is  a 
suggestive  sign,  even  thoug'h  it  appears  only  at  intervals  during  ges- 
tation. 

A  steady  increase  in  weight  (li  pounds  daily)  a]>out  the  fourth  or 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  155 

fifth  month  is  a  useful  indication  of  pregnane}".  So  is  a  swollen  and 
red  or  bluish  red  appearance  of  the  vaginal  mucous  membrane. 

From  the  seventh  or  eighth  month  onward  the  foal  may  be  felt  by 
the  hand  (palm  or  knuckles)  pressed  into  the  abdomen  in  front  of  the 
left  stiHe.  The  sudden  push  displaces  the  foal  toward  the  opposite 
side  of  the  womb,  and  as  it  floats  back  its  hard  l)ody  is  felt  to  strike 
against  the  hand.  If  the  pressure  is  maintained  the  movements  of 
the  live  foal  are  felt,  and  especially  in  the  morning  and  after  a  drink 
of  cold  water  or  during  feeding.  A  drink  of  cold  water  will  often 
stimulate  the  fetus  to  movements  that  maj''  be  seen  by  the  eye,  but 
an  excess  of  iced  water  ma}^  prove  injurious,  even  to  the  causing  of 
abortion.  Cold  water  dashed  on  the  belly  has  a  similar  effect  on  the 
fetus  and  equally  endangers  abortion. 

Examination  of  the  uterus  with  the  oiled  hand  introduced  into  the 
rectum  is  still  more  satisfactory,  and  if  cautiously  conducted  no  more 
dang-erous.  The  rectum  must  be  first  emptied  and  then  the  hand  car- 
ried forward  until  it  reaches  the  front  edge  of  the  pelvic  bones  below, 
and  pressed  downward  to  ascertain  the  size  and  outline  of  the  womb. 
In  the  unimpregnated  state  the  vagina  and  womb  can  be  felt  as  a  sin- 
gle rounded  tube,  dividing  in  front  to  two  smaller  tubes  (the  horns  of 
the  womb).  In  the  pregnant  mare  not  only  the  body  of  the  womb  is 
enlarged,  but  still  more  so  one  of  the  horns  (right  or  left),  and  on  com- 
pression the  latter  is  found  to  contain  a  hard,  nodular  body,  floating 
in  a  liquid,  which  in  the  latter  half  of  gestation  may  be  stimulated  by 
gentle  pressure  to  manifest  spontaneous  movements.  By  this  method 
the  presence  of  the  fetus  may  be  determined  as  early  as  the  third 
month.  If  the  complete  natural  outline  of  the  virgin  womb  can  not 
be  made  out,  careful  examination  should  always  be  made  on  the  right 
and  left  side  for  the  enlarged  horn  and  its  living  contents.  Should 
there  still  be  difficulty  the  mare  should  be  placed  on  an  inclined 
plane,  with  her  hind  parts  lowest,  and  two  assistants,  standing  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  body,  should  raise  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen 
by  a  sheet  passed  beneath  it.  Finally  the  ear  or  stethoscope  applied 
on  the  wall  of  the  abdomen  in  front  of  the  stifle  ma}'-  detect  the  beat- 
ing of  the  fetal  heart  (one  hundred  and  twentj^-five  per  minute)  and 
a  blowing  sound  (the  uterine  sough),  much  less  rapid  and  correspond- 
ing to  the  number  of  the  pulse  of  the  dam.  It  is  heard  most  satis- 
factorily after  the  sixth  or  eighth  month  and  in  the  absence  of  active 
rumbling  of  the  bowels  of  the  dam. 

DURATION    OF    PREGNANCY. 

Mares  usually  go  about  eleven  months  with  young,  though  first  preg- 
nancies often  last  a  year.  Foals  have  lived  when  born  at  the  three 
hundredth  day,  so  with  others  carried  till  the  four  hundredth  day. 
With  the  longer  pregnancies  there  is  a  greater  probability  of  male 
offspring. 


156  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

IIYGIENK    OF    THE    PREGNANT    MARE. 

The  preg-nant  inarc  should  not  be  exposed  to  teasing-  by  a  3'oung  and 
ardent  stallion,  nor  should  she  be  overworked  or  fatigued,  particularly 
under  the  saddle  or  on  uneven  ground.  Yet  exercise  is  bcnelicial  to 
both  mother  and  offspring,  and  in  the  absence  of  moderate  work  the 
breeding  mai'e  should  be  kept  in  a  lot  where  she  can  take  exercise 
at  will. 

The  food  should  be  lil)eral,  but  not  fattening— oats,  bran,  sound  ha}', 
and  other  foods  rich  in  the  principles  which  form  flesh  and  bone  being 
especially  indicated.  All  aliments  that  tend  to  indigestion  are  to  be 
especially  avoided.  Thus  rank,  aqueous,  rapidly  growing  grasses  and 
other  green  food,  partially  ripe  rj^e  grass,  millet,  hungarian  grass, 
vetches,  peas,  beans,  or  maize  are  objectionable,  as  is  overripe,  . 
fibrous,  innutritions  ha}',  or  that  which  has  been  injured  and  rendered 
musty  by  wet,  or  that  which  is  infested  Avith  smut  or  ergot.  Food 
that  tends  to  costiveness  should  be  avoided.  Water  given  often,  and 
at  a  temperature  considerably  above  freezing,  will  avoid  the  dangers 
of  indigestion  and  abortion  which  result  from  taking  too  much  ice-cold 
water  at  one  time.  Very  cold  or  frozen  food  is  objectionable  in  the 
same  sense.  Severe  surgical  operations  and  medicines  that  act  violently 
on  the  womb,  bowels,  or  kidneys  are  to  be  avoided  as  being  liable  to 
cause  abortion.  Constipation  should  be  corrected,  if  possible,  by  bran 
mashes,  carrots,  or  beets,  seconded  by  exercise,  and  if  a  medicinal 
laxative  is  required  it  should  be  olive  oil  or  other  equally  bland  agent. 

The  stall  of  the  pregnant  mare  should  not  be  too  narrow  so  as  to 
cramp  her  when  lying  down,  or  to  entail  violent  efforts  in  getting  up, 
and  it  should  not  slope  too  much  from  the  front  backward,  as  this 
throws  the  weight  of  the  uterus  back  on  the  pelvis  and  endangers  pro- 
trusions and  even  abortion.  Violent  mental  impressions  are  to  be 
avoided,  for  though  the  majority  of  mares  are  not  affected  thereby, 
yet  a  certain  number  are  so  profoundly  impressed  that  peculiarities 
and  distortions  are  entailed  on  the  offspring.  Hence,  there  is  wisdom 
shown  in  banishing  particolored  or  objectionably  tinted  animals,  and 
those  that  show  deformities  or  faulty  conformation.  Hence,  too,  the 
importance  of  preventing  prolonged  acute  suffering  by  the  pregnant 
marc,  as  certain  troubles  of  the  eyes,  feet,  and  joints  in  the  foals  have 
been  clearly  traced  to  the  concentration  of  the  mother's  mind  on  cor- 
responding injured  organs  in  herself.  Sire  and  dam  alike  tend  to 
reproduce  their  individual  defects  which  predispose  to  disease,  but  the 
dam  is  far  more  likely  to  perpetuate  the  evil  in  her  progeny  which  was 
carried  while  she  was  individually  enduring  severe  suffering  caused 
by  such  defects.  Hence,  an  active  bone  spavin  or  ringbone,  causing 
lameness,  is  more  objectionable  than  that  in  which  the  inflammation 
and  lameness  have  both  passed,  and  an  active  ophthalmia  is  more  to 
be  feared  than  even  an  old  cataract.     For  this  reason  all  active  dis- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  157 

eases  in  the  breeding-  mare  should  be  soothed  and  abated  at  as  early  a 
moment  as  possible. 

EXTRA-UTERINE    GESTATION. 

It  is  rare  in  the  domestic  animals  to  find  the  fetus  developed  else- 
where than  in  the  womb.  The  exceptional  forms  are  those  in  which 
the  sperm  of  the  male,  making-  its  way  through  the  womb  and  Fallo- 
pian tubes,  impregnates  the  ovum  prior  to  its  escape,  and  in  which  the 
now  vitalized  and  growing  ovum,  by  reason  of  its  gradually  increas- 
ing size,  becomes  imprisoned  and  fails  to  escape  into  the  womb.  The 
arrest  of  the  ovum  raaj^  be  in  the  substance  of  the  ovar}-  itself  (ovarian 
pregnane}'),  in  the  Fallopian  tube  (tubal  pregnancy),  or  when  by  its 
continuous  enlargement  it  has  ruptured  its  envelopes  so  that  it  escapes 
into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen,  it  may  become  attached  to  an}^  part 
of  the  serous  membrane  and  draw  its  nourishment  directly  from  that 
(abdominal  pregnancy).  In  all  such  cases  there  is  an  increase  and 
enlargement  of  the  capillary  blood  vessels  at  the  point  to  which  the 
embr^-o  has  attached  itself  so  as  to  furnish  the  needful  nutriment  for 
the  growing  offspring. 

All  appreciable  S3nnptoms  are  absent,  unless  from  the  death  of  the 
fetus,  or  its  interference  v/ith  normal  functions,  general  disorder  and 
indications  of  parturition  supervene.  If  these  occur  later  than  the 
natural  time  for  parturition,  they  are  the  more  significant.  There  may 
be  general  malaise,  loss  of  appetite,  elevated  temperature,  accelerated 
pulse,  with  or  without  distinct  labor  pains.  Examination  with  the 
oiled  hand  in  the  rectum  will  reveal  the  womb  of  the  natural  unim- 
pregnated  size  and  shape  and  with  both  horns  of  one  size.  Further 
exploration  may  detect  an  elastic  mass  apart  from  the  womb,  and  in  the 
interior  of  which  may  be  felt  the  characteristic  solid  hody  of  the  fetus. 
If  the  latter  is  still  alive  and  can  be  stimulated  to  move,  the  evidence 
is  even  more  perfect.  The  fetus  may  die  and  be  carried  for  3^ears,  its 
soft  structures  becoming  absorbed  so  as  to  leave  only  the  bones,  or  by 
pressure  it  may  form  a  fistulous  opening-  through  the  abdominal  walls, 
or  less  frequently  through  the  vagina  or  rectum.  In  the  later  cases 
the  best  course  is  to  favor  the  expulsion  of  the  foal  and  to  wash  out 
the  resulting  cavity  with  a  solution  of  carbolic  acid  1  part  to  water  50 
parts.  This  may  be  repeated  dail3\  Where  there  is  no  spontaneous 
opening  it  is  injudicious  to  interfere,  as  the  danger  from  the  retention 
of  the  fetus  is  less  than  that  from  septic  fermentation,  in  the  enormous 
fetal  sack  when  that  has  been  opened  to  the  air. 

MOLES,  OR   AXIDIAN    MONSTERS. 

These  are  evidently  products  of  conception,  in  which  the  impreg- 
nated ovum  has  failed  to  develop  naturally,  and  presents  only  a  cha- 
otic mass  of    skin,  hair,  bones,  muscles,  etc.,  attached  to  the  inner 


158  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

.surface  of  the  womb  by  an  umbilical  cord,  which  is  itself  often  shriv- 
eled and  wasted.  They  arc  usually  accompanied  b}'  a  Avell-developed 
fetus,  so  that  the  mole  may  be  looked  upon  as  a  twin  which  has  under- 
gone arrest  and  vitiation  of  development.  They  are  expelled  by  the 
ordinar}^  process  of  parturition,  and  usually  at  the  same  time  with  the 
normally  de^'eloped  offspring. 

CYSTIC    DISEASE    OF     THE    WALLS    OF   THE    WOMB,    OR     VESICLT.AR    MOLE. 

This  condition  appears  to  be  due  to  hypertrophy  (enlargement)  of 
the  villi  on  the  inner  surface  of  the  Avomb,  which  become  greatly 
increased  in  number  and  hollowed  out  internally  into  a  series  of  cysts, 
or  pouches,  containing  liquid.  Unlike  the  true  mole,  therefore,  they 
appear  to  be  disease  of  the  maternal  structure  of  the  womb  rather 
than  of  the  product  of  conception.  Rodet,  in  a  case  of  this  kind, 
which  had  produced  active  labor  pains,  quieted  the  disorder  with  ano- 
dynes and  secured  a  recovery.  Where  this  is  not  available  attempts 
mu}^  be  made  to  remove  the  mass  with  the  ecraseur  or  otherwise,  fol- 
lowing this  up  with  antiseptic  injections,  as  advised  under  the  last 
heading. 

DROPSY    OF    THE    WOMC. 

This  appears  as  a  result  of  some  disease  of  the  walls  of  the  womb, 
but  has  been  frequeutlj''  observed  as  the  result  of  infection  after  sex- 
ual congress,  and  has,  therefore,  been  confounded  with  pregnancy. 
The  symptoms  are  those  of  pregnancy,  but  without  any  movements  of 
the  fetus  and  without  the  detection  of  an}'  solid  body  in  the  womb 
when  examined  with  the  oiled  hand  in  the  rectum.  At  the  end  of  four 
or  eightmonths  there  arc  signs  of  parturition  or  of  frequent  straining  to 
pass  urine,  and  after  a  time  the  liquid  is  discharged  clear  and  watery, 
or  muddy,  thick,  and  fetid.  The  hand  introduced  into  the  womb  can 
detect  neither  fetus  nor  fetal  membrane.  If  the  neck  of  the  womb 
closes  the  liquid  may  accumulate  a  second  time,  or  even  a  third,  if  no 
means  are  taken  to  disinfect  it  or  to  correct  the  tendency.  The  best 
resort  is  to  remove  any  diseased  product  that  ma}'  bo  found  attached 
to  the  walls  of  the  womb,  and  to  inject  it  daily  with  a  warm  solution 
of  carbolic  acid  2  drams,  chloride  of  zinc  one-half  dram,  water  1  quart. 
A  course  of  bitter  tonics,  gentian  2  drams,  sulphate  of  iron  2  drams, 
daily,  should  be  given,  and  a  nutritious,  easily  digested,  and  slightly 
laxative  diet  allowed. 

DROPSY   OF   THE   AMNION. 

This  differs  from  simple  drops}^  of  the  womb  in  that  the  fluid  collects 
in  the  inner  of  the  two  water  bags  (that  in  which  the  foal  floats)  and 
not  in  the  otherwise  void  cavity  of  the  womb.  This  affection  can  occur 
onl}'  in  the  pregnant  animal,  while  dropsy  of  the  womb  occurs  in  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  159 

unimpregTiated.  The  blood  of  the  pregnant  mare  contains  an  excess 
of  water  and  a  smaller  proportion  of  albumen  and  red  globules,  and 
when  this  is  still  further  aggravated  by  poor  feeling,  and  other  unhygi- 
enic conditions,  there  is  developed  the  tendency  to  liquid  transudation 
from  the  vessels  and  drops3^  As  the  watery  condition  of  the  blood 
increases  with  advancing  pregnancy,  so  dropsy  of  the  amnion  is  a  dis- 
ease of  the  last  four  or  five  months  of  gestation.  The  abdomen  is 
large  and  pendulous,  and  the  swelling  fluctuates  under  pressure,  though 
the  solid  body  of  the  fetus  can  still  be  felt  to  strike  against  the  hand 
pressed  into  the  swelling.  If  the  hand  is  introduced  into  the  vagina 
the  womb  is  found  to  be  tense  and  round,  with  the  projecting  rounded 
neck  effaced,  while  the  hand  in  the  rectum  will  detect  the  rounded 
swollen  mass  of  the  womb  so  firm  and  tense  that  the  body  of  the  fetus 
can  not  be  felt  within  it.  The  mare  moves  weakly  and  unsteadily  on 
her  limbs,  having  difficulty  in  supporting  the  great  weight,  and  in  bad 
cases  there  may  be  loss  of  appetite,  stocking  (dropsy)  of  the  hind  limbs, 
difficult  breathing-,  and  colick}^  pains.  The  tension  may  lead  to  abortion, 
or  a  slow,  laborious  parturition  may  occur  at  the  usual  time. 

Treatment  consists  in  relieving  the  tension  and  accumulation  by 
puncturing  the  fetal  membrane  with  a  canula  and  trochar  introduced 
through  the  neck  of  the  womb  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  trochar  so 
as  to  leave  the  canula  in  situ.  Or  the  membranes  may  be  punctured 
with  the  finger  and  the  excess  of  liquid  allowed  to  escape.  This  B:iay 
bring  on  abortion,  or  the  wound  may  close  and  gestation  continue  to 
the  full  term.  A  course  of  tonics  (gentian  root  2  drams,  sulphate  of 
iron  2  drams,  daily)  will  do  much  to  fortify  the  system  and  counteract 
further  excessive  eflfusion. 

DROrSY    OF   THE    LIMBS,  PERINEUM,  AND   ABDOMEN. 

The  disposition  to  dropsy  often  shows  itself  in  the  hind  and  even  in 
the  fore  limbs,  around  and  beneath  the  vulva  (perineum),  and  beneath 
the  abdomen  and  chest.  The  affected  parts  are  swollen  and  pit  on 
pressure,  but  arc  not  especially  tender,  and  subside  more  or  less  per- 
fectly under  exercise,  hand  rubbing,  and  bandages.  In  obstinate  cases 
rubbing  with  the  following  liniment  may  be  resorted  to:  Compound 
tincture  of  iodine,  2  ounces;  tannic  acid,  one-half  dram;  water,  10 
ounces.     It  does  not  last  over  a  da}-  or  two  after  parturition. 

CRAMPS    OF    THE    HIND    LIMBS. 

The  pressure  of  the  distended  womb  on  the  nerves  and  blood  vessels 
of  the  pelvis,  besides  conducing  to  dropsy,  occasionally  causes  cramps 
of  the  hind  limbs.  The  limb  is  raised  without  flexing  the  joints,  the 
front  of  the  hoof  being  directed  toward  the  ground,  or,  the  spasms 
occurring    intermittently,  the   foot   is   kicked   violently   against  the 


160  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

ground  several  times  in  rapid  succession.  The  muscles  are  felt  to  be 
firm  and  rigid.  The  cramp  may  be  promptl}'  relieved  b}^  active  rub- 
bing, or  bv  walking  the  animal  about,  and  it  does  not  reappear  after 
parturition. 

CONSTirATION. 

This  ma}'  result  from  compression  b}-  the  gravid  womb,  and  is  best 
corrected  by  a  graduated  allowance  of  boiled  flaxseed. 

PARALYSIS. 

The  pressure  on  the  nerves  of  the  pelvis  is  liable  to  cause  paralysis 
of  the  hind  limbs,  or  in  the  mare  of  the  nerve  of  sight.  These  are 
obstinate  until  after  parturition,  when  the}'  recover  spontaneously,  or 
under  a  course  of  nux  vomica  and  (locally)  stimulating  liniments. 

PROLONGED  RETENTIOX  OF  THE  FETUS  (fOAL). 

In  the  mare,  though  far  less  frequently  than  in  the  cow,  parturition 
may  not  be  completed  at  term,  and  the  foal  may  continue  to  be  carried 
in  the  womb  for  a  number  of  months,  to  the  serious  or  even  fatal 
injury  of  the  mare.  Hamon  records  one  case  in  which  the  mare  died 
after  carrying  the  fetus  for  seventeen  months,  and  Caillier  a  similar 
result  after  it  had  been  carried  twenty-two  months.  In  these  cases 
the  fetus  retained  its  natural  form,  but  in  one  reported  by  Gohier,  the 
bones  only  were  left  in  the  womb  amid  a  mass  of  apparently  purulent 
matter. 

Cause. — The  cause  may  be  any  effective  obstruction  to  the  act  of 
parturition,  such  as  lack  of  contractile  power  in  the  womb,  unduly 
strong  (inflammatory)  adhesions  between  the  womb  and  the  fetal  mem- 
branes, wrong  presentation  of  the  fetus,  contracted  pelvis  (from  frac- 
ture or  disease  of  the  bones),  or  disease  and  induration  of  the  neck  of 
the  womb. 

The  mere  prolongation  of  gestation  does  not  necessarily  entail  the 
death  of  the  foal;  hence  the  latter  has  been  born  alive  at  the  four 
hundredth  day.  Even  jvhen  the  foal  has  perished,  putrefaction  does 
not  set  in  unless  the  membranes  (water  bags)  have  been  ruptured  and 
septic  bacteria  have  been  admitted  to  the  interior  of  the  womb.  In 
the  latter  case  a  fetid  decomposition  advances  rapidly,  and  the  mare 
usually  perishes  from  poisoning  with  the  putrid  matters  absorbed. 

At  the  natural  period  of  parturition  preparations  are  apparently 
made  for  that  act.  The  vulva  swells  and  discharges  much  inucus,  the 
udder  enlarges,  the  belly  becomes  more  pendent,  and  the  animal 
strains  more  or  less.  No  progress  is  made,  however;  there  is  not 
even  opening  of  the  neck  of  the  womb,  and  after  a  time  the  symptoms 
subside.  The  marc  usually  refuses  the  male;  yet  there  are  exceptions 
to  this  rule.     If  the  neck  of  the  womb  has  been  opened  and  putrefy- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  161 

ing  changes  have  set  in  in  its  contents,  the  mare  loses  appetite  and 
condition,  pines,  discharges  an  offensive  matter  from  the  generative 
passages,  and  dies  of  inflammation  of  the  womb  and  putrid  infection. 
In  other  cases  there  is  a  slow  wearing  out  of  the  strength,  and  th& 
mare  finally  dies  of  exhaustion. 

The  treatment  is  such  as  Avill  facilitate  the  expulsion  of  the  fetus 
and  its  membranes  and  the  subsequent  washing  out  of  the  womb 
with  disinfectants.  So  long  as  the  mouth  of  the  womb  is  closed  time 
should  be  allowed  for  its  natural  dilatation,  but  if  this  does  not  come 
about  after  a  day  or  two  of  straining,  the  opening  may  be  smeared 
with  extract  of  belladonna,  and  the  oiled  hand,  with  the  fingers  and 
thumb  drpvwn  into  the  form  of  a  cone,  may  be  inserted  by  slow  oscil- 
lating movements  into  the  interior  of  the  womb.  The  water  bags 
may  now  be  ruptured,  an}'  malpresentation  rectified  (see  "Difficult 
parturition''),  and  deliver}^  effected.  After  removal  of  the  mem- 
branes wash  out  the  womb  first  with  tepid  water,  and  then  vfith  o. 
solution  of  2  ounces  of  borax  in  half  a  gallon  of  water. 

This  injection  maj'  have  to  be  repeated  if  a  discharge  sets  in.  The 
same  course  maj^  be  pursued  even  after  prolonged  retention.  If  the 
soft  parts  of  the  fetus  have  been  absorbed  and  the  bones  only  left, 
these  must  be  carefully  sought  for  and  removed,  and  subsequent  daily 
injections  will  be  required  for  some  time.  In  such  cases,  too,  a  course 
of  iron  tonics  (sulphate  of  iron,  2  drams,  daily)  will  be  highly  beneficial 
in  restoring  health  and  vigor. 

ABORTION. 

Abortion  is,  strictly  speaking,  the  expulsion  of  the  impregnated 
ovum  at  any  period  from  the  date  of  impregnation  until  the  foal  can 
survive  out  of  the  womb.  If  the  foal  is  advanced  enough  to  live  it  is 
2)rem.ature  parturitioii,  and  in  the  mare  this  ma}'  occur  as  early  as  the 
tenth  month  (three  hundredth  day). 

The  mare  may  abort  by  reason  of  almost  any  cause  that  very  pro- 
foundly disturbs  the  system.  Hence  very  violent  inflammations  of 
in.portant  internal  organs  (bowels,  kidneys,  bladder,  lungs)  may 
induce  abortion.  Profuse  diarrhea,  whether  occurring  from  the  reck- 
le  ?s  use  of  purgatives,  the  consumption  of  irritants  in  the  food,  or  a 
simple  indigestion,  is  an  effective  cause.  No  less  so  is  acute  indiges- 
tion with  evolution  of  gas  in  the  intestines  (bloating).  The  presence 
of  stone  in  the  kidneys,  ureters,  bladder,  or  urethra  may  induce  sa 
much  sympathetic  disorder  in  the  womb  as  to  induce  abortion.  In 
exceptional  cases  wherein  mares  come  in  heat  during  gestation  service 
by  the  stallion  may  cause  abortion.  Blows  or  pressure  on  the  abdo- 
men, rapid  driving  or  riding  of  the  pregnant  mare,  especially  if  she 
is  soft  and  out  of  condition  from  idleness,  the  brutal  use  of  the  spur 
or  whip,  and  the  jolting  and  straining  of  travel  by  rail  or  boat  are 
14884—03 11 


162  BUKEAU    OF    AIsIMAL    llxDUSTEY. 

prolific  causes.  Bleeding  the  prooruant  marc,  a  painful  surgical  opera- 
tion, and  the  throwing  and  constraint  resorted  to  for  an  operation  are 
other  causes.  Traveling  on  heavy,  muddy  roads,  slips  and  falls  on 
ice,  and  jumping  must  be  added.  The  stimulation  of  the  a))dominal 
organs  by  a  full  drink  of  iced  water  maj^  precipitate  a  miscarriage,  as 
may  exposure  to  a  cold  rainstorm  or  a  ver}^  cold  night  after  a  warm 
day.  Irritant  poisons  that  act  on  the  urinarj'^  or  generative  organs, 
such  as  Spanish  flies,  rue,  savin,  tans3%  cottou-root  bark,  ergot  of  rye 
or  other  grasses,  the  smut  of  maize  and  other  grain,  and  various  fungi 
in  musty  fodder  are  additional  causes.  Frosted  food,  indigestible 
food,  and,  above  all,  green  succulent  vegetables  in  a  frozen  state,  have 
proved  effective  factors,  and  filthj^,  stagnant  water  is  dangerous. 
Low  condition  in  the  dam  and  plethora  have  in  opposite  ways  caused 
abortion,  and  hot,  relaxing  stables  and  lack  of  exercise  strongly  con- 
duce to  it.  The  exhaustion  of  the  sire  by  too  frequent  service,  entail- 
ing debilit}"  of  the  offspring  and  disease  of  the  fetus  or  of  its  envelopes, 
must  be  recognized  as  a  further  cause. 

The  symptoms  vary  mainly  according  as  the  abortion  is  early  or  late 
in  pregnancy.  In  the  first  month  or  two  of  pregnancy  the  mare  may 
miscarry  without  observable  symptoms,  and  the  fact  only  appears  by 
her  coming  in  heat.  If  more  close!}'  observed  a  small  clot  of  blood 
may  be  found  behind  her,  in  ^vhich  a  careful  search  reveals  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  foal.  If  the  occurrence  is  somewhat  later  in  gestation, 
there  will  be  some  general  disturbance,  inappetence,  neighing,  and 
straining,  and  the  small  bod}'  of  the  fetus  is  expelled,  enveloped  in 
its  membranes.  Abortions  during  the  later  stages  of  pregnancy  are 
attended  v^^ith  greater  constitutional  disturbance,  and  the  process 
resembles  normal  parturition,  with  the  aggravation  that  more  effort 
and  straining  is  requisite  to  force  the  fetus  through  the  comparatively 
undilatable  mouth  of  the  womb;  There  is  the  swelling  of  the  vulva, 
with  mucus  or  even  bloody  discharge;  the  abdomen  droops,  the  flanks 
fall  in,  the  udder  fills,  the  mare  looks  at  her  flanks,  paws  with  the  fore 
feet  and  kicks  with  the  hind,  switches  the  tail,  moves  around  uneasily, 
lies  down  and  rises,  strains,  and,  as  in  natural  foaling,  expels  first 
fuucus  and  blood,  then  the  waters,  and  finally  the  fetus.  This  may 
occupy  an  hour  or  two,  or  it  may  be  prolonged  for  a  day  or  more,  the 
sj'mptoms  subsiding  for  a  time,  onl}'  to  reappear  with  renewed  energy. 
If  there  is  malpresentation  of  the  fetus  it  will  hinder  progress  until 
rectified,  as  in  difficult  parturition.  Abortion  may  also  be  followed 
by  the  same  accidents,  as  flooding,  retention  of  the  placenta,  and 
leucorrhea. 

The  most  important  object  in  an  impending  abortion  is  to  recognize 
it  at  as  earlj'  a  stage  as  possible,  so  that  it  may,  if  possible,  be  cut 
short  and  prevented.  Any  general  indefinable  illness  in  a  pregnant 
mare  should  lead  to  a  close  examination  of  the  vulva  as  regards  swell- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  1G3 

ing,  vascularity  of  its  mucous  membrane,  and  profuse  mucus  secre- 
tion, and,  above  all,  any  streak  or  staining  of  blood;  also  the  condition 
of  the  udder,  if  that  is  congested  and  swollen.  Any  such  indication, 
with  colick}-  pains,  straining,  however  little,  and  active  movement  of 
the  fetus  or  entire  absence  of  movement,  are  suggestive  sj-mptoms  and 
should  be  dulj^"  counteracted. 

The  changes  in  the  vulva  and  udder,  with  a  soiled  and  bloody  con- 
dition of  the  tail,  may  suggest  an  abortion  alread}'-  accomplished,  and 
the  examination  with  the  hand  in  the  vagina  ma}^  detect  the  mouth 
of  the  womb  soft  and  dilatable  and  the  interior  of  the  organ  slightly 
filled  with  a  blood}^  liquid. 

Treatment  should  be  preventive  if  possible,  and  would  embrace  the 
avoidance  of  all  causes  mentioned,  and  particularh^  of  such  as  may 
seem  to  be  particularly  operative  in  the  particular  case.  Where  abor- 
tions have  already  occurred  in  a  stud,  the  especial  cause  in  the  mat- 
ter of  food,  water,  exposure  to  injuries,  overwork,  lack  of  exercise, 
etc.,  may  often  be  identified  and  removed.  A  most  important  point 
is  to  avoid  all  causes  of  constipation,  diarrhea,  iadigestion,  bloating, 
violent  purgatives,  diuretics  or  other  potent  medicines,  painful  opera- 
tions, and  slippery  roads,  unless  well  frosted. 

When  abortion  is  imminent  the  mare  should  be  placed  alone  in  a 
roomy,  dark,  quiet  stall,  and  have  the  straining  checked  by  some  seda- 
tive. Laudanum  is  usually  at  hand  and  may  be  given  in  doses  of  1 
or  2  ounces,  according  to  size,  and  repeated  after  two  or  three  hours, 
and  even  dail}^  if  necessary.  Chloroform  or  chloral  hydrate,  3  drams, 
may  be  substituted  if  more  convenient.  These  should  be  given  in  a 
pint  or  quart  of  water,  to  avoid  burning  the  mouth  and  throat.  Or 
Yilmrnxtin  frunifolivin,  1  ounce,  maj-  be  given  and  repeated  if  neces- 
sary to  prevent  straining. 

When  all  measures  fail  and  miscarriage  proceeds,  all  that  can  be 
done  is  to  assist  in  the  removal  of  the  fetus  and  its  membranes,  as  in 
ordinar}^  parturition.  As  in  the  case  of  retention  of  the  fetus,  it  may 
be  necessary  after  deliver}-  to  employ  antiseptic  injections  into  the 
womb  to  counteract  putrid  fermentation.  This,  however,  is  less  requi- 
site in  the  mare  than  in  the  cow,  in  which  the  prevalent  contagious 
al)ortion  must  be  counteracted  by  the  persistent  local  use  of  antiseptics. 
After  abortion  a  careful  h^ygiene  is  demanded,  especiall}^  in  the  matter 
of  pure  air  and  easily  digestible  food.  The  mare  should  not  be  served 
again  for  a  month  or  longer,  and  in  no  case  until  after  all  discharge 
from  the  vulva  has  ceased. 

SYMPTOMS   OF   PARTURITION. 

As  the  period  of  parturition  approaches  the  swelling  of  the  udder 
bespeaks  the  coming  event,  the  engorgement  in  exceptional  cases 
extending  forward  on  the  lower  surface  of  the  abdomen  and  even  into 


164  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  hind  llmUs.  For  about  a  week  a  serous  fluid  oozes  from  the  teat 
and  concretes  as  a  yellow,  wax-like  mass  around  its  orifice.  About 
twenty-four  hours  before  the  birth  this  gives  place  to  a  Avhitish,  milky 
liquid,  which  falls  upon  and  mats  the  hairs  on  the  inner  sides  of  the 
legs.  Another  symptom  is  enlargement  of  the  vulva,  with  redness  of 
its  lining  membrane,  and  the  escape  of  glair}-  mucus.  The  belly 
droops,  the  flanks  fall  in,  and  the  loins  may  even  become  depressed. 
Finally  the  mare  becomes  uneasy,  stops  feeding,  looks  anxious,  whisks 
her  tail,  and  may  lie  down  and  rise  again.  In  man}-  mares  this  is  not 
repeated,  but  the  mare  remains  down;  violent  contractions  of  the 
abdominal  muscles  ensue;  after  two  or  three  pains  the  water  bags 
appear  and  burst,  followed  b}-  the  fore  feet  of  the  foal,  with  the  nose 
between  the  knees,  and  b}-  a  few  more  throes  the  fetus  is  expelled. 
In  other  cases  the  act  is  accomplished  standing.  The  whole  act  may 
not  occupy  more  than  five  or  ten  minutes.  This,  together  with  the 
disposition  of  the  mare  to  avoid  observation,  renders  the  act  one  that 
is  rarely  seen  by  the  attendants. 

The  navel  string,  which  connects  the  foal  to  the  membranes,  is 
ruptured  when  the  fetus  falls  to  the  ground,  or  when  the  mare  rises, 
if  she  has  been  down,  and  the  membranes-are  expelled  a  few  minutes 
later. 

NATURAL   PRESENTATIOX. 

When  there  is  a  single  foal  the  common  and  desirable  presentation 
is  with  the  fore  feet  first,  the  nose  between  the  knees,  and  with  the 
front  of  the  hoofs  and  knees  and  the  forehead  directed  upward  toward 
the  anus,  tail,  and  croup  (Plate  X,  fig.  1).  In  this  way  the  natural 
curvature  of  the  body  of  the  fetus  corresponds  to  the  curve  of  the 
womb  and  genital  passages,  and  particularh'  of  the  bon}-  pelvis,  and 
the  foal  passes  with  much  greater  ease  than  if  it  were  placed  with  its 
back  downward  toward  the  udder.  When  there  is  a  twin  birth  the 
second  foal  usually  comes  with  its  hind  feet  first,  and  the  backs  of  the 
legs,  the  points  of  the  hocks,  and  the  tail  and  croup  are  turned 
upward  toward  the  anus  and  tail  of  the  mare  (Plate  X,  fig.  2).  In 
this  way,  even  with  a  posterior  presentation,  the  curvature  of  the 
body  of  the  foal  still  corresponds  to  that  of  the  passages,  and  its 
expulsion  may  be  quite  as  easy  as  in  anterior  presentation.  Any 
presentation  aside  from  these  two  maj-  be  said  to  be  abnormal  and 
will  be  considered  under  "  Difficult  parturition.'' 

DIFFICULT   PARTURITION. 

With  natural  presentation  this  is  a  rare  occurrence.  The  great 
length  of  the  fore  limbs  and  face  entail,  in  the  anterior  i:)resentation, 
the  formation  of  a  long  cone,  which  dilates  and  glides  through  the 
passages  with  comparative  ease.     Even  Avith  the  hind  feet  first  a  simi- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  165 

lar  conical  form  is  presented,  and  the  process  is  rendered  eas}-^  and 
quick.  DijEficulty  and  danger  arise  mainlj-  from  the  act  being-  brought 
on  prematurely  before  the  passages  are  sufficiently  dilated,  from  nar- 
rowing of  the  pelvic  bones  or  other  mechanical  obstruction  in  the  pas- 
sages, from  monstrous  distortions  or  duplications  in  the  fetus,  or  from 
the  tui'ning  back  of  one  of  the  members  so  that  the  elongated  conical 
or  wedge-shaped  outline  is  done  away  with.  But  prompt  as  is  the 
normal  parturition  in  the  mare,  difficult  and  delayed  parturitions  are 
surrounded  by  special  dangers  and  require  unusual  precautions  and 
skill.  From  the  proclivit}-  of  the  mare  to  unhealth}'-  inflammations  of 
the  peritoneum  and  other  abdominal  organs?,  penetrating-  wounds  of 
the  womb  or  vagina  are  liable  to  prove  fatal.  The  contractions  of  the 
womb  and  abdominal  walls  are  so  powerful  as  to  exhaust  and  benumb 
the  arm  of  the  assistant,  and  to  endanger  penetrating  wounds  of  the 
genital  organs.  By  reason  of  the  looser  connection  of  the  fetal  mem- 
branes with  the  womb,  as  compared  with  those  of  ruminants,  the 
violent  throes  early  detach  these  membranes  throughout  their  whole 
extent,  and  the  foal,  being  thus  separated  from  the  mother  and  thrown 
on  its  own  resources,  dies  at  an  early  stage  of  any  protracted  parturi- 
tion. The  foal  rarely  survives  four  hours  after  the  onset  of  parturient 
throes.  From  the  great  length  of  the  limbs  and  neck  of  the  foal  it  is 
extremel}-  difficult  to  secure  and  bring  up  limb  or  head  which  has  been 
turned  back  when  it  should  have  been  presented.  When  assistance 
must  bo  rendered  the  operator  should  don  a  thick  woolen  undershirt 
with  the  sleeves  cut  out  at  the  shoulders.  This  protects  the  bod}'-  and 
leaves  the  whole  arm  free  for  manipulation.  Before  inserting  the  arm 
it  should  be  smeared  with  lard.  This  protects  the  skin  against  septic 
infection,  and  favors  the  introduction  of  the  hand  and  arm.  The  hand 
sliould  be  inserted  with  the  thumb  and  fingers  drawn  together  like  a 
cone.  Whether  standing  or  lying,  the  mare  should  be  turned  with 
head  dov/nhill  and  hind  parts  raised  as  much  as  possible.  The  con- 
tents of  the  abdomen  gravitating  forward  leave  much  more  room  for 
manipulation.  Whatever  part  of  the  foal  is  presented  (head,  foot) 
should  be  secured  with  a  cord  and  running  noose  before  it  is  pushed 
back  to  search  for  the  othCr  missing  parts.  Even  if  a  missing  part  is 
reached  no  attempt  should  be  made  to  bring  it  up  during  a  labor  pain. 
Pinching  the  back  will  sometimes  check  the  pains  and  allow  the  opera- 
tor to  secure  and  bring  up  the  missing  member.  In  intractable  cases 
a  large  dose  of  chloral  hydrate  (1  ounce  in  a  quart  of  water)  or  the 
inhalation  of  chloroform  and  air  (equal  proportions)  to  insensibility 
ma}'  secure  a  respite,  during  which  the  missing  members  may  be 
i-eplaced.  If  the  waters  have  ])een  discharged  and  the  mucus  dried  up, 
the  genital  passages  and  bod}-  of  the  fetus  should  be  lubricated  with 
lard  or  oil  before  an}-  attempt  at  extraction  is  made.  When  the  miss- 
ing member  has  been  brought  up  into  position,  and  presentation  has 


166  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

been  rendered  natural,  traction  on  the  fetus  must  be  made  only  during 
a  labor  pain.  If  a  marc  is  inclined  to  kick,  it  may  be  necessary  to 
apply  hobbles  to  protect  the  operator. 

PREMATURE    LABOR   PAINS. 

These  may  be  brought  on  b}-  any  violent  exertion,  use  under  the 
saddle,  or  in  heavy  draft,  or  in  rapid  paces,  or  in  travel  by  rail  or  sea, 
blows,  kicks,  crushing  by  other  animals  in  a  doorwaj^  or  gate.  Excess- 
ive action  of  purgative  or  diuretic  agents,  or  of  agents  that  irritate  the 
bowels  or  kidneys,  like  arsenic,  paris  green,  all  caustic  salts  and  acids, 
and  acrid  and  narcotico-acrid  vegetables,  is  equally  injurious.  Finall}", 
the  ingestion  of  agents  that  stimulate  the  action  of  the  gvavid  v/orab 
(ergot  of  rye  or  of  other  grasses,  smut,  various  fungi  of  fodders,  rue, 
savin,  cotton  root,  etc.)  may  bring  on  labor  pains  prematurely. 

Besides  the  knowledge  that  parturition  is  not  yet  due.  there  will  be 
less  enlargement,  redness,  and  swelling  of  the  vulva,  less  mucous  dis- 
charge, less  filling  of  the  udder,  and  less  appearances  of  wax  and  prob- 
ably none  of  milk  from  the  ends  of  the  teats.  The  oiled  hand  intro- 
duced into  the  vulva  will  not  enter  with  the  ease  usual  at  full  term, 
and  the  neck  of  .the  womb  will  be  felt  not  only  closed,  but  with  its 
projecting  papilla,  through  which  it  is  perforated,  not  yet  flattened 
down  and  effaced,  as  at  full  term.  The  symptom-s  are  indeed  those  of 
threatened  abortion,  but  at  such  an  advanced  stage  of  gestation  as  is 
compatible  with  the  survival  of  the  offspring. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  consists  in  the  separation  of  the  maro 
from  all  other  animals  in  a  quiet,  dark,  secluded  place,  and  the  free 
use  of  antispasmodics  and  anodj-nes.  Opium  in  dram  doses  ever}^  two 
hours,  or  laudanum  in  oiuice  doses  at  similar  intervals,  will  often  suf- 
fice. When  the  more  urgent  s3'mptoms  have  subsided  these  doses  may 
be  repeated  thrice  a  day  till  all  excitement  passes  off  or  until  the  pas- 
sages have  become  relaxed  and  prepared  for  parturition.  Yihurnum 
yrunr folium.^  in  ounce  doses,  may  be  added  if  necessary.  Should  par- 
turition become  inevitable,  it  may  be  favored  and  way  necessary 
assistance  furnished. 

DIFFICULT   PARTURITION    FROM    NARROAV    PELVIS. 

A  disproportion  between  the  fetus  got  by  a  largo  stallion  and  the 
pelvis  of  a  small  dam  is  a  serious  obstacle  to  parturition,  sometimes 
seen  in  the  mare.  This  is  not  the  rule,  however,  as  the  foal  up  to 
birth  usually  accommodates  itself  to  the  size  of  the  dam,  as  illustrated 
in  the  successful  crossing  of  Percheron  stallions  on  mustjxng  mares. 
If  the  disproportion  is  too  great  the  oul}'^  resort  is  embryotomy. 

FRACTURED   HIP    BONES. 

More  commonly  the  obstruction  comes  from  distortion  and  narrow- 
ing of  the  pelvis  as  the  result  of  fractures.      (Plate  XV,  fig.   2.) 


PI.ATK  X. 


afterVlemiu^ 

Verlebro   SncraJ  prcscnlation 


Luinho  Sacral  presentation 


M  O  RM  AT  .   TJ  R  E  S  E  NTAT IONS 


.IUSBIEN&  cor 


PL.ATi:    XII. 


'frtmsvofse  p/vsvitUi/itm  -f/)/'i 


Slcni(>-f(/)f/t)Niintil />rps('ii/n/inii  -//cfu/  tind  7'rct,  crigagorL. 


atUT  Fleiiuii'-. 


A  15  N  C)  n  M  A  I .     P  f  <  !•:  S  V.  N   V  \\  .  (  > :,  S  . 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  167 

Fractures  at  anj-  point  of  the  lateral  wall  or  floor  of  the  pelvis  are 
repaired  svith  the  formation  of  an  extensive  bony  deposit  bulging 
into  the  passage  of  the  pelvis.  The  displacement  of  the  ends  of'' the 
broken  bone  is  another  cause  of  constriction  and  between  the  two  con- 
ditions the  passage  of  the  fetus  may  be  rendered  impossible  w^ithout 
embryotomy.  Fracture  of  the  sacrum  (the  continuation  of  the  back- 
bone forming  the  croup)  leads  to  the  depression  of  the  posterior  part 
of  that  bone  in  the  roof  of  the  pelvis  and  the  narrowing  of  the  pas- 
sage from  above  downward  by  a  bony  ridge  presenting  its  sharp  edge 
forward. 

In  all  cases  in  which  there  has  been  injury  to  the  bones  of  the  pelvis 
the  obvious  precaution  is  to  withhold  the  mare  from  breeding  and  to 
use  her  for  work  only. 

If  a  mare  with  a  pelvis  thus  narrowed  has  got  in  foal  inadvertently, 
abortion  may  be  induced  in  the  early  months  of  gestation  by  slowly 
introducing  the  oiled  finger  through  the  neck  of  the  womb  and  follow- 
ing this  by  the  other  fingers  until  the  whole  hand  has  been  introduced. 
Then  the  water  bags  may  be  broken,  and  with  the  escape  of  the  liquid 
the  womb  will  contract  on  the  solid  fetus  and  labor  pains  will  ensue. 
The  fetus  being  small  will  pass  easily. 

TLTIORS   IN   THE    VAGINA   AND    PELVIS. 

Tumors  of  various  kinds  may  form  in  the  vagina  or  elsewhere 
within  the  pelvis,  and  v.hen  large  enough  will  obstruct  or  prevent  the 
passage  of  the  fetus.  Gray  mares,  which  are  so  subject  to  black  pig- 
ment tumors  {melanosis)  on  the  tail,  anus,  and  vulva,  are  the  most 
likely  to  suffer  from  this.  Still  more  rarely  the  wall  of  the  vagina 
becomes  relaxed,  and  being  pressed  by  a  mass  of  intestines  will  pro- 
trude through  the  lips  of  the  vulva  as  a  hernial  sac,  containing  a  part 
of  the  bowels.  Where  a  tumor  is  small  it  may  only  retard  and  not 
absolutely  prevent  parturition.  A  hernial  protrusion  of  the  wall  of 
the  vagina  may  be  pressed  back  and  emptied,  so  that  the  body  of  the 
fetus  engaging  in  the  passage  may  find  no  further  obstacle.  When 
a  tumor  is  too  large  to  allow  delivery  the  only  resort  is  to  remove  it, 
but  before  proceeding  it  must  be  clearly  made  out  that  the  obstruc- 
tion is  a  mass  of  diseased  tissue,  and  not  a  sac  containing  intestines. 
If  the  tumor  hangs  by  a  neck  it  can  usually  be  most  safely  removed 
by  the  ecraseur,  the  chain  being  passed  around  the  pedicel  and  gradu- 
ally tightened  until  that  is  torn  through. 

HERNIA    OF   THE    WOMB. 

The  rupture  of  the  musculo-fibrous  floor  of  the  belly  and  the  escape 
of  the  gravid  womb  into  a  sac  formed  by  the  peritoneum  and  skin 
hanging  toward  the  ground,  is  described  by  all  veterinary  obstetri- 
cians, yet  it  is  very  rarely  seen  in  the  mare".     The  form  of  the  fetus 


168  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

can  bo  folt  tnrough  the  walls  of  the  sao,  so  that  it  is  easy  to  recognize 
the  condition.  Its  cause  is  usuall}-  external  violence,  though  it  may 
start  from  an  umbilical  hernia.  When  the  period  of  parturition 
arrives,  the  first  elTort  should  be  to  return  the  fetus  within  the  proper 
abdominal  cavity,  and  this  can  sometimes  be  accomplished  with  the 
aid  of  a  stout  blanket  gradually  tightened  around  the  bell}'.  This 
failing,  the  mare  may  be  placed  on  her  side  or  back  and  gravitation 
brought  to  the  aid  of  manipulation  in  securing  the  return.  Even 
after  the  hernia  has  been  reduced  the  relaxed  state  of  the  womb  and 
abdominal  walls  may  serve  to  hinder  parturition,  in  which  case  the 
oiled  hand  must  be  introduced  through  the  vagina,  the  fetus  brought 
into  position,  and  traction  coincident  with  the  labor  pains  employed 
to  secure  delivery. 

TWISTING    OF    THE    NP:CK    OF   THE    WOMB. 

This  condition- is  very  uncommon  in  the  mare,  though  occasionally 
seen  in  the  cow,  owing  to  the  greater  laxity  of  the  broad  ligaments  of 
the  womb  in  that  animal.  It  consists  in  a  revolution  of  the  womb  on 
its  own  axis,  so  that  its  right  or  left  side  will  be  turned  upward 
(quarter  revolution),  or  the  lower  surface  may  be  turned  upward  and 
the  upper  surface  downward  (half  revolution).  The  effect  is  to  throw 
the  narrow  neck  of  the  womb  into  a  series  of  spiral  folds,  turning  in 
the  direction  in  which  the  womb  has  revolved,  closing  the  neck  and 
rendering  distention  and  dilatation  impossible. 

The  period  and  pains  of  parturition  arrive,  but  in  spite  of  con- 
tinued efforts  no  progress  is  made,  neither  waterbags  nor  liquids 
appearing.  The  oiled  hand  introduced  into  the  closed  neck  of  the 
womb  will  readily  detect  the  spiral  direction  of  the  folds  on  its  inner 
surface. 

The  method  of  relief  which  1  have  successfull}'  adopted  in  the  cow 
maj"  be  equall}'  happ\'  in  the  mare.  The  dam  is  placed  (with  her 
head  uphill)  on  her  right  side  if  the  upper  folds  of  the  spiral  turn 
toward  the  right,  and  on  her  left  side  if  they  turn  toward  the  left, 
and  the  oiled  hand  is  introduced  through  the  neck  of  the  womb  and  a 
limb  or  other  part  of  the  body  of  the  fetus  is  seized  and  pressed 
against  the  wall  of  the  womb,  while  two  or  three  assistants  turn  the 
animal  over  on  her  back  toward  the  other  side.  The  object  is  to  keep 
the  womb  stationary  while  the  animal  is  rolling.  If  success  attends 
the  effort,  the  constriction  around  the  arm  is  suddenly  relaxed,  the 
spiral  folds  are  effaced,  and  the  waterbags  and  fetus  press  forward 
into  the  passage.  If  the  first  attempt  does  not  succeed  it  may  be 
repeated  again  and  again  until  success  crow^ns  the  effort.  Among  my 
occasional  causes  of  failure  have  been  the  prior  death  and  decompo- 
sition of  the  fetus,  with  the  extrication  of  gas  and  overdistention  of 
the  womb^  and  the  supervention  of  intiammation  and  inflammatory 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  169 

exudation  around  the  neck  of  the  womb,  which  hinders  untwisting. 
The  first  of  these  conditions  occurs  early  in  the  horse  from  the  detach- 
ment of  the  fetal  membranes  from  the  wall  of  the  womb,  and  as  the 
mare  is  more  subject  to  fatal  peritonitis  than  the  cow,  it  may  be  con- 
cluded that  both  these  sources  of  failure  are  more  probable  in  the 
equine  subject. 

When  the  case  is  intractable,  though  the  hand  may  be  easily  intro- 
duced, the  instrument  shown  in  Plate  IX,  fig.  T,  may  be  used. 
Each  hole  at  the  small  end  of  the  instrument  has  passed  through  it  a 
stout  cord  with  a  running  noose,  to  be  passed  around  two  feet  or 
other  portion  of  the  fetus  which  it  may  be  possible  to  reach.  The 
cords  are  then  drawn  tight  and  fixed  around  the  handle  of  the  instru- 
ment, then  by  using  the  cross-handle  as  a  lever  the  fetus  and  womb 
ma}' be  rotated  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  causing  the  obstruction. 
During  this  process  the  hand  must  be  introduced  to  feel  when  the 
tAvist  has  been  undone.  This  method  may  be  supplemented,  if  neces- 
sary, by  rolling  the  mare  as  described  above. 

EFFUSION    OF   BLOOD   IN    THE    VAGINAL   WALLS. 

This  is  common  as  a  result  of  difficult  parturition,  but  it  may  occur 
from  local  injury  before  that  act,  and  may  seriously  interfere  with  it. 
This  condition  is  easily  re(!Ognized .  by  the  soft,  doughy  swelling  so 
characteristic  of  blood  clots,  and  by  the  dark-red  color  of  the  mucous 
membrane.  I  have  laid  open  such  swellings  with  the  knife  as  late  as 
ten  da3'S  before  parturition,  evacuated  the  clots,  and  dressed  the  wound 
dail}^  with  an  astringent  lotion  (sulphate  of  zinc  1  dram,  carbolic  acid 
1  dram,  water  1  quart).  A  similar  resort  might  be  had,  if  necessary, 
during  parturition. 

CALCULUS    (stone)    AND    TUMOR   IN   THE    BLADDER. 

The  pressure  upon  the  bladder  containing  a  stone  or  a  tumor  may 
prove  so  painful  that  the  mare  will  voluntarily  suppress  the  labor 
pains.  Examination  of  the  bladder  with  the  finger  introduced  through 
the  urethra  will  detect  the  offending  agent.  A  stone  should  be 
extracted  with  forceps  (see  "Lithotomy").  The  large  papillary 
tumors  which  I  have  met  with  in  the  mare's  bladder  have  been  inva- 
riably delicate  in  texture  and  could  be  removed  piecemeal  by  forceps. 
Foi'tuuatel}^,  mares  affected  in  this  way  rarely  breed. 

IMPACTION    OF    TI?E    RECTUM   WITH    FECES. 

In  some  animals,  with  more  or  less  paralysis  or  weakness  of  the  tail 
and  rectum,  the  rectum  may  become  so  impacted  with  solid  feces  that 
the  mare  is  unable  to  discharge  them,  and  the  accumulation  both  by 
reason  of  the  mechanical  obstruction  and  the  pain  caused  b}^  pressure 


170  BUKIiAU    OF    ANIMAL    IXDUSTKY. 

upon  it  will  impel  the  animal  to  cut  .short  all  labor  pains.  The 
rounded  swellincr  surrounding  the  anus  will  at  once  suggest  the  con- 
dition, when  the  obstruction  may  be  removed  by  the  well-oiled  or 
well- soaped  hand. 

SPASM    OF   THE    NECK    OF   THE    WOMB. 

This  occurs  in  the  mare  of  specially  excitable  temperament,  or  under 
particular  causes  of  irritation,  local  or  general.  Labor  pains,  though 
continuing  for  some  time,  produce  no  dilatation  of  the  neek  of  the 
womb,  which  will  be  found  tirmly  closed  so  as  to  admit  but  one  or 
two  fingers,  and  this,  although  the  projection  at  the  mouth  of  the 
womb  may  have  been  entirely  effaced,  so  that  a  simple  round  opening 
is  left,  with  rigid  margins. 

Treatment. — The  simplest  treatment  consists  in  smearing  this  part 
with  solid  extract  of  belladonna,  and  after  an  interval  inserting  the 
hand  w^ith  fingers  and  thumb  drawn  into  the  form  of  a  cone,  rupturing 
the  membranes  and  bringing  the  fetus  into  position  for  extraction,  as 
advised  under  "Prolonged  retention  of  the  fetus."  Another  mode  is 
to  insert  through  the  neck  of  the  womb  an  ovoid  caoutchouc  bag, 
empty,  and  furnished  with  an  elastic  tube  12  feet  long.  Carry  the 
free  end  of  this  tube  upward  to  a  height  of  8,  10,  or  12  feet,  insert  a 
filler  into  it,  and  proceed  to  distend  the  bag  with  tepid  or  warm  water. 

FIBKOUS   BANDS   CONSTllICTING    OR   CROSSING    THE    NECK    OF   THE    WOMB. 

These,  occurring  as  the  result  of  disease,  have  been  several  times 
observed  in  the  mare.  They  may  exist  in  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen 
and  compress  and  obstruct  the  neck  of  the  w^omb,  or  they  may  extend 
from  side  to  side  of  the  vagina  across  and  just  behind  the  neck  of  the 
womb.  In  the  latter  position  they  may  be  felt  and  quickly  remedied 
by  cutting  them  across.  In  the  abdomen  they  can  only  be  reached  by 
incision,  and  two  alternatives  are  presented:  (1)  To  perform  embry- 
otomy and  extract  the  fetus  piecemeal  and  (2)  to  make  an  incision 
into  the  abdomen  and  extract  by  the  Cesarean  operation,  or  simply  to 
cut  the  constricting  band  and  attempt  delivery  b^-  the  usual  channeL 

FIBROUS   CONSTRICTION    OF   VAGINA   OR   VULVA. 

This  is  probably  always  the  result  of  direct  mechanical  injury  and 
the  formation  of  rigid  cicatrices  which  fail  to  dilate  with  the  remainder 
of  the  passages  at  the  approach  of  parturition.  The  presentation  of 
the  fetus  in  the  natural  way  and  the  occurrence  of  successive  and  active 
labor  pains  without  any  favorable  result  will  direct  attention  to  the 
rigid  and  enyielding  cicatrices  which  may  be  incised  at  one,  two,  or 
more  points  to  a  depth  of  half  an  inch  or  more,  after  ^vhich  tl  atural 
expulsive  efforts  wdll  usually  prove  effective.     The  resulting     ounds 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  I7l 

may  be  washed  f  requentl}^  with  a  solution  of  1  part  of  carbolic  acid  to 
50  parts  of  water,  or  of  1  part  of  mercuric  chloride  to  1,000  parts  of 
water. 

FETUS    ADHERENT   TO    THE    WALLS    OF   THE    WOMB. 

In  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  cavity  of  the 
womb  and  implicating  the  fetal  membranes,  the  resulting  embrj'onic 
tissue  sometimes  establishes  a  medium  of  direct  continuit}"  between 
the  womb  and  fetal  membranes;  the  blood  vessels  of  the  one  commu- 
nicate freely  with  those  of  the  other  and  the  fibers  of  the  one  are  pro- 
longed into  the  other.  This  causes  retention  of  the  membranes  after 
birth,  and  a  special  risk  of  bleeding-  from  the  womb,  and  of  septic 
poisoning.  In  exceptional  cases  the  adhesion  is  more  extensive  and 
binds  a  portion  of  the  body  of  the  foal  firmly  to  the  womb.  In  such 
cases  it  has  repeatedly  been  found  impossible  to  extract  the  foal  until 
such  adhesions  were  broken  down.  If  they  can  be  reached  with  the 
hand  and  recognized  they  may  be  torn  through  with  the  fingers  or 
with  a  blunt  hook,  after  which  delivery  may  be  attempted  with  hope 
of  success. 

EXCESSIVE    SIZE    OF    THE    FETUS. 

It  would  seem  that  a  small  mare  may  usually  be  safely  bred  to  a 
large  stallion,  yet  this  is  not  always  the  case,  and  when  the  small  size 
is  an  individual  rather  than  a  racial  characteristic  or  the  result  of  being 
very  j^oung,  the  rule  can  not  be  expected  to  hold.  There  is  alwa3\s 
great  danger  in  breeding  the  young,  small,  and  undeveloped  female, 
and  the  dwarfed  representative  of  a  larger  breed,  as  the  offspring  tend 
to  partake  of  the  large  race  characteristics  and  to  show  them  even 
prior  to  birth.  When  impregnation  has  occurred  in  the  veiy  young 
or  in  the  dwarfed  female,  there  are  two  alternatives — to  induce  abor- 
tion or  to  wait  until  there  are  attempts  at  parturition  and  to  extract 
by  cmbryotoni}^  if  impracticable  otherwise. 

CONSTRICTION    OF    A    MEMBER   BY    THE    NAVEL    STRING. 

In  man  and  animals  alike  the  winding  of  the  umbilical  cord  round 
a  member  of  the  fetus  sometimes  leads  to  the  amputation  of  the  latter. 
It  is  also  known  to  get  wound  around  the  neck  or  a  limb  at  birth,  but 
in  the  mare  this  does  not  seriously  impede  parturition,  as  the  loosely 
attached  membranes  are  easily  separated  from  the  womb  and  no 
strangulation  or  retarding  occurs.  The  foal  may,  however,  die  from 
the  cessation  of  the  placental  circulation  unless  it  is  speedil}^  delivered. 

WATER  IN  THE  HEAD  (HYDROCEPHALUS)  OF  THE  FOAL. 

This  consists  in  the  excessive  accumulation  of  liquid  in  the  ventricles 
of  the  brain  so  that  the  cranial  cavity  is  enlarged  and  constitutes  a 


172  BUREAU    OF    ANKvIAL    INDU6TKY. 

great  projecting  rounded  mass  occup3'ing  the  spare  from  the  eyes 
upward.  (See  Plate  XV,  fig.  3.)  With  an  anterior  presentation 
(fore  feet  and  nose)  this  presents  an  insuperable  obstacle  to  progress, 
as  the  diseased  cranium  is  too  large  to  enter  the  pelvis  at  the  same 
time  with  the  forearms.  With  a  posterior  presentation  (hind  feet)  all 
goes  well  until  th.e  body  and  shoulders  have  passed  out,  when  progress 
is  suddenly  arrested  by  the  great  ])ulk  of  the  head.  In  the  first  case, 
the  oiled  hand  introduced  along  the  face  detects  the  enormous  size  of 
the  head,  which  maj^  be  diminished  by  puncturing  it  with  a  knife  or 
trochar  and  cannula  in  the  median  line,  evacuating  the  water  and  press- 
ing in  the  thin  bony  walls.  With  a  posterior  presentation,  the  same 
course  must  be  followed;  the  hand  passed  along  the  neck  will  detect 
the  cranial  swelling,  which  may  be  punctured  with  a  knife  or  trochar. 
Oftentimes  with  an  anterior  presentation  the  great  size  of  the  head 
leads  to  its  displacement  backward  and  thus  the  forelimbs  alone  engage 
in  the  passages.  Here  the  first  object  is  to  seek  and  bring  up  the  miss- 
ing head,  and  then  puncture  it  as  above  suggested. 

DROPSY    OF    THE    ABDOMEN    IX    THE    FOAL,  OR   ASCITES. 

The  accumulation  of  li(|uid  in  the  abdominal  cavity  of  the  fetus  is 
less  frequent,  but  when  present  it  may  arrest  parturition  as  completely 
as  will  hydrocephalus.  "With  an  anterior  presentation  the  foal  ma}^ 
pass  as  far  as  the  shoulders,  but  behind  this  all  cfi'orts  fail  to  secure  a 
further  advance.  With  a  posterior  presentation  the  hind  legs  as  far 
as  the  thighs  may  be  expelled,  but  at  this  point  all  progress  ceases. 
In  either  case  the  oiled  hand,  passed  inward  by  thii  side  of  the  foal,  will 
detect  the  enormous  distention  of  the  abdomen  and  its  soft,  fluctuating 
contents.  The  onh^  course  is  to  puncture  the  cavity  and  evacuate  the 
liquid.  With  the  anterior  presentation  this  may  be  done  with  a  long 
trochar  and  cannula,  introduced  through  the  chest  and  diaphragm;  or 
with  a  knife  an  incision  may  be  made  between  the  first  two  ribs  and 
the  lungs  and  heart  cut  or  torn  out,  when  the  diaphragm  will  be  felt 
projecting  strongly  forward,  and  ma}''  be  easily'  punctured.  Should 
there  not  be  room  to  introduce  the  hand  through  the  chest,  the  oiled 
hand  may  be  passed  along  beneath  the  breast  bone  and  the  abdomen 
punctured.  With  a  posterior  presentation  the  abdomen  must  be  punc- 
tured in  the  same  wa}^,  the  hand,  armed  with  a  knife  protected  in  its 
palm,  being  passed  along  the  side  of  the  flank  or  between  the  hind 
limbs.  It  should  be  added  that  moderate  dropsy  of  the  abdomen  is 
not  incompatible  with  natural  delivery,  the  liquid  being  at  first  crowded 
back  into  the  portion  of  the  belly  still  engaged  in  the  wom}>,  and  pass- 
ing slowly  from  that  into  the  advanced  portion  as  soon  as  that  has 
cleared  the  narrow  passage  of  the  pelvis  and  passed  out  where  it  can 
expand. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOR!^.  173 

GENERAL   DROPSY   OF   THE    FETUS. 

In  this  case  the  tissues  generally  are  distended  with  liquid,  and  the 
skin  is  found  at  all  points  tense  and  rounded,  and  pitting  on  pressure 
with  the  fingers.  In  some  such  cases  delivery  may  be  effected  after 
the  skin  has  been  punctured  at  narrow  intervals  to  allow  the  escape 
of  the  fluid  and  then  liberally  smeared  with  fresh  lard.  More  com- 
nionh',  however,  it  can  not  be  reached  at  all  points  to  be  so  punctured 
nor  sutficientl}^  reduced  to  be  extracted  whole,  and  resort  must  be  had 
to  embryotomy. 

SWELLING    OF    THE    FETUS    WITH    GAS,    OR    EMPHYSEMA. 

This  has  been  described  as  occurring  in  a  living  fetus,  but  I  have 
onl}^  met  with  it  in  the  dead  and  decomposing  foal,  after  futile  efforts 
have  been  made  for  several  days  to  effect  deliveiy.  These  cases  are 
veiy  difficult  ones,  as  the  foal  is  inflated  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is 
impossible  to  advance  it  into  the  passages,  and  the  skin  of  the  fetus 
and  the  walls  of  the  womb  and  vagina  have  become  so  dry  that  it  is 
impracticable  to  cause  the  one  to  glide  on  the  other.  The  hair  comes 
off  any  part  that  may  be  seized,  and  the  case  is  rendered  the  more 
offensive  and  dangerous  by  the  very  fetid  liquids  and  gases.  The  only 
resort  is  embryotomy,  b}^  which  1  have  succeeded  in  saving  a  valuable 
mare  that  had  carried  a  colt  in  this  condition  for  four  da3"s. 

CONTRACTIONS    OF    MUSCLES. 

The  foal  is  not  aiwa3\s  developed  symmetricalh^,  but  certain  groups 
of  uniscles  are  liable  to  remain  short  or  to  shorten  because  of  persist- 
ent spasmodic  contraction,  so  that  even  the  bones  become  distorted  and 
twisted.  This  is  most  common  in  the  neck.  The  bones  of  this  part 
and  even  of  the  face  are  drawn  to  one  side  and  shortened,  the  head 
being  held  firmh*  to  the  flank  and  the  jaws  being  twisted  to  the  right 
or  left.  In  other  cases  the  flexor  muscles  of  the  fore  limbs  are  con- 
tracted so  that  these  members  are  strongly  bent  at  the  knee.  In 
neither  of  these  cases  can  the  distorted  part  be  extended  and  straight- 
ened, so  that  body  or  limbs  must  necessarily  present  double,  and 
natural  delivery  is  rendered  impossible.  The  bent  neck  may  some- 
times ))e  straightened  after  the  muscles  have  been  cut  on  the  side  to 
which  it  is  turned,  and  the  bent  limbs  after  the  tendons  on  the  back  of 
the  shank  bone  have  been  cut  across.  Failing  to  accomplish  this,  the 
next  resort  is  embr3"otom3^ 

TUMORS  OF  THE  FETUS,  OR  INCLOSED  OVUM. 

Tumors  or  diseased  growths  may  form  on  any  part  of  the  foal, 
internal  or  external,  and  by  their  size  impede  or  hinder  parturition. 


174  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

In  some  cases  Avhat  appears  as  a  tumor  is  an  impiisoned  and  undevel- 
oped ovum,  which  has  grafted  itself  on  the  fetus.  These  are  usually 
sacculated  and  may  contain  skin,  hair,  muscle,  bone,  and  other  natural 
tissues.  The  only  course  to  be  pursued  in  such  cases  is  to  excise  the 
tumor,  or,  if  this  is  not  feasible,  to  perform  embryotomy. 

MONSTKOSITIES. 

Monstrosity  in  the  foal  is  an  occasional  cause  of  difficult  parturition, 
especially  such  monsters  as  show  excesshe  development  of  some  part 
of  the  bod}',  a  displacement  or  distortion  of  parts,  or  a  redundancy"  of 
parts,  as  in  double  monsters.     Monsters  may  be  divided  into — 

(1)  Monsters  with  absence  of  parts — absence  of  head,  limb,  or  other 
organ. 

(2)  Monsters  with  some  part  abnormal!}-  small — dwarfed  head,  liml>, 
trunk,  etc. 

(3)  Monsters  through  unnatural  division  of  parts — cleft  head,  trunk, 
limbs,  etc. 

{■i)  Monsters  through  absence  of  natural  divisions — absence  of 
mouth,  nose,  eyes,  anus,  confluent  digits,  etc. 

(5)  Monsters  through  fusion  of  parts — one  central  eye,  one  nasal 
opening,  etc. 

(G)  Monsters  through  abnormal  position  or  form  of  parts — curved 
spine,  face,  limb,  etc. 

(7)  Monsters  through  excess  of  formation — enormous  head,  super- 
numerary digits,  etc. 

(S)  Monsters  through  imperfect  differentiation  of  sexual  organs — 
hermaphrodites. 

(0)  Double  monsters — double-headed,  double-bodied,  extra  limbs, 
etc. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  monstrosities  appear  to  bo  very  varied. 
Some  monstrosities,  like  extra  digits,  absence  of  horns  or  tail,  etc., 
run  in  families  and  are  produced  almost  as  certainly  as  color  or  form. 
Others  arc  associated  with  too  close  breeding,  the  powers  of  sj'mmet- 
rical  development  being  interfered  with,  just  as  in  other  cases  a  sexual 
incompatibility  is  developed,  near  relatives  failing  to  breed  with  each 
other.  Mere  arrest  of  development  of  a  part  ma}^  arise  from  acci- 
dental disease  of  the  embryo;  hence  vital  organs  are  left  out,  or  por- 
tions of  organs,  like  the  dividing  walls  of  the  heart,  are  omitted. 
Sometimes  an  older  fetus  is  inclosed  in  the  body  of  another,  each  hav- 
ing started  independently  from  a  separate  ovum,  but  the  one  having 
become  embedded  in  the  semifluid  mass  of  the  other  and  having  devel- 
oped there  simultaneously  with  it,  but  not  so  largely  nor  perfectly. 
In  many  cases  of  redundance  of  parts,  the  extra  part  or  member  has 
manifestly  developed  from  the  same  ovum  and  nutrient  center  with 
the  normal  member  to  which  it  remains  adherent,  just  as  a  new  tail 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOUSE.  l75 

will  grow  out  in  a  newt  when  the  former  has  been  cut  off.  In  the 
early  embryo,  with  its  g-ieat  powers  of  development,  this  factor  can 
operate  to  far  greater  purpose  than  in  the  adult  animal.  Its  iniluence 
is  seen  in  the  fact  pointed  out  by  St.  Ililaire  that  such  redundant  parts 
are  nearly  alwa3^s  connnected  w^ith  the  corresponding  portions  in  the 
normal  fetus.  Thus  superfluous  legs  or  digits  are  attached  to  the 
normal  ones,  double  heads  or  tails  are  connected  to  a  common  neck  or 
rump,  and  double  bodies  are  attached  to  each  other  b}^  corresponding 
points,  navel  to  navel,  breast  to  breast,  back  to  back.  All  this  sug- 
gests the  development  of  extra  parts  from  the  same  primary  layer  of 
the  impregnated  and  developing  ovum.  The  effect  of  disturbing  con- 
ditions in  giving  such  wrong  directions  to  the  developmental  forces  is 
w^ell  shown  in  the  experiments  of  St.  Hilaire  and  Valentine  in  varnish- 
ing, shaking,  and  otherwise  breaking  up  the  natural  connections  in 
eggs,  and  thereby  determining  the  formation  of  monstrosities  at  will. 
So,  in  the  mammal,  blows  and  other  injuries  that  detach  the  fetal 
membranes  from  the  walls  of  the  womb  or  that  modify  their  circula- 
tion by  inducing  inflammation  are  at  times  followed  by  the  develop- 
ment of  a  monster.  The  excitement,  mental  and  ph3'sical,  attendant 
on  fright  occasionally  acts  in  a  similar  wa}^,  acting  probably  through 
the  same  channels. 

The  monstrous  forms  likely  to  interfere  with  parturition  are  such 
as,  from  contracted  or  twisted  limbs  or  spine,  must  be  i^resented  double; 
where  supernumerary  limbs,  head,  or  body  must  approach  the  pass- 
ages with  tlic  natural  ones;  where  a  head  or  other  member  has  attained 
to  an  unnatural  size;  where  the  body  of  one  fetus  has  become  inclosed 
in  or  attached  to  another,  etc. 

Extraction  is  sometimes  possible  by  straightening  the  members  and 
securing  such  a  presentation  as  will  reduce  the  presenting  mass  to  its 
smallest  and  most  wedge-like  dimensions.  To  effect  this  it  may  be 
needful  to  cut  the  flexor  tendons  of  bent  limbs  or  the  muscles  on  the 
side  of  a  twisted  neck  or  body;  and  one  or  more  of  the  manipulations 
necessary  to  secure  and  bring  up  a  missing  member  may  be  required. 
In  most  cases  of  monstrosity  by  excess,  however,  it  is  needful  to 
remove  the  superflous  parts,  in  which  case  the  general  principles 
employed  for  embryotomy  must  be  followed.  The  Co?sarean  section, 
by  which  the  fetus  is  extracted  through  an  incision  in  the  walls  of  the 
abdomen  and  womb,  is  inadmissible,  as  it  practically  entails  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  mare,  Avhich  should  never  be  done  for  the  sake  of  a  monster. 
(See  "Embrj'otomy,"  p.  181.) 

ENTRANCE    OF   TV.INS   INTO    THE   PASSAGE    AT   ONCE. 

Twins  are  rare  in  the  mare,  and  still  more  rare  is  the  impaction  of 
both  at  once  into  the  pelvis.  The  condition  would  be  easil}-  recognized 
bj^  the  fact  that  two  fore  limbs  and  two  hind  would  occupy  the  passage 


Anterior   pres- 
entations. 


Posterior  pres- 
entations. 


Head 


176  BUREAU    OF    A^'IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

at  once,  tho  front  of  the  hoofs  of  the  fore  feet  being  turned  upward 
and  those  of  the  hind  feet  downward.  If  both  belonged  to  one  foal 
they  Avould  l)e  turned  in  the  same  direction.  Once  recognized,  the 
condition  is  easily  remedied  by  passing  a  rope  with  a  running  noose 
round  each  foot  of  the  foal  that  is  farthest  advanced  or  that  promises 
to  be  most  easily  extracted,  and  to  push  the  members  of  the  other 
fetus  back  into  the  depth  of  the  womb.  As  soon  as  the  one  fetus  is 
fully  engaged  in  the  passage  it  will  hold  its  place  and  its  delivery  will 
proceed  in  the  natural  way. 

TABLE    OF    AVRONG    PRESEXTATIONS. 

(Incompletely  extended.     Flexor  tendons  short- 
ened. 

Fore  limbs |  Crossed  over  the  neck. 

Bent  back  at  the  knee. 
[Bent  b>ack  from  the  shoulder. 

I  Bent  downward  on  the  neck. 
Head  and  neck  turned  back  beneath  the  breast. 
Turned  to  one  side. 
Turned  upward  and  backward  on  the  back. 

Hind  limbs Hind  feet  engaged  in  the  pelvis. 

Transverse Back  of  foal  to  side  of  pelvis. 

Inverted Back  of  foal  to  floor  of  pelvis. 

„•    IT    1  /Bent  on  itself  at  the  hock. 

tJ"^^^  l'-"^^*^ tBentatthehip. 

Transverse Back  of  foal  to  side  of  pelvis. 

^Inverted Back  of  foal  to  floor  of  i)elvis. 

„  .   .-        f  1,    ]         /With  back  and  loins  presented. 

Transverse  presentation  of  body...|^y.^i^  y^^.^^^^  ^,^^1  ^^^1,^.  presented. 

FORE  LIMBS  INCOMPLETELY  EXTENDED. 

In  eases  of  this  kind,  not  only  are  the  back  tendons  behind  the  knee 
and  shank  bone  undul^^  short,  but  the  sinew  extending  from  the  front 
of  the  shoulder  blade  over  the  front  of  the  elbow  and  down  to  the 
head  of  the  shank  bone  is  also  shortened.  The  result  is  that  the  fore 
limb  is  bent  at  the  knee  and  the  elbow  is  also  rigidly  bent.  The  con- 
dition obstructs  parturition  b}^  the  feet  becoming  pres.sed  against  the 
floor  of  the  pelvis  or  by  the  elbow  pressing  on  its  anterior  brim. 
Relief  is  to  be  obtained  by  forcible  extension.  A  rope  with  a  running 
noose  is  parsed  around  each  fetlock  and  a  repeller  (see  Plate  IX) 
planted  in  the  breast  is  pressed  in  a  direction  upward  and  backward 
while  active  traction  is  made  on  the  ropes.  If  the  feet  are  not  thereby 
raised  from  the  floor  of  the  pelvis  the  palm  of  the  hand  may  be  placed 
beneath  them  to  protect  the  mucous  membrane  until  they  have 
advanced  sufficiently  to  obviate  this  danger.  In  the  absence  of  a 
repeller,  a  smooth  rounded  fork  handle  may  be  employed.  If  the 
shortening  is  too  great  to  allow  of  the  extension  of  the  liml)s  in  this 
wa}',  the  tense  tendons  may  be  cut  across  behind  the  shank  bone  and 
in  front  of  the  elbow,  and  the  limb  will  be  easily  straightened  out. 
This  is  most  easily  done  with  an  embryotomy  knife  furnished  with  a 
ring  for  the  middle  finger,  so  that  the  blade  may  be  protected  in  the 
palm  of  the  hand.     (See  Plate  XV,  fig.  4.) 


PI.ATK   XIII. 


lliigft  and  croup  presentation. 


after  Flpinrag. 


Anterior  presentation  .    HuidliM^I)  deviation. 


AB  N  O  R  M  AL.    r»  R  E  S  t:  N  TAT  I  O  N  S 


IM.A'l-  !•:    Xl\'. 


Aruc r for prescntfitilon. Head  (u/7i^d  on  side. 


\    \  ' 


A7  *''ju>r-  />resentntivn  Hrad  turned  on  bark 


JULIUS  BIEN  &  CO  r 


A  H  N  ()  H  M  .^I.     I'K  K  S  h:  X ^^^''s.^r I O N S . 


f 


^>lJ^^y^ 


^ 


r 


/? 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOUSE.  177 

ONE    FORE    LIMB    CROSSED    OVER    THE    BACK    OF   THE    NECK. 

With  the  long-  fore  limbs  of  the  foal  this  readily  occurs,  and  the 
resulting-  increase  in  thickness,  both  at  the  head  and.  shoulder,  offers 
a  serious  obstacle  to  progress.  (See  Plato  XI,  fig.  2.)  The  hand 
introduced  into  the  passage  detects  the  head  and  one  fore  foot,  and 
farther  back  on  the  same  side  of  the  head  the  second  foot,  from  which 
the  limb  ma}'  he  traced  obliquel}'  across  the  back  of  the  neck. 

If  parturition  continues  to  make  progress  the  displaced  foot  uiay 
bruise  and  lacerate  the  vagina.  By  seizing  the  limb  above  the  fetlock 
it  may  be  easily  pushed  over  the  head  to  the  proper  side,  when  partu- 
rition will  proceed  normal!}'. 

FORE    LIMB    BENT    AT    THE    KNEE. 

The  nose  and  one  forefoot  present,  and  on  examination  tlie  knee  of 
the  missing  forelimb  is  found  farther  back.  (Plate  XI,  lig.  1.)  First 
place  a  noose  each  on  the  presenting  pastern  and  lower  jaw,  and  push 
back  the  body  of  the  fetus  Avith  a  repeller,  while  the  operator  seizing 
the  shank  of  the  bent  limb  extends  it  so  as  to  press  back  the  knee  and 
bring  forward  the  fetlock  and  foot.  As  progress  is  made  little  by 
little  the  hand  is  slid  down  from  the  region  of  the  knee  to  the  fetlock, 
and  finally  that  is  secured  and  brought  up  into  the  passage,  when 
parturition  will  proceed  without  hindrance.  If  both  fore  limbs  are 
bent  back  the  head  must  be  noosed  and  the  limbs  brought  up  as  above, 
one  after  the  other.  It  is  usually  best  to  employ  the  left  hand  for  the 
right  fore  limb,  and  the  right  hand  for  the  left  fore  limb. 

FORE    LIMB    TURNED    BACK    FROM    THE    SHOULDER. 

In  this  case,  on  exploration  by  the  side  of  the  head  and  presenting 
limb,  the  shoulder  only  can  be  reached  at  first.  (Plato  XI,  fig.  4.)  By 
noosing  the  head  and  presenting  fore  limb,  these  may  be  drawn  forward 
into  the  pelvis,  and  the  oiled  hand  being  carried  along  the  shoulder  in 
the  direction  of  the  missing  limb  is  enabled  to  reach  and  seize  the  fore- 
arm just  below  the  elbow.  The  body  is  now  pushed  back  b}^  the 
assistants  pressing  on  the  head  and  presenting  limb  or  on  a  repeller 
planted  in  the  breast  until  the  knee  can  be  brought  up  into  the 
pelvis,  after  which  the  procedure  is  the  same  as  described  in  the  last 
paragraph. 

HEAD   BENT    DOWN    BETWEEN    THE    FORE    LIMBS. 

This  ma}'  bo  so  that  the  poll  or  nape  of  the  neck,  with  the  ears,  can 
be  felt  far  back  between  the  fore  limbs,  or  so  that  only  the  upper 
border  of  the  neck  can  be  reached,  head  and  neck  being  bent  back 
beneath  the  body.  With  the  head  only  bent  on  the  neck,  noose  the 
two  presenting  limbs,  then  introduce  the  hand  between  them  until 
14384—03 12 


178  BUEEAU    OF    A2IIMAL    IJN'ItUSTRY. 

the  nose  can  be  seized  in  the  palm  of  the  hand.  Kext  have  the  assist- 
ants pusli  back  the  presenting  limbs,  while  the  nose  is  stronglj^  lifted 
upward  over  the  brim  of  the  pelvis.  This  accomplished,  it  assumes 
the  natural  position  and  parturition  is  easy. 

When  both  head  and  neck  are  bent  downward  it  may  be  impossible 
to  rea,ch  the  nose.  If,  however,  the  labor  has  onl}'  commenced,  the 
limbs  ma}'  be  drawn  upon  until  the  operator  can  reach  the  ear,  by 
dragging  on  wdiich  the  head  ma}'  be  so  far  advanced  that  the  fingers 
may  reach  tha  orbit;  traction  upon  this  while  the  limbs  are  being 
pushed  back  may  bring  the  head  up  so  that  it  bends  on  the  neck  only, 
and  the  further  procedure  will  be  as  described  in  the  last  paragraph. 

If  the  labor  has  been  long  in  progress  and  the  fetus  is  jammed  into 
the  pelvis,  the  womb  emptied  of  the  waters  and  firmly  contracted  on 
its  solid  contents,  the  case  is  incomparably  more  difficult.  The  mare 
may  be  chloroformed  and  turned  on  her  back  with  hind  parts  elevated, 
and  the  womb  may  be  injected  with  sweet  oil.  Then,  if  the  ear  can 
be  reached,  the  correction  of  the  malpresentation  may  be  attempted 
as  above  described.  Should  this  fail,  one  or  more  sharp  hooks  may  be 
inserted  in  the  neck  as  near  the  head  as  can  be  reached,  and  ropes 
attached  to  these  may  be  dragged  on,  while  the  body  of  the  foal  is 
pushed  back  by  the  fore  limbs  or  by  a  repeller.  Such  repulsion 
should  be  made  in  a  direction  obliquely  upward  toward  the  loins  of 
the  mother,  so  as  to  rotate  the  fetus  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  the 
head  up.  As  this  is  accomplished  a  hold  should  be  secured  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  nose,  with  hand  or  hook,  until  the  head  can  be 
straightened  out  on  the  neck. 

All  means  failing,  it  becomes  necessary  to  remove  the  fore  limbs 
(embryotomy)  so  as  to  make  more  space  for  bringing  up  the  head.  If, 
even  then,  this  can  not  be  accomplished,  it  may  be  possible  to  push 
the  body  backward  and  upward  with  the  repeller  until  the  hind  limbs 
are  brought  to  the  passage,  when  they  may  be  noosed  and  delivery 
effected  with  the  posterior  presentation. 

HEAD    TURNED    BACK    OX    THE    SHOULDER. 

In  this  case,  the  fore  feet  present,  and  the  oiled  hand  passed  along 
the  forearms  in  search  of  the  missing  head  finds  the  side  of  the  neck 
turned  to  one  side,  the  head  being  perhaps  entirely  out  of  reach. 
(Plate  XIV,  fig.  1.)  To  bring  forward  the  head  it  may  be  desirable 
to  lay  the  mare  on  the  opposite  side  to  that  to  which  the  head  is 
turned,  and  even  to  give  chloroform  or  ether.  Then  the  feet  being 
noosed,  the  body  of  the  fetus  is  pushed  by  the  hand  or  repeller  for- 
ward and  to  the  side  opposite  to  that  occupied  by  the  head  until  the 
head  comes  within  reach,  near  the  entrance  of  the  pelvis.  If  such 
displacement  of  the  fetus  is  difficult,  it  may  be  facilitated  by  a  free 
use  of  oil  or  lard.     When  the  nose  can  be  seized,  it  can  be  brought  into 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOSSE.  179 

the  passage  as  when  the  head  is  turned  down.  If  it  can  not  be  reached, 
the  orbit  maj  be  availed  of  to  draw  the  head  forward  until  the  nose 
can  be  seized  or  the  lower  jaw  noosed.  In  ver}^  difficult  cases  a  rope 
ma}^  be  passed  around  the  neck  by  the  hand  or  with  the  aid  of  a  curved 
carrier  (Plate  IX),  and  traction  may  be  made  upon  this  while  the 
body  is  being  rotated  to  the  other  side.  In  the  same  way  in  bad  cases, 
a  hook  may  be  fixed  in  the  orbit  or  even  between  the  bones  of  the 
lower  jaw  to  assist  in  bringing  the  head  up  into  position.  Should  all 
fail,  the  amputation  of  the  fore  limbs  may  be  resorted  to  as  advised 
under  the  last  heading. 

HEAD   TURNED    UPWARD    ON   THE    BACK. 

This  differs  from  the  last  malpresentation  only  in  the  direction  of 
the  head,  which  has  to  be  sought  above  rather  than  at  one  side,  and  is 
to  be  secured  and  brought  forward  in  a  similar  manner.  (Plate  XIV, 
fig.  2.)  If  a  rope  can  be  passed  around  the  neck  it  will  prove  most 
effectual,  as  it  naturally  slides  nearer  to  the  hegd  as  the  neck  is 
straightened,  and  ends  by  bringing  the  head  within  easj'  reach. 

HIND    FEET    ENGAGED    IX    TIIE    PELVIS. 

In  this  case  fore  limbs  and  head  present  naturally,  but  the  hind  limbs 
bent  forward  from  the  hip  and  the  loins  arched  allow  the  hind  feet 
also  to  enter  the  passages,  and  the  farther  labor  advances  the  more 
tirmh'  does  the  body  of  the  foal  become  wedged  into  the  pelvis. 
(Plate  XIII,  fig.  2. )  The  condition  is  to  be  recognized  hj  introducing 
the  oiled  hand  along  the  belly  of  the  fetus,  when  the  hind  feet  will  be 
felt  advancing.  An  attempt  should  at  once  be  made  to  push  them 
back,  one  after  the  other,  over  the  brim  of  the  pelvis.  Failing  in  this, 
the  mare  may  be  turned  on  her  back,  head  downhill,  and  the  attempt 
renewed.  If  it  is  possible  to  introduce  a  straight  rope  carrier,  a  noose 
passed  through  this  may  be  put  on  the  fetlock  and  the  repulsion 
thereby  made  more  effective.  In  case  of  continued  failure  the  ante- 
lior  presenting  part  of  the  body  ma}^  be  skinned  and  cut  off  as  far 
back  toward  the  pelvis  as  possible  (see  ''Embryotomy");  then  nooses 
are  placed  on  the  hind  fetlocks  and  traction  is  made  upon  these  while 
the  quarters  are  pushed  back  into  the  womb.  Then  the  remaining 
portion  is  brought  awa}-  b}'-  the  posterior  presentation. 

ANTERIOR   PRESENTATION    WITH    BACK    TURNED    TO    ONE    SIDE. 

The  greatest  diameter  of  the  axis  of  the  foal,  like  that  of  the  pelvic 
passages,  is  from  above  downward,  and  when  the  fetus  enters  the 
pelvis  with  this  greatest  diameter  engaged  transversely  or  in  the  nar- 
row diameter  of  the  pelvis,  parturition  is  rendered  difficult  or  impos- 
sible.    In  such  a  case  the  pasterns  and  head  may  be  noosed,  and  the 


180  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

passages  and  engaged  portion  of  the  foal  freely  lubricated  with  lard, 
the  limbs  may  be  crossed  over  each  other  and  the  head,  and  a  move- 
ment of  rotation  effected  in  the  fetus  until  its  face  and  back  are  turned 
up  toward  the  croup  of  the  mother;  then  parturition  becomes  natural. 

BACK    OF   TlIK    FOAL    TUUNEI)    TO    THE    FLOOR    OF    THE    PELVIS. 

In  a  roomy  marc  this  is  not  an  insuperable  obstacle  to  parturition, 
yet  it  may  seriously  impede  it,  hy  reason  of  the  curvature  of  the  body 
of  the  foal  being  opposite  to  that  of  the  passages,  and  the  head  and 
withers  being  liable  to  arrest  against  the  border  of  the  pelvis.  Lubri- 
cation of  the  passage  with  lard  and  traction  of  the  limbs  and  head  will 
usually  suffice  with  or  without  the  turning  of  the  mare  on  her  back. 

In  obstinate  cases  two  other  resorts  are  open:  (1)  To  turn  the  foal, 
pushing  back  the  fore  parts  and  bringing  up  the  hind  so  as  to  make 
a  posterior  presentation,  and  (2)  the  amputaticn  of  the  fore  limbs, 
after  which  extraction  will  usually  be  easy. 

illNI)    niESENTATIOX    WITH    LE(;    TiEXT    AT    HOCK. 

In  this  form  the  quarters  of  the  foal  with  the  hind  legs  bent  up 
beneath  them  present,  but  can  not  advance  through  the  pelvis  b}^ 
reason  of  their  bulk.  (Plate  XI,  fig.  3.)  The  oiled  hand  introduced 
can  recognize  the  outline  of  the  buttocks,  with  the  tail  and  anus  in  the 
center  and  the  sharp  points  of  the  hocks  beneath.  First  pass  a  rope 
around  each  limb  at  the  hock,  then  with  hand  or  repeller  push  the 
buttocks  backward  and  upward,  until  the  feet  can  be  brought  up  into 
the  passages.  The  great  length  of  the  shank  and  pastern  in  the  foal 
is  a  serious  obstacle  to  this,  and  in  all  cases  the  foot  should  be  pro- 
tected in  the  palm  of  the  hand  while  being  brought  up  over  the  brim 
of  the  pelvis.  Otherwise  the  womb  ma}'  be  torn.  When  the  pains 
are  too  violent  and  constant  to  allow  effective  manipulation,  some 
respite  may  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  chloroform  or  morphia,  and  l)y 
turning  the  mare  on  her  back,  but  too  often  the  operator  fails  and  the 
foal  must  be  sacrificed.  Two  courses  are  still  open:  First,  to  cut 
through  the  cords  behind  and  above  the  hock  and  extend  the  upper 
part  of  the  liml),  leaving  the  hock  bent,  and  extract  in  this  way,  and, 
second,  to  amputate  the  hind  limbs  at  the  hip  joint  and  remove  them 
separately,  after  which  the  bod}-  may  V)c  extracted. 

HIND   PRESENTATION    WITH    LE(JS    liENT    FORWARD    FROM   THE    HIP. 

This  is  merely  an  aggregated  form  of  the  presentation  last  described. 
(Plate  XHI,  iig.  1.)  If  the  mare  is  roomy,  a  rope  may  be  passed 
around  each  thigh  and  the  body  pushed  upward  and  forward,  so  as  to 
bring  the  hocks  and  heels  upward.  If  this  can  be  accomplished,  nooses 
are  placed  on  the  limb  farther  and  farther  down  until  the  fetlock  is 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  181 

reached  and  brought  into  position.     If  failure  is  met  with,  then  ampu- 
tation at  the  hips  is  the  dernier  ressort. 

HIXD     PRESENTATIONS     WITH      THE      BACK     TUEXED     SIDEWAYS     OR 
DOWNWARD. 

These  are  the  counterparts  of  simular  anterior  presentations  and  are 
to  be  managed  in  the  same  way. 

PRESENTATION    OF   THE    BACK. 

This  is  rare,  yet  not  unknown,  the  foal  being  bent  upon  itself  with 
the  back,  recognizable  by  its  sharp  row  of  spines,  presented  at  the 
entrance  of  the  pelvis,  and  the  head  and  all  four  feet  turned  back  into 
the  womb.  (Plate  XII,  fig.  1.)  The  hoAy  of  the  fetus  may  be  extended 
across  the  opening  transversely  so  that  the  head  corresponds  to  one 
side  (right  or  left),  or  it  may  be  vertical  with  the  head  above  or  below. 

In  any  such  position  the  object  should  be  to  push  the  body  of  the 
fetus  forward  and  upward  or  to  one  side,  as  may  Ibest  promise  to  bring 
up  the  fore  or  hind  extremities,  and  bring  the  latter  into  the  passage 
so  as  to  constitute  a  normal  anterior  or  posterior  presentation.  This 
turning  of  the  fetus  may  be  favored  by  a  given  position  of  the  mother, 
by  the  free  use  of  oil  or  lard  on  the  surface  of  the  fetus,  and  bv  the 
use  of  a  propeller. 

PRESENTATION    OF   BREAST   AND   ABDOMEN. 

This  is  the  reverse  of  the  back  presentation,  the  foal  being  extended 
across  in  front  of  the  pelvic  opening,  but  with  the  belly  turned  toward 
the  passages  and  with  all  four  feet  engaged  in  the  passage.  (Plate  XII, 
fig.  2.)  The  most  promising  course  is  to  secure  the  hind  feet  with 
nooses  and  then  push  the  fore  feet  forward  into  the  womb.  As  soon 
as  the  fore  feet  are  pushed  forward  clear  of  the  brim  of  the  pelvis, 
traction  is  made  on  the  hind  feet  so  as  to  bring  the  thighs  into  the  pas- 
sage and  prevent  the  reentrance  of  the  fore  limbs.  If  it  prove  difii- 
cult  to  push  back  the  fore  limbs  a  noose  may  be  passed  around  the  fet- 
lock of  each  and  the  cord  drawn  through  the  eye  of  a  rope  carrier,  by 
means  of  which  the  members  may  be  easih'  pushed  back. 

EMBRYOTOMY. 

This  consists  in  the  dissection  of  the  fetus,  so  as  to  reduce  its  bulk 
and  allow  of  its  exit  through  the  pelvis.  The  indications  for  its  adop- 
tion have  been  furnished  in  the  foregoing  pages.  The  operation  will 
vary  in  difierent  cases  according  to  the  necessity  for  the  removal  of 
one  or  more  parts  in  order  to  secure  the  requisite  reduction  in  size. 
Thus  it  may  be  needful  to  remove  head  and  neck,  one  fore  limb  or 
both,  one  hind  limb  or  both,  to  remove  different  parts  of  the  trunk,  or 


182  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    IT^fDUSTRY. 

to  remove  superfluous  (monstrous)  parts.  Some  of  the  simplest  opera- 
tions in  eml)r3'otomy  (incision  of  the  head  in  h3^drocephalus,  incision 
of  the  belly  in  dropsy)  have  alread}^  been  described.  It  remains  to 
notice  the  more  difficult  procedures  which  can  be  best  undertaken  by 
the  skilled  anatomist. 

Amputation  of  the  head. — This  is  easy  when  both  fore  limbs  are 
turned  back  and  the  head  alone  has  made  its  exit  in  part.  It  is  more 
difficult  when  the  head  is  still  retained  in  the  passages  or  womb,  as 
in  double-headed  monsters.  The  head  is  secured  b}'  a  hook  in  the 
lower  jaw,  or  in  the  orbit,  or  b}^  a  halter,  and  the  skin  is  divided 
circularh'  around  the  lower  part  of  the  face  or  at  tlie  front  of  the  ears, 
according"  to  the  amount  of  head  protruding.  Then  an  incision  is 
made  backward  along  the  line  of  the  throat,  and  the  skin  dissected 
from  the  neck  as  far  back  as  possible.  Then  the  muscles  and  other 
soft  parts  of  the  neck  are  cut  across,  and  the  bodies  of  two  vertebrae 
(neck  bones)  are  severed  by  cutting  completel}'  across  the  cartilage 
of  the  joint.  The  bulging  of  the  ends  of  the  bones  will  serve  to  indi- 
cate the  seat  of  the  joint.  The  head  and  detached  portion  of  the  neck 
may  now  be  removed  b}'  steady  pulling.  If  there  is  still  an  obstacle, 
the  knife  may  be  again  used  to  sever  an}^  obstinate  connections.  In 
the  case  of  a  double-headed  monster,  the  whole  of  the  second  neck 
must  be  removed  with  the  head.  When  the  head  has  been  detached 
a  rope  should  be  passed  through  the  eyeholes,  or  through  an  artificial 
opening  in  the  skin,  and  tied  firmly  around  the  skin,  to  be  employed 
as  a  means  of  traction  when  the  missing  limbs  or  the  second  head  have 
been  brought  up  into  position. 

Amputation  of  the  hind  UnJj. — This  mav  be  required  when  there 
are  extra  hind  limbs,  or  when  the  hind  limbs  are  bent  forv\-ard  at  hock 
or  hip  joint.  In  the  former  condition  the  procedure  reseral)les  that 
for  removal  of  a  fore  limb,  but  requires  more  anatomical  knowledge. 
Having  noosed  the  pastern,  a  circular  incision  is  made  through  the 
skin  around  the  fetlock,  and  a  longitudinal  one  from  that  up  to  the 
groin,  and  the  skin  is  dissected  from  the  limb  as  high  up  as  can  be 
reached,  over  the  croup,  if  possible.  Then  cut  through  the  nmscles 
around  the  hip  joint,  and,  if  possible,  the  two  interarticular  ligaments 
of  the  joint  (pubio-femoral  and  round),  and  extract  the  limb  by  strong 
dragging. 

Amputation  of  the  fore  Umhs. — This  may  usually  be  begun  on  the 
fetlock  of  the  limb  projecting  from  the  vulva.  An  embryotomy  knife 
is  desirable.  This  knife  consists  of  a  blade  with  a  sharp,  slightly 
hooked  point,  and  one  or  two  rings  in  the  back  of  the  blade  large 
enough  to  fit  on  the  middle  finger,  while  the  blade  is  protected  in  the 
palm  of  the  hand.  (See  Plate  XV,  fig.  4.)  Another  form  has  the 
blade  inserted  in  a  mortise  in  the  handle,  from  which  it  is  pushed 
out  by  a  movable  button  when  wanted.     First  phice  a  noose  around 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  183 

the  fetlock  of  the  limb  to  be  amputated,  cut  the  skin  circularh^  entirely 
around  the  fetlock,  then  make  an  incision  on  the  inner  side  of  the  limb 
from  the  fetlock  up  to  the  breastbone.  Next  dissect  the  skin  from 
the  limb,  from  the  fetlock  up  to  the  breastbone  on  the  inner  side,  and 
as  far  up  on  the  shoulder  blade  as  possible  on  the  outer  side.  Finally, 
cut  through  the  muscles  attaching  the  limb  to  the  breastbone,  and 
employ  strong  traction  on  the  limb,  so  as  to  di-ag  out  the  whole  limb, 
shoulder  blade  included.  The  muscles  around  the  upper  part  of  the 
shoulder  blade  are  easily  torn  through  and  need  not  be  cut,  even  if 
that  were  possible.  In  no  case  should  the  fore  limb  be  removed  unless 
the  shoulder  blade  is  taken  with  it,  as  that  furnishes  the  greatest 
obstruction  to  delivery,  above  ail  wdien  it  is  no  longer  advanced  by 
the  extension  of  the  fore  limb,  but  is  pressed  back  so  as  to  increase 
the  already  thickest  posterior  portion  of  the  chest.  The  preservation 
of  the  skin  from  the  whole  limb  is  advantageous  in  various  ways;  it 
is  easier  to  cut  it  circularly  at  the  fetlock  than  at  the  shoulder;  it 
covers  the  hand  and  knife  in  making  the  needful  incisions,  thus  acting 
as  a  protection  to  the  womb;  and  it  affords  a  means  of  traction  on  the 
body  after  the  limb  has  been  removed.  In  dissecting  the  skin  from 
the  limb  the  knife  is  not  needful  at  ail  points;  much  of  it  may  be 
stripped  off  with  the  lingers  or  knuckles,  or  by  a  blunt  iron  spud 
pushed  up  inside  the  hide,  which  is  meanwhile  held  tense  to  render 
the  spud  effective. 

In  case  the  limb  is  bent  for^vard  at  the  hock,  a  rope  is  passed  round 
that  and  pulled  so  as  to  bring  the  point  of  the  hock  between  the  lips 
of  the  vulva.  The  hamstring  and  the  lateral  ligaments  of  the  hock 
are  now  cut  through,  and  the  limbs  extended  by  a  rope  tied  round  the 
lower  end  of  the  long  bone  alxtve  (tibia).  In  case  it  is  still  needful  to 
remove  the  upper  part  of  the  limb,  the  further  procedure  is  the  same 
as  described  in  the  last  paragraph. 

In  case  the  limb  is  turned  forward  from  the  hip,  and  the  fetus  so 
wedged  into  the  passage  that  turning  is  impossible,  the  case  is  very 
difficult.  I  have  repeatedly  succeeded  b}^  cutting  in  on  the  hip  joint 
and  disarticulating  it,  then  dissecting  the  muscles  back  from  the 
upper  end  of  the  thigh  bone.  A  noose  was  placed  around  the  neck 
of  the  bone  and  pulled  on  forciblv,  while  ain'  unduly  resisting  struc- 
tures were  cut  with  the  knife. 

Cartwright  recommends  to  make  free  incisions  round  the  hip  joints 
and  tear  through  the  muscles  when  the}''  can  not  be  cut;  then  with 
cords  round  the  pelvic  bones,  and  hooks  inserted  in  the  openings  in 
the  floor  of  the  pelvis  to  drag  out  the"  pelvic  bones;  then  put  cords 
around  the  heads  of  the  thigh  bones  and  extract  them;  then  remove 
the  intestines;  and  finally,  b}'  means  of  the  loose,  detached  skin, 
draw  out  the  body  with  the  remainder  of  the  hind  limbs  bent  forward 
beneath  it. 


18-1  liUliEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Keuff  cuts  his  way  into  the  pelvis  oi  the  foal,  and  with  a  knife 
.separates  the  pelvic  bones  from  the  loins,  then  skinning-  the  quarter 
draws  out  these  pelvic  bones  by  means  of  ropes  and  hooks,  and  along 
with  them  the  hind  limbs. 

The  hind  limbs  havin<^  been  removed  by  one  or  the  other  of  these 
procedures,  the  loose  skin  detached  from  the  pelvis  is  used  as  a  means 
of  traction  and  delivery  is  effected.  If  it  has  been  a  monstrosity  with 
extra  hind  limbs,  it  may  be  possible  to  bring  these  up  into  the  passage 
and  utilize  them  for  traction. 

Removal  of  th,'  ahdominal  Vfscera. — In  case  the  belly  is  unduly  large, 
from  decomposition,  tumors,  or  otherwise,  it  may  be  needful  to  \ny 
it  open  with  the  knife  and  cut  or  tear  out  the  contents. 

Eemoval  of  the  thoracic  viscera.— To  diminish  the  bulk  of  the  chest 
it  has  been  found  advisable  to  cut  out  the  breastbone,  remove  the 
heart  and  lungs,  and  allow  the  ribs  to  collapse  with  the  lower  free 
ends  overlapping  each  other. 

Biasection  of  the  trunk. — In  case  it  becomes  necessary  to  remove 
other  portions  of  the  trunk,  the  general  rule  should  be  followed  of 
preserving  the  skin  so  that  all  manipuhitions  can  be  made  inside  this 
as  a  protector,  that  it  may  remain  available  as  a  means  of  exercising 
traction  on  the  remaining  parts  of  the  body,  and  as  a  covering  to  pro- 
tect the  vaginal  walls  against  injuries  from  bones  while  such  part  is 
passing. 

FLOODING,    OR   BLEEDIISKJ    FROM    THE    WO:\IB. 

-This  is  rare  in  the  mare,  but  not  luiknown,  in  connection  with  a 
failure  of  the  womb  to  contract  on  itself  after  parturition,  or  with 
eversion  of  the  womb  (casting  the  withers),  and  congestion  or  lacera- 
tion. If  the  blood  accumulates  in  the  flaccid  womb,  the  condition  may 
only  be  suspected  by  reason  of  the  rapidly  advancing  weakness,  swa}'- 
ing,  unsteady  gait,  hanging  head,  paleness  of  the  eyes  and  other  mucous 
membranes,  and  weak,  small,  failing  pulse.  The  hand  introduced  into 
the  womb  detects  the  presence  of  the  blood  partly  clotted.  If  the 
blood  escapes  by  the  vulva,  the  condition  is  evident. 

Treaitnent  consists  in  evacuating  the  Avomb  of  its  blood  clots,  giving 
a  large  dose  of  powdered  ergot  of  rye,  and  in  the  application  of  cold 
water  or  ice  to  the  loins  and  external  generative  organs.  Besides  this 
a  sponge  impregnated  with  a  strong  solution  of  alum,  or,  still  better, 
with  tincture  of  nuiriate  of  iron,  may  be  introduced  into  the  womb  and 
squeezed  t>o  as  to  bring  the  li(iuid  in  contact  with  the  walls  generally. 

EVERSION    OF   THE    WOMB. 

If  the  womb  fails  to  contract  after  difficult  parturition,  the  af terpains 
will  sometimes  lead  to  the  fundus  passing  into  the  body  of  the  organ 
and  passing  through  that  and  the  vagina  until  the  whole  inverted 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  185 

organ  appears  external I3'  and  han^s  down  on  the  thighs.  The  result 
is  rapid  engorgement  and  swelling  of  the  organ,  impaction  of  the  rec- 
tum with  feces,  and  distension  of  tlie  bladder  with  urine,  all  of  which 
conditions  seriously  interfere  with  the  return  of  the  mass.  In  return- 
ing the  womb  the  standing  is  preferable  to  the  recumbent  position, 
as  the  abdomen  is  more  pendent  and  there  is  less  obstruction  to  the 
return.  It  may,  however,  be  necessary  to  put  hobbles  on  the  hind 
limbs  to  prevent  the  mare  from  kicking.  A  clean  sheet  should  be 
held  beneath  the  womb  and  all  tilth,  straw,  and  foreign  bodies  washed 
from  its  surface.  Then  with  a  broad,  elastic  (india  rubber)  band,  or 
in  default  of  that  a  long  strip  of  calico  4  or  5  inches  wide,  wind  the 
womb  as  tightl}"  as  possible,  beginning  at  its  most  dependent  part 
(the  extremity  of  the  horn).  This  serves  two  good  ends.  It  squeezes 
out  into  the  general  circulation  the  enormous  mass  of  blood  which 
engorged  and  enlarged  the  organ,  and  it  furnishes  a  strong  protective 
covering  for  the  now  delicate  friable  organ,  through  which  it  may  be 
safely  manipulated  without  danger  of  laceration.  The  next  step  may 
be  the  pressure  on  the  general  mass  while  those  portions  next  the 
vulva  are  graduall}'  pushed  in  with  the  hands;  or  the  extreme  lowest 
point  (the  end  of  the  horn)  may  be  turned  within  itself  and  pushed 
forward  into  the  vagina  by  the  closed  list,  the  return  being  assisted 
by  manipulations  by  the  other  hand,  and  even  by  those  of  assistants. 
B}^  either  mode  the  manipulations  may  be  made  with  almost  perfect 
safety  so  long  as  the  organ  is  closely  wrapped  in  the  bandage.  Once 
a  portion  has  been  introduced  into  the  vagina  the  rest  will  usually 
follov\^  with  increasing  ease,  and  the  operation  should  be  completed 
with  the  hand  and  arm  extended  the  full  length  within  the  womb  and 
moved  from  point  to  point  so  as  to  straighten  out  all  parts  of  the  organ 
and  insure  that  no  portion  still  remains  inverted  within  another  por- 
tion. Should  any  such  partial  inversion  be  left  it  will  give  rise  to 
straining,  under  the  force  of  which  it  will  gradually  increase  until  the 
whole  mass  will  be  protruded  as  before.  The  next  step  is  to  apply  a 
truss  as  an  effectual  mechanical  barrier  to  further  escape  of  the  womb 
through  the  vulva.  The  simplest  is  made  with  two  inch  ropes,  each 
about  18  feet  long.  These  are  each  doubled  and  interwoven  at  the 
bend,  as  seen  in  Plate  IX,  fig.  •!.  The  ring  formed  by  the  inter- 
lacing of  the  two  ropes  is  adjusted  around  the  vulva,  the  two  ends 
of  the  one  rope  are  carried  up  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  tail  and 
along  thf  spine,  being  wound  round  each  other  in  their  course,  and  are 
final!}'  tied  to  the  upper  part  of  the  collar  encircling  the  neck.  The 
remaining  two  ends,  belonging  to  the  other  rope,  are  carried  down- 
ward and  forward  between  the  thighs  and  thence  forward  and  upward 
on  the  sides  of  the  bell}'  and  chest  to  be  attached  to  the  right  and  left 
sides  of  the  collar.  These  ropes  are  draAvn  tightly  enough  to  keep 
closely  applied  to  the  opening  without  chafing,  and  will  fit  still  more 


186  BUEEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRT. 

securely  when  the  mare  raises  her  back  to  strain.  It  is  desirable  to 
tlo  the  mare  short  so  that  she  may  be  unaljle  to  lie  down  for  a  day  or 
two,  and  she  should  be  kept  in  a  stall  with  the  hind  parts  higher  than 
the  fore.  Violent  straining  may  be  checked  bj^  full  doses  of  opium 
(one-half  dram),  and  any  costiveness  or  diarrhea  shoidd  be  obviated 
by  a  suicablc  laxative  or  binding  diet. 

In  some  mares  the  contractions  are  too  violent  to  allow  of  the  return 
of  the  womb,  and  full  doses  of  opium  one-half  dram,  laudanum  2 
ounces,  or  chloral  hydrate  1  ounce,  may  be  demanded!,  or  the  mare 
nmst  be  rendered  insensible  l)y  ether  or  chloroform. 

RUPTURE,  OR  LACERATION,  OF  THE  WOMB. 

This  may  occur  from  the  feet  of  the  foal  during  parturition,  or  from 
ill-directed  efforts  to  assist,  but  it  is  especially  liable  to  take  place  in 
the  everted,  congested,  and  friable  organ.  The  resultant  dangers  are 
bleeding  from  the  wound,  escape  of  the  bowels  through  tlie  opening 
and  their  fatal  injury  by  the  mare's  feet  or  otherwise,  and  peritonitis 
from  the  extension  of  inflammation  from  the  wound  and  from  the 
poisonous  action  of  the  septic  liquids  of  the  womb  escaping  into  the 
abdominal  cavitj'.  The  first  object  is  to  close  the  wound,  but  unless 
in  eversion  of  Ihe  womb  this  is  practically  impossible.  In  the  last- 
named  condition  the  wound  must  be  carefully  and  accuratelj"  sewed 
up  before  the  womb  is  returned.  After  its  return,  the  womb  must 
be  injected  dailj^  with  an  antiseptic  solution  (borax,  one-half  ounce,  or 
carbolic  acid,  3  drams  to  a  quart  of  tepid  water).  If  inflammation 
threatens,  the  abdomen  may  be  bathed  continuously  with  hot  water 
by  means  of  a  heavy  woolen  I'ag,  and  large  doses  of  opium  (one-half 
llram)  may  be  given  twice  or  thrice  daily. 

RUPTURJES   OF   THE    VAGINA. 

These  are  attended  l)y  dangers  similar  to  those  belonging  to  rupture 
of  the  womb,  and  in  addition  by  the  risk  of  protrusion  of  the  bladder, 
which  appears  through  the  lips  of  the  vulva  as  a  red  pyriform  mass. 
Sometimes  such  lacerations  extend  downv/ard  into  the  bladder,  and  in 
others  upward  into  the  terminal  gut  (rectum).  In  still  other  cases  the 
anus  is  torn  so  that  it  forms  one  connuon  orifice  with  the  vulva. 

Too  often  such  cases  prove  fatal,  or  at  least  a  recover}'  is  not 
attained,  and  urine  or  feces  or  both  escape  freely  into  the  vagina. 
The  simple  laceration  of  the  anus  is  easily  sewed  up,  but  the  ends  of 
the  muscular  fibers  do  not  reunite  and  the  control  over  the  lower 
bowel  is  never  fully  reacquired.  The  successful  stitching  up  of  the 
wound  communicating  vvith  the  bladder  or  the  rectum  requires  unusual 
skill  and  care,  and  though  I  Lave  succeeded  in  a  case  of  the  latter 
kind,  I  can  not  advise  the  attempt  l)y  unprofessional  persons. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  187 

BIX)OD    CLOTS   TX    TME    V.'ALLS    OF   THE    VAGIXA. 

{See  "Effusion  oi"  blood  in  the  vaginal  walls,*'  p,  169.) 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    V.'OMB    AXD    PETilTOXEUM, 

These  may  result  from  injuries  sustained  by  the  womb  during  or 
after  parturition,  from  exposure  to  cold  or  wet,  or  from  the  irntant 
infective  action  of  putrid  products  within  the  womb.  Under  the 
inflammation  the  womb  remains  dilated  and  flaccid,  and  decomposition 
of  its  secretions  almost  always  occurs,  so  that  the  inflammation  tends 
to  assume  a  putrid  character  and  general  septic  infection  is  likely  to 
occur. 

Symjytoms. — The  symptoms  are  ushered  in  by  shivering,  staring 
coat,  small  rapid  pulse,  elevated  temperature,  accelerated  breathing, 
inappetence,  with  arched  back,  stiff  movement  of  the  bod}',  looking 
back  at  the  flanks,  and  uneasy  motions  of  the  hind  limbs,  discharge 
from  the  vulva  of  a  liquid  at  first  water}',  reddish,  or  3'ellowish,  and 
later  it  may  be  whitish  or  glairy,  and  fetid  or  not  in  different  cases. 
Tenderness  of  the  abdomen  shown  on  pressure  is  especialh^  ciiaracter- 
istic  of  cases  affecting  the  peritoneum  or  lining  of  the  bellv,  and  is 
more  marked  lower  down.  If  the  animal  survives,  the  iuflamination 
tends  to  become  chronic  and  attended  hx  a  whitish  muco-puruient 
discharge.  If,  on  the  contrary,  it  proves  fatal,  death  is  preceded  by 
extreme  prostration  and  weakr.ess  from  the  general  septic  poisoning. 

Treatment. — In  treatment  the  first  thing  to  be  sought  is  the  remo^'al 
of  all  offensive  and  irritant  matters  from  the  womb  through  a  caout- 
chouc tube  introduced  into  tlie  womb,  and  into  which  a  funnel  is  fitted. 
"Warm  water  should  be  passed  until  it  comes  away  clear.  To  insure 
that  all  of  the  womb  has  l>een  washed  out,  the  oiled  hand  may  be  intro- 
duced to  carry  the  end  of  the  tube  into  the  two  horns  successively. 
When  the  offensive  contents  have  been  thus  removed,  the  womb  should 
be  injected  with  a  quart  of  water  holding  in  solution  1  dram  per- 
manganate of  potash,  or,  in  the  absence  of  the  latter,  2  teaspoonfuls 
of  carbolic  acid.  Kepeat  twice  daily.  Fomentation  of  the  abdomen, 
or  the  application  of  a  warm  flaxseed  poultice,  ma}'  greatly  relieve. 
Acetanilid,  in  doses  of  half  an  ounce,  repeated  twice  or  thrice  a  day, 
or  sulphate  of  quinia  in  doses  of  one-third  ounce,  may  be  employed  to 
reduce  the  fever.  If  the  great  prostration  indicates  septic  poisoning 
large  doses  (one-half  ounce)  bisulphite  of  soda,  or  salicylate  of  soda, 
or  sulphate  of  quinine  may  be  resorted  to. 

LEUCOERHEA. 

This  is  a  white,  glutinous,  chronic  discharge,  the  result  of  a  contin- 
ued subacute  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  womb. 
Like  the  discharge  of  acute  inflammation  it  contains  many  forms  of 


188  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

l)acteriii.  1)}-  some  of  which  it  is  manifestl}'  inoculablc  on  tlic  penis  of 
the  stallion,  producing  ulcers  and  a  specific  gonorrheal  discharge. 

Treat mtnf  ma}'  consist  in  the  internal  use  of  tonics  (sulphate  of  iron, 
3  drams,  dail\')  and  the  washing  out  of  the  womb,  as  described  under 
the  last  heading,  followed  b}'  an  astringent  antiseptic  injection  (car- 
bolic acid  2  teaspoonfuls,  tannic  acid  one-half  dram,  water  1  quart). 
This  may  be  repeated  two  or  three  times  a  day. 

LAMINITIS,  OR   I  OUNDER,  FOLLOWIXG    TARTUKITIOX. 

This  sometimes  follows  on  inflammation  of  the  womb,  as  it  frequently 
does  on  disorder  of  the  stomach.  Its  sj^nptoms  agree  Mith  those  of  the 
common  form  of  founder,  and  treatment  need  not  differ. 

DISEASES   OF    THE    UDDER  AND    TEATS. 

CONGESTION  AND    INFLAMMATIOX    OF    THK    IDDER. 

This  is  comparatively  rare  in  the  mare,  though  in  some  cases  the 
udder  becomes  painfully  engorged  before  parturition,  and  a  doughy 
swelling,  pitting  on  pressure,  extends  forward  on  the  lower  surface  of 
tlie  abdomen.  When  this  goes  on  to  active  inflammation  one  or  ))oth 
of  the  glands  become  enlarged,  hot,  tense,  and  painful;  the  milk  is 
dried  up  or  replaced  hy  a  watery  or  reddish  serous  fluid,  which  at 
times  becomes  fetid;  the  animal  walks  lame,  loses  appetite,  and  shows 
general  disorder  and  fever.  The  condition  may  end  in  recoverv,  in 
abscess,  induration,  or  gangrene,  and  in  some  cases  may  lay  the  foun- 
dation for  a  tumor  of  the  gland, 

Trentnient. — The  treatment  is  simple  so  long  as  there  is  only  conges- 
tion. Active  rubbing  with  lard  or  oil,  or,  better,  camphorated  oil, 
and  the  frequent  drawing  ofl:  of  the  milk,  by  the  foal  or  with  the  hand, 
will  usually  bring  about  a  rapid  improvement.  When  active  inflam- 
mation is  pi-esent  fomentation  with  w^arm  water  may  ])e  kept  up  for 
an  hour  and  followed  by  the  application  of  the  camphorated  oil,  to 
which  has  been  added  some  carbonate  of  soda  and  extract  of  bella- 
donna, A  dose  of  laxative  medicine  (4  drams  Barbados  aloes)  will 
be  of  service  in  reducing  fever,  and  one-half  ounce  saltpeter  daily  will 
serve  a  similar  end.  In  case  the  milk  coagulates  in  the  udder  and  can 
not  be  withdrawn,  or  when  the  liquid  becomes  fetid,  a  solution  of  20 
grains  carbonate  of  soda  and  10  drops  carbolic  acid  dissolved  in  an 
ounce  of  water  should  be  injected  into  the  teat.  In  doing  this  it  must 
be  noted  that  the  mare  has  three  separate  ducts  opening  on  the  summit 
of  each  teat  and  each  must  be  caref  ull}^  injected.  To  draw  off  the 
fetid  product  it  may  be  needful  to  use  a  suiall  milking  tube,  or  spring 
teat  dilator  designed  by  the  writer  (Plate  VIII,  figs.  2  aud  3).  When 
'pus  forms  and  points  externally,  and  can  not  find  a  free  escape  b}'  the 
teat,  the  spot  where  it  fluctuates  must  be  opened  freely  with  the  knife 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  189 

and  the  cavity  injected  daily  with  the  carbolic-acid  lotion.  When  the 
gland  becomes  hard  and  indolent  it  may  be  rubbed  daily  Avith  iodine 
ointment  1  part,  vaseline  6  parts. 

TUMOES    OF    THE    UDDER. 

As  the  result  of  inflammation  of  the  udder  it  may  become  the  seat  of 
an  indurated  diseased  growth,  which  may  go  on  growing  and  seriously 
interfere  with  the  movement  of  the  hind  limbs.  If  sucii  swellings  will 
not  give  way  in  their  early  stages  to  treatment  by  iodine,  the  only 
resort  is  to  cut  them  out  with  a  knife.  As  the  gland  is  often  impli- 
cated and  has  to  be  removed,  such  mares  can  not  in  the  future  suckle 
their  colts,  and  therefore  should  not  be  bred. 

SORE   TEATS,    SCABS,    CRACKS,    ^^'ARTS. 

By  the  act  of  sucking,  especially  in  cold  weather,  the  teats  are  sub- 
ject to  abrasions,  cracks,  and  scabs,  and  as  the  result  of  such  irrita- 
tion, or  indei^endentl}",  warts  sometimes  grow  and  prove  troublesome. 
The  M^arts  should  be  clipped  off  with  sharp  scissors  and  their  roots 
burned  with  a  solid  pencil  of  lunar  caustic.  This  is  best  done  before 
parturition  to  secure  healing  before  suckling  begins.  For  sore  teats 
use  an  ointment  of  vaseline  1  ounce,  balsam  of  tolu  5  grains,  and 
sulphata  of  sine  5  grains. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

By  M.  E.  Tri-mbowek,  V.  S. 
[Revised  in  1903  by  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  8.,  V.  M.  D.] 

THE   ANATOMY   AXD   PHYSIOLOGY   OF   THE   BRAIN   AND   NERVOUS    SYSTEM. 

The  nervous  system  may  bo  regarded  as  consisting  of  ^two  sets  of 
organs,  peripheral  and  central,  the  function  of  one  being  to  establish 
a  communication  between  the  centers  and  the  different  parts  of  the 
body,  and  that  of  the  other  to  generate  nervous  force.  The  whole 
may  be  arranged  under  two  divisions:  First,  the  cerebrospinal  system; 
second,  the  synqxithetlc,  or  ganglionic  system.  Each  is  possessed  of 
its  own  central  and  peripheral  organs. 

In  the  iirst,  the  center  is  made  up  of  two  portions — one  large  and 
expanded  (the  brain)  placed  in  the  cranial  cavity;  the  other  elongated 
(spinal  cord),  continuous  with  the  brain,  and  lodged  in  the  canal  of 
the  vertebral  column.  The  peripheral  portion  of  this  sj'stem  con- 
sists of  the  cerebro-spinal  nerves,  which  leave  the  axis  in  S3"mmetrical 
pairs,  and  are  distributed  to  the  skin,  the  voluntary  muscles,  and  the 
organs. 

In  the  second,  the  central  organ  consists  of  a  chain  of  ganglia  con- 
nected by  nerve  cords  which  extends  from  the  head  to  the  rump  on 
each  side  of  the  spine.  The  nerves  of  this  system  are  distributed  to 
the  involuntary  muscles,  mucous  membrane,  viscera,  and  blood  vessels. 

The  two  systems  have  free  intercommunication,  ganglia  being  at 
the  junctions. 

Two  substances,  distinguishable  by  their  color,  enter  into  the  forma- 
tion of  nervous  matter,  namely,  the  white  or  medullary,  and  the  gray 
or  cortical  substance.  Both  are  soft,  fragile,  and  easily  injured,  in 
consequence  of  which  the  principal  nervous  centers  are  well  protected 
by  bony  coverings.  The  nervous  substances  present  two  distinct 
forms — nerve  fibers  and  nerve  cells.  An  aggregation  of  nerve  cells 
constitutes  a  nerve  ganglion. 

The  nerve  fibers  represent  a  conducting  apparatus,  and  serve  to 
place  the  central  nervous  organs  in  connection  with  peripheral  end 
organs.  The  nerve  cells,  however,  besides  transmitting  impulses,  act 
as  physiological  centers  for  automatic,  or  reflex,  movements,  and  also 
for  the  sensoiy,  perceptive,  trophic,  and  secretory  functions.  A  nerve 
190 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  191 

consists  of  a  bundle  of  tubular  fibers,  held  together  b}'  a  dense  areolar 
tissue,  and  inclosed  in  a  membranous  sheath — the  neurilemma.  Nerv^e 
fibers  possess  no  elasticitj^  but  are  very  strong.  Divided  nerves  do 
not  retract. 

Nerves  are  throvv'n  into  a  state  of  excitement  when  stimulated,  and 
are,  therefore,  said  to  possess  excitable  or  irritable  properties.  The 
stimuli  may  be  applied  to,  or  may  act  upon,  any  part  of  the  nen^e. 
Nerves  may  be  paralyzed  b}^  continuous  pressure  being  applied.  When 
the  nerves  divide  into  branches,  there  is  never  any  splitting  up  of  their 
ultimate  fibers,  nor  yet  is  there  ever  any  coalescing  of  them;  they 
retain  their  individuality  from  their  source  to  their  termination. 

Nerves  which  convey  impressions  to  the  centers  are  termed  sensory^ 
or  centrlj^eial,  and  those  which  transmit  stimulus  from  the  centers  to 
organs  of  motion  are  termed  motor,  or  Gentrlfugal.  The  function  of 
the  nervous  system  may,  therefore,  be  defined  in  the  simplest  terms, 
as  follows:  It  is  intended  to  associate  the  different  parts  of  the  body 
in  such  a  manner  that  stimulus  applied  to  one  organ  ma}-  excite  or 
depress  the  activity  of  another. 

The  brain  is  that  portion  of  the  cerebro-spinal  axis  within  the  cra- 
nium, which  may  be  divided  into  four  parts — the  medulla  oblongata, 
the  cerebellian,  the  pons  Varolii,  and  the  cerehruni — and  it  is  covered 
by  three  membranes,  called  the  meninges.  The  outer  of  these  mem- 
branes, the  dura  mater,  is  a  thick,  white,  fibrous  membrane  which 
lines  the  cavity  of  the  cranium,  forming  the  internal  periosteum  of 
the  bones;  it  is  continuous  with  the  spinal  cord  to  the  extremity  of  the 
canal.  The  second,  the  araclinold,  is  a  delicate  serous  membrane,  and 
loosely  envelops  the  brain  and  spinal  cord;  it  forms  two  layers,  leav- 
ing between  them  the  arachnoid  space  which  contains  the  cerebro- 
sj^inal  fluid,  the  use  of  which  is  to  protect  the  spinal  cord  and  brain 
from  pressure.  The  third,  or  inner,  the^^/«  mater,  is  closely  adherent 
to  the  entire  surface  of  the  brain,  but  is  much  thinner  and  more  vas- 
cular than  vv^hen  it  reaches  the  spinal  cord,  v>^hich  it  also  envelops,  and 
is  continued  to  form  the  sheaths  of  the  spinal  nerves. 

The  medulla  oUojigata  is  the  prolongation  of  the  spinal  cord,  extend- 
ing to  the  pons  Varolii.  This  portion  of  the  brain  is  very  large  in  the 
horse;  it  is  pyramidal  in  shape,  the  narrowest  part  joining  the  cord. 

ThQ2>ons  Varolii  is  the  transverse  projection  on  the  base  of  the  brain, 
between  the  medulla  oblongata  and  the  peduncles  of  the  cerebrum. 

The  cerebellum  is  lodged  in  the  posterior  part  of  the  cranial  cavity, 
immediately  above  the  medulla  oblongata;  it  is  globular  or  elliptical 
in  shape,  the  transverse  diameter  being  greatest.  The  body  of  the 
cerebellum  is  composed  of  gray  matter  externally  and  of  white  matter 
in  the  center.  The  cerebellum  has  the  function  of  coordinating  move- 
ments, that  is,  of  so  associating  them  as  to  cause  them  to  accomplish 
a  definite  purpose.  Injuries  to  the  cere})ellum  cause  disturbances  of 
the  equilibrium,  but  do  not  interfere  with  the  will  power  or  intelligence. 


192  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

The  cd'chram^  or  brain  proper,  occupies  the  anterior  portion  of  the 
cranial  cavity.  It  is  ovoid  in  shape,  with  an  irreguhir  flattened  base, 
and  consists  of  lateral  halves  or  hemispheres.  The  greater  part  of 
the  cerebrum  is  composed  of  white  matter.  The  hemispheres  of  the 
cerebrum  are  usually  said  to  be  the  seat  of  all  ps^'chical  activities. 
Only  when  they  are  intact  are  the  processes  of  feeling",  thinking,  and 
willing  possible.  After  they  are  destroj^ed,  the  organism  comes  to  be 
like  a  complicated  machine,  and  its  activity  is  onl}'  the  expression  of 
the  internal  and  external  stimuli  which  act  upon  it. 

The  .y)in(fl  eoyd,  or  spinal  marrow^,  is  that  part  of  the  cerebro-spinal 
SA'stem  which  is  contained  in  the  spinal  canal  of  the  l)ackbone,  and 
extends  from  the  medulla  oblongata  to  a  short  distance  behind  the 
loins.  It  is  an  irregularly  cylindrical  structure,  divided  into  two 
lateral  symmetrical  halves  by  tissures.  The  spinal  cord  terminates 
posteriorly  in  a  pointed  extremity,  which  is  continued  by  a  mass  of 
nerve  trunks— «/*^<:Z«  equina'.  A  transverse  section  of  the  cord  reveals 
that  it  is  composed  of  white  matter  externally  and  of  gray  matter  inter- 
nally. The  spinal  cord  does  not  fill  up  the  whole  spinal  canal.  The 
latter  contains,  besides,  a  large  venous  sinus,  fatt}'  matter,  the  mem- 
branes of  the  cord,  and  the  cerebro-spinal  fluid. 

The  spinal  nerves,  forty -two  or  forty-three  in  number,  arise  each  l)}^ 
two  roots,  a  superior,  or  sensory,  and  an  inferior,  or  motor.  The 
nerves  originating  from  the  brain  arc  twent3'-four  in  number,  and 
arranged  in  pairs,  which  arc  named  first,  second,  third,  etc.,  counting 
from  before  backward.  They  also  receive  special  names,  according  to 
their  functions,  or  the  parts  to  which  they  are  distributed,  viz: 

1.  Olfactory.  7.  Facial. 

2.  Optic.  8.  Auditory. 

3.  Oculo-motor.  9.  Glosso-pharyngcal. 

4.  Pathetic.  10.  Pneumogastric. 

5.  Trifacial.  11.  Si)inal-accessory. 

6.  Abducenp.  12.  Ilypogloggal. 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    BRAIN    AND    ITS    MEMBRANES. 

Inflammation  ma}'  attack  these  membranes  singly,  or  any  one  of  the 
anatomical  divisions  of  the  nerve  matter,  or  it  may  invade  the  whole 
at  once.  Practical  experience,  however,  teaches  us  that  primary 
inflammation  of  the  dura  mater  is  of  rare  occurrence,  except  in  direct 
mechanical  injuries  to  the  head  or  diseases  of  the  bones  of  the  cranium. 
Neither  is  the  arachnoid  often  affected  with  acute  inflaumiation,  except 
as  a  secondary  result.  The  pia  mater  is  most  commonh'  the  seat  of 
mflammation,  acute  and  subacute,  but  from  its  intimate  relation  with 
the  surface  of  the  brain  the  latter  very  soon  becomes  involved  in  the 
morbid  changes.     Practically,  we  can  not  separate  inflammation  of  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  19& 

pia  mater  from  that  of  the  brain  proper.  Inflammation  may,  however, 
exist  in  the  center  of  the  great  nerve  masses — the  cerebrum,  cerebel- 
lum, pons  Varolii,  or  medulla  at  the  base  of  the  brain — without  involv- 
ing- the  surface.  When,  therefore,  inflammation  invades  the  brain  and 
its  enveloping  membranes  it  is  propeVly  called  encepJialitis ;  when  the 
membranes  alone  are  affected,  it  is  called  meningitis;  or  the  bi'ain  sub- 
stance alone,  cerebritis.  Since  all  of  the  conditions  merge  into  each 
other  and  can  scarcely  be  recognized  separately  during  the  life  of  the 
animal,  they  may  here  be  considered  together. 

encephalitis,  meningitis,  and   cerebritis  (inflammation  of  the  brain  and  it8. 
membranes). 

Causes.- — Exposure  to  extreme  heat  or  cold,  sudden  and  extreme 
changes  of  temperature,  excessive  continued  cerebral  excitement,  over- 
feeding with  nitrogenous  foods,  direct  injuries  to  the  brain,  such  a» 
concussion,  or  from  fracture  of  the  cranium,  overexertion,  sometimes- 
as  sequelae  to  influenza,  pyemia,  poisons  having  a  direct  influence  upon 
the  encephalic  mass,  extension  of  inflammation  from  neighboring^ 
structures,  food  poisoning,  tumors,  parasites,  metastatic  abscesses,  etc.. 

Sy7n/ptoms. — The  diseases  here  grouped  together  are  accompanied 
by  a  variety  of  symptoms  almost  none  of  which,  however,  are  asso- 
ciated so  definitely  with  a  special  pathological  process  as  to  point  unmis- 
takably to  a  given  lesion.  Usually  the  first  s^miptoms  indicate  mental 
excitement  and  these  are  followed  by  symptoms  indicating  depression.. 
Acute  encephalitis  may  be  ushered  in  by  an  increased  sensibility  to- 
noises,  with  more  or  less  nervous  excitability,  contraction  of  the  pupils- 
of  the  eyes,  and  a  quick,  hard  pulse.  In  very  acute  attacks  these 
symptoms,  however,  are  not  always  noted.  This  condition  will  soon 
be  followed  by  muscular  twitchings,  convulsive  or  spasmodic  move- 
ments, eyes  wide  open  with  shortness  of  sight.  The  animal  becomes- 
af  raid  to  have  his  head  handled.  Convulsions  and  delirium  will  develop^ 
with  inability  of  muscular  control,  or  stupor  and  coma  ma}^  supervene. 
Where  the  membranes  are  greatly  implicated,  convulsions  and  delirium 
with  violence  may  be  expected,  but  where  the  brain  substances  are 
principally  affected  stupor  and  coma  will  be  the  prominent  symptoms. 
In  the  former  condition  the  pulse  will  be  quick  and  hard;  in  the  latter,, 
soft  or  depressed  with  often  a  dilatation  of  the  pupils,  and  deep,  slow, 
stertorous  breathing.  The  sj^mptoms  may  follow  one  another  in  rapid 
succession,  and  the  disease  approach  a  fatal  termination  in  less  thait 
twelve  hours.  In  subacute  attacks  the  symptoms  are  better  defined, 
and  the  animal  seldom  dies  before  the  third  day.  Within  three  or 
four  days  gradual  improvement  may  become  manifest,  or  cerebral 
softening  with  partial  paralysis  may  occur.  In  all  cases  of  encephalitis- 
there  is  a  marked  rise  in  temperature  from  the  very  onset  of  the  dis- 
ease, with  a  tendency  to  increase  until  the  most  alarming  symptoms 
14384—03 13 


194  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

develop,  succeeded  b}'  a  decrease  when  coma  becomes  manifest.  The 
A  iolence  and  character  of  the  symptoms  greatly  depend  upon  the 
extent  and  location  of  the  structures  involved.  Thus,  in  some  cases 
there  may  be  marked  paralysis  of  certain  muscles,  while  in  others 
there  may  be  spasmodic  rigidity  of  muscles  in  a  certain  region.  Very 
rarely  the  animal  becomes  extremely  violent  earh'  in  the  attack,  and 
by  rearing  up,  striking  with  the  forefeet,  or  falling  over,  may  do 
liin)self  great  injury.  Usually,  however,  the  animal  maintains  the 
standing  position,  propping  himself  against  the  manger  or  wall,  until 
he  falls  from  inability  of  muscular  control  or  unconsciousness.  Occa- 
sionallj'  he  may  go  through  a  series  of  automatic  movements  in  his 
delirium,  such  as  trotting  or  walking,  and,  if  loose  in  a  stall,  will 
move  around  in  a  circle  persistently.  Early  and  persistent  constipa- 
tion of  the  bowels  is  a  marked  symptom  in  nearlj^  all  acute  affections 
of  the  brain;  retention  of  the  urine,  also,  is  frequently  observed. 

Following  these  symptoms  there  is  depression,  loss  of  power  and 
consciousness,,  lack  of  ability  or  desire  to  move,  and  usually  fall  of 
temperature.  At  this  stage  the  horse  stands  with  legs  propped,  the 
head  hanging  or  resting  on  the  manger,  the  e3^es  parti}'  closed,  and 
does  not  respond  when  spoken  to  or  when  struck  with  a  whip. 

Chronic  encephalitis  or  meningitis  may  succeed  the  acute  stage,  or 
may  be  due  to  stable  miasma,  blood  poison,  narcotism,  lead  poisoning, 
etc.  This  form  may  not  be  characterized  in  its  initial  stages  by  excit- 
ability, quick  and  hard  pulse,  and  high  fever.  The  animal  usually 
appears  at  first  stupid;  eats  slowly;  the  pupil  of  the  eye  does  not 
respond  to  light  quickly;  the  animal  often  throws  up  his  head  or 
shakes  it  as  if  suffering  sudden  twinges  of  pain.  He  is  slow  and  slug- 
gish in  his  movements,  or  there  may  be  partial  paralysis  of  one  limb, 
one  side  of  the  face,  neck,  or  body.  These  symptoms,  with  some 
variations,  may  be  present  for  several  days  and  then  subside,  or  the 
disease  may  pass  into  the  acute  stage  and  terminate  fatally.  Chronic 
encephalitis  ma}^  affect  an  animal  for  ten  da3"s  or  two  weeks  without 
much  variation  in  the  s3'mptoms  before  the  crisis  is  reached.  If 
improvement  commences  the  symptoms  usually  disappear  in  the  reverse 
order  in  which  they  developed  with  the  exception  of  the  paralytic 
effects,  which  remain  intractable  or  permanent.  Paralysis  of  certain 
sets  of  muscles  is  a  ver}--  common  result  of  chronic,  subacute,  and 
acute  encephalitis,  and  is  due  to  softening  of  the  brain  or  to  exuda- 
tion into  the  cavities  of  the  brain  or  arachnoid  space. 

Softening  and  abscess  of  the  brain  is  one  of  the  terminations  of 
cerebritis.  It  may  also  be  due  to  an  insufficient  supply  of  blood  as  a 
result  of  diseased  cerebral  arteries  and  of  apoplex3^  The  s3^mptoms 
are  drowsiness,  vertigo,  or  attacks  of  giddiness,  increased  timiditv,  or 
fear  of  familiar  objects,  paralysis  of  one  limb,  hemiplegia,  imperfect 
control  of  the  limbs,  and  usually  a  weak,  intermittent  pulse.     In  some 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  195 

cases  tlie  symptoms  are  analogous  to  those  of  apoplex}''.  The  character 
of  the  S3'mptoms  depends  upon  the  seat  of  the  softening  or  abscess 
within  the  brain. 

Cerebral  sclerosis  sometimes  follows  inflammation  in  the  structure 
of  the  brain  affecting  the  connective  tissues,  which  eventually  become 
hypertrophied  and  press  upon  nerve  cells  and  fibers,  causing  their 
ultimate  disappearance,  leaving  the  parts  hard  and  indurated.  This 
condition  gives  rise  to  a  progressive  paralysis  and  may  extend  along 
a  certain  bundle  of  fibers  into  the  spinal  cord.  Complete  paralj^sis 
almost  invariably  supervenes  and  causes  death. 

Lesions. — On  making  postmortem  examinations  of  horses  which  have 
died  in  the  first  stages  of  either  of  these  diseases  we  will  find  an  exces- 
sive engorgement  of  the  capillaries  and  small  blood  vessels,  with  corre- 
spondingly increased  redness  and  changes  in  both  the  contents  and  the 
walls  of  the  vessels.  If  death  has  occurred  a^  a  later  period  of  the 
disease  it  will  be  found  that,  in  addition  to  the  redness  and  engorge- 
ment, an  exudation  of  the  contents  of  the  blood  vessels  into  the  tissues 
and  upon  the  surfaces  of  the  inflamed  parts  has  supervened.  If  the 
case  has  been  one  of  encephalitis,  there  will  usually  be  found  more  or 
loss  watery  fluid  in  the  ventricles  (natural  cavities  in  the  brain),  in  the 
subarachnoid  space,  and  a  serous  exudation  between  the  convolutions 
and  interstitial  spaces  of  the  gra}"  matter  under  the  membranes  of  the 
brain.  The  amount  of  fluid  varies  in  different  cases.  Exudations  of 
a  membranous  character  ma}^  be  present  and  are  found  attached  to  the 
surface  of  the  pia  mater. 

In  meningitis,  especiall}^  in  chronic  cases,  in  addition  to  the  serous 
effusion,  there  are  changes  which  maybe  regarded  as  characteristic  in 
the  formation  of  a  delicate  and  highl}^  vascular  la3^er  or  layers  of  mem- 
brane or  organized  structure  on  the  surface  of  the  dura  mater,  and  also 
indications  of  hemorrhages  in  connection  with  the  membranous  forma- 
tions. Hematoma,  or  blood  tumors,  may  be  found  embedded  in  this 
membrane.  In  some  cases  the  hemorrhages  are  copious,  causing 
paralj'sis  or  apoplexy,  followed  by  speedy  death.  The  meningitis  may 
be  suppurative.  In  this  case,  a  pus-like  exudate  is  found  between 
the  membranes  covering  the  brain. 

In  cerebritis,  or  inflammation  of  the  interior  of  the  brain,  there  is  a 
tendency  to  softening  and  suppuration  and  the  formation  of  abscesses. 
In  some  cases  the  abscesses  are  small  and  numerous,  surrounded  with 
a  softened  condition  of  the  brain  matter,  and  sometimes  we  may  find 
one  large  abscess..  In  cases  of  recent  development  the  walls  of  the 
abscesses  are  fringed  and  ragged  and  have  no  lining  membrane.  In 
older  or  chronic  cases,  the  walls  of  the  abscesses  are  generally  lined 
with  a  strong  membrane,  often  having  the  appearance  of  a  sac,  or 
C5'st,  and  the  contents  have  a  very  offensive  odor. 

Treatment. — In  all  acute  attacks  of  inflammation  involving  the  mem- 
branes or  cerebral  masses,  it  is  the  pressure  from  the  distended  and 


196  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

engorged  blood  vessels  and  the  rapid  accumulation  of  inflammatory 
products  that  endangers  the  life  of  the  animal  in  even  the  very  early 
stage  of  the  disease.  The  earlier  the  treatment  is  commenced  to  lessen 
the  danger  of  fatal  pressure  from  the  engorged  blood  vessels,  the  less 
amount  of  inflammatory  products  and  effusion  we  have  to  contend  with 
later  on.  The  leading  object,  then,  to  be  accomplished  in  the  treat- 
ment of  the  first  stages  of  encephalitis,  meningitis,  or  cerebritis  is  to 
relieve  the  engorgement  of  the  blood  vessels  before  a  dangerous  degree 
of  effusion  or  exudation  has  taken  place,  and  thereby  lessen  the  irrita- 
tion or  excitability  of  the  affected  structures.  If  the  attempt  to  relieve 
the  engorgement  in  the  first  stage  has  been  onl}^  partially'  successful, 
and  the  second  stage  with  its  inflammatory  products  and  exudations, 
whether  serous  or  plastic,  has  set  in,  then  the  main  objects  in  further 
treatment  arc  to  keep  up  the  strength  of  the  animal  and  hasten  the 
absorption  of  the  exudative  products  as  much  as  possible.  To  obtain 
these  results,  when  the  animal  is  found  in  the  initial  stage  of  the  dis- 
ease, where  there  is  unnatural  excitability  or  stupor  with  increase  of 
temperature  and  ciuickened  pulse,  we  should  apply  cold  to  the  head  in 
the  form  of  cold  water  or  ice.  For  this  purpose  cloths  or  bags  may 
be  used,  and  they  should  be  renewed  as  often  as  necessary.  .  If  the  dis- 
ease is  still  in  its  early  stages  and  the  animal  is  strong,  bleeding  from 
the  jugular  vein  may  be  beneficial.  Good  results  are  to  be  expected 
only  during  the  stage  of  excitement,  while  there  is  a  strong,  full  pulse 
and  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  head  are  red  from  a  plentiful  suppl}^ 
of  blood.  The  finger  should  be  kept  on  the  pulse  and  the  blood  allowed 
to  flow  until  there  is  distinct  softening  of  the  pulse.  As  soon  as  the 
animal  recovers  somewhat  from  the  shock  of  the  bleeding,  the  follow- 
ing medicine  should  be  made  into  a  ball  or  dissolved  in  a  pint  of  warm 
water  and  be  given  at  one  dose:  Barbados  aloes,  7  drams;  calomel,  2 
drams;  powdered  ginger,  1  dram;  tincture  of  aconite,  20  drops. 

The  animal  should  be  placed  in  a  cool,  dark  place,  as  free  from  noise 
as  possible.  When  the  animal  becomes  thirsty  half  an  ounce  of  bro- 
mide of  potash  may  be  dissolved  in  his  drinking  water  every  six  hours. 
Injections  of  warm  water  into  the  rectum  may  facilitate  the  action  of 
the  purgative.  Norwood's  tincture  of  veratrum  viride,  in  20-drop 
doses,  should  be  given  every  hour,  and  1  dram  of  solid  extract  of 
belladonna  every  four  hours  until  the  symptoms  become  modified  and 
the  pulse  regular  and  full. 

If  this  treatment  fails  to  give  relief  the  disease  will  pass  into  the 
advanced  stages,  or,  if  the  animal  has  been  neglected  in  the  early 
stages,  the  treatment  must  be  supplanted  with  the  hypodermic  injec- 
tion of  ergotin,  in  5-grain  doses,  dissolved  in  1  dram  of  water,  every 
six  hours.  The  limbs  ma}^  be  poulticed  above  the  fetlocks  with  mus- 
tard. Warm  blanketing,  to  promote  perspiration,  is  to  be  observed 
in  all  cases  in  which  there  is  no  excessive  perspiration. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  197 

If  the  disease  becomes  chronic  (encephalitis  or  meningitis)  we  must 
place  our  reliance  upon  alteratives  and  tonics,  with  such  incidental 
treatment  as  special  symptoms  may  demand.  Iodide  of  potassium  in 
2-dram  doses  should  be  given  three  times  a  day,  and  1  dram  of  calo- 
mel once  a  day,  to  induce  absorption  of  effusions  or  thickened  mem- 
branes. Tonics,  in  the  form  of  iodide  of  iron  in  1-dram  doses,  to 
which  is  added  2  drams  of  powdered  hydrastis,  may  also  be  given 
every  six  or  eight  hours,  as  soon  as  the  active  fever  has  abated. 
After  the  disappearance  of  the  acute  symptoms,  blisters  (cantharides 
ointment)  ma}^  be  applied  behind  the  poll.  When  paralytic  effects 
remain  after  the  disappearance  of  all  other  s3"mptoius,  sulphate  of 
strychnia  in  2-grain  doses,  in  combination  with  the  other  tonics,  may 
be  given  twice  a  day,  and  be  continued  until  it  produces  muscular 
twitching.  In  some  cases  of  paralysis,  as  of  the  lips  or  throat,  bene- 
fit may  be  derived  from  the  moderate  use  of  the  electric  battery. 
Many  of  the  recoveries  will,  however,  under  the  most  active  and  early 
treatment,  be  but  partial,  and  in  all  cases  the  animals  become  predis- 
posed to  subsequent  attacks.  A  long  period  of  time  should  be  allowed 
to  pass  before  the  animal  is  exposed  to  severe  work  or  great  heat. 
When  the  disease  depends  upon  mechanical  injuries  they  have  to  be 
treated  and  all  causes  of  irritation  to  the  brain  removed.  If  it  is  due 
to  stable  miasma,  uremic  poisoning,  pyemia,  influenza,  rheumatism, 
toxic  agents,  etc.,  they  should  receive  prompt  attention  for  their 
removal  or  mitigation. 

Cerebral  softening,  abscess,  and  sclerosis  are  practically  inacces- 
sible to  treatment,  otherwise  than  such  relief  as  may  be  afforded  by 
the  administration  of  opiates  and  general  tonics,  and,  in  fact,  the  diag- 
nosis is  largely  presumptive. 

CONGESTION  OF  THE  BRAIN,  OR  MEGRIMS. 

Congestion  of  the  brain  consists  in  an  accumulation  of  blood  in  the 
vessels,  also  called  hyperemia,  or  engorgement.  It  may  be  active  or 
passive — active  when  there  is  an  undue  determination  of  blood  or 
diminished  arterial  resistance,  and  passive  when  it  accumulates  in  the 
vessels  of  the  brain,  owing  to  some  obstacle  to  its  return  by  the  veins. 

Causes. — Active  cerebral  congestion  may  be  due  to  hypertrophy  of 
the  left  ventrrcle  of  the  heart,  excessive  exertion,  the  influence  of 
extreme  heat,  sudden  and  great  excitement,  artificial  stimulants,  etc. 
Passive  congestion  may  be  produced  by  any  mechanical  obstruction 
which  prevents  the  proper  return  of  blood  through  the  veins  to  the 
heart,  such  as  a  small  or  ill-fitting  collar,  which  often  impedes  the 
blood  current,  tumors  or  abscesses  pressing  on  the  vein  in  its  course, 
and  organic  lesions  of  the  heart  with  regurgitation. 

Extremel}"  fat  animals  with  short  thick  necks  are  peculiarly  subject 
to  attacks  of  cerebral  congestion.     Simple  congestion,  however,  is 


198  BUliEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

merely  a  functional  affection,  and  in  a  .sligfht  or  moderate  degree 
involves  no  immediate  danger.  Extreme  engorgement,  on  the  con- 
trary, ma}'  be  followed  by  rupture  of  previously  weakened  arteries 
and  capillaries  and  cause  immediate  death,  designated  then  as  a  stroke 
of  apoplex}'. 

Symjjtoms. — Congestion  of  the  brain  is  usually  sudden  in  its  mani- 
festation and  of  short  duration.  The  animal  ma}'  stop  very  suddenly 
and  shake  his  head  or  stand  quietly  braced  on  his  legs,  then  stagger, 
make  a  plunge,  and  fall.  The  eyes  arc  staring,  breathing  hurried  and 
stertorous,  and  the  nostrils  widely  dilated.  This  may  be  followed  by 
coma,  violent  convulsive  movements,  and  death.  Generally,  however, 
the  animal  gains  relief  in  a  short  time,  but  he  may  remain  weak  and 
giddy  for  several  days.  If  it  is  due  to  organic  change  of  the  heart  or 
to  disease  of  the  blood  vessels  in  the  brain,  then  the  symptoms  may  be 
of  slow  development  manifested  by  drowsiness,  dimness  or  imperfect 
vision,  difficulty  in  voluntary  movements,  diminished  sensibility  of  the 
skin,  loss  of  consciousness,  delirium,  and  death.  In  milder  cases  effu- 
sion may  take  place  in  the  arachnoid  spaces  and  ventricles  of  the  brain, 
followed  by  paralysis  and  other  complications. 

Pathology. — In  congestion  of  the  brain  the  cerebral  vessels  are  loaded 
with  blood,  and  the  venous  sinuses  distended  to  an  extreme  degree, 
and  the  pressure  exerted  upon  the  brain  constitutes  actual  compres- 
sion, giving  rise  to  the  symptoms  just  mentioned.  On  postmortem 
examinations  this  engorgement  is  found  universal  throughout  the 
'brain  and  its  membranes,  which  serves  to  distinguish  it  from  inflam- 
mations of  these  structures,  in  which  the  engorgements  are  confined 
more  or  less  to  circumscribed  portions.  A  prolonged  congestion  may, 
however,  lead  to  active  inflammation,  and  in  that  case  we  will  find 
serous  and  plastic  exudations  in  the  cavities  of  the  brain.  In  addition 
to  the  intensely  engorged  condition  of  the  vessels  we  find  the  gray 
matter  of  the  brain  redder  in  color  than  natural.  In  cases  where 
several  attacks  have  occurred  the  blood  vessels  are  often  found  perma- 
nently dilated. 

Treatment. — Prompt  removal  of  all  mechanical  obstructions  to  the 
circulation.  If  it  is  due  to  venous  obstruction  by  too  tight  a  collar,  the 
loosening  of  the  collar  will  give  immediate  relief.  The  horse  should 
be  bled  freely  from  the  jugular  vein.  If  due  to  tumors  or  abscesses, 
a  surgical  operation  becomes  necessary  to  afford  relief.  To  revive  the 
animal  if  he  becomes  partially  or  totally  unconscious,  cold  water  should 
be  dashed  on  the  head.  Give  a  purge  of  Glauber's  salts.  If  the  limbs 
are  cold,  tincture  of  capsicum  or  strong  mustard  water  should  be 
applied  to  them.  If  symptoms  of  paralysis  remain  after  two  or  three 
days,  an  active  cathartic  and  iodide  of  potassa  will  be  indicated,  to 
be  given  as  prescribed  for  inflammation  of  the  brain. 

Pi'evention. — Well-adjusted  collar,  with  strap  running  from  the  col- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  199 

% 

lar  to  the  girth,  to  hold  down  the  collar  when  pulling'  upgrade;  regular 
feed  and  exercise,  without  allowing  the  animal  to  become  excessively 
plethoric;  moderate  checking,  allowing  a  free-and-easy  movement  of 
the  head;  well-ventilated  stabling,  proper  cleanliness,  pure  water,  etc. 

SUNSTROKE,    HEAT    STROKE,    OR    HEAT   EXHAUSTION. 

The  term  sunstroke  is  applied  to  affections  occasioned  not  exclusively 
by  exposure  to  the  sun's  rays,  as  the  word  signifies,  but  by  the  action 
of  great  heat  combined  generally  with  humid  atmosphere.  Exhaustion 
produced  bj^  a  long-continued  heat  is  often  the  essential  factor,  and  is 
called  heat  exhaustion.  Horses  on  the  race  track  undergoing  pro- 
ti-acted  and  severe  work  in  hot  weather  often  succumb  to  heat  exliaus- 
tion.  Draft  horses  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  for  many 
hours^  which  do  not  receive  proper  care  in  watering,  feeding,  and  rest 
in  shady  places,  suffer  very  frequently  from  sunstroke. 

Symptoms. — Sunstroke  is  manifested  suddenly.  The  animal  stops, 
drops  his  head,  begins  to  stagger,  and  soon  falls  to  the  ground  uncon- 
scious. The  breathing  is  marked  with  great  stertor,  the  pulse  is  very 
slow  and  irregular,  cold  sweats  break  out  in  patches  on  the  surface  of 
the  body,  and  the  animal  often  dies  without  recovering  consciousness. 
The  temperature  becomes  very  high,  reaching  105°  to  109"  F. 

In  heat  exhaustion  the  animal  usuall}^  requires  urging  for  some 
time  previous  to  the  appearance  of  any  other  symptoms,  generally 
perspiration  is  checked,  and  then  he  becomes  weak  in  his  gait,  the 
breathing  hurried  or  panting,  eyes  wateiy  or  bloodshot,  nostrils 
dilated  and  highl}^  reddened,  assuming  a  dark,  purple  color;  the  pulse 
is  rapid  and  weak,  the  heart  l)oundi ng,  followed  by  unconsciousness 
and  death.  If  recovery  takes  place,  convalescence  extends  over  a  long- 
period  of  time,  during  which  incoordination  of  movement  may  persist. 

Pathology. — Sunstroke,  virtually  active  congestion  of  the  brain, 
often  accompanied  by  effusion  and  blood  extravasation,  characterizes 
this  condition,  with  often  rapid  and  fatal  lowering  of  all  the  vital 
functions.  The  death  may  be  due  in  many  instances  to  the  complete 
stagnation  in  the  circulation  of  the  brain,  inducing  anemia,  or  want  of 
nourishment  of  that  organ.  In  other  cases  it  may  be  directly  due  to 
the  excessive  compression  of  the  nerve  matter  controlling  the  heart's 
action,  and  cause  paral3^si8  of  that  organ.  There  are  also  changes  in 
the  composition  of  the  blood. 

Treatment. — Under  no  circumstances  is  bloodletting  permissible  in 
sunstroke.  Ice  or  very  cold  water  should  be  applied  to  the  head  and 
along  the  spine  and  half  an  ounce  of  carbonate  of  ammonia  or  6 
ounces  of  whiskj^  should  be  given  in  1  ^^int  of  water.  Cold  water 
should  be  showered  upon  the  bod}^  of  the  horse  from  the  hose  or 
otherwise.  This  should  be  continued  until  the  temperature  is  down 
to  103°  F.     Brisk  friction  of  the  limbs  and  the  application  of  spirits 


200  ^       BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    IKDUSTRY. 

of  camphor  oftc7\  3'ield  good  results.  The  adunnistration  of  the  stim- 
ulants should  be  repeated  in  one  hour  if  the  pulse  has  not  become 
stronger  and  slower.  In  either  case,  when  reaction  has  occurred, 
preparations  of  iron  and  general  tonics  may  be  given  during  conva- 
lescence: Sulphate  of  iron,  1  dram;  gentian,  3  drams;  red  cinchona 
bark,  2  drams;  mix  and  give  in  the  feed  morning  and  evening. 

Prevention. — In  very  hot  weather  horses  should  have  wet  sponges 
or  light  sunshades  on  the  head  when  at  work,  or  the  head  may  be 
sponged  with  cold  water  as  many  times  a  day  as  possible.  Proper 
attention  should  be  given  to  feeding  and  watering,  never  in  excess. 
During  the  warm  months  all  stables  should  be  cool  and  well  ventilated, 
and  if  an  animal  is  debilitated  from  exhaustive  work  or  disease  he 
should  receive  such  treatment  as  will  tend  to  build  up  the  sj'stem. 
Horses  should  be  permitted  to  drink  as  nuich  water  as  the}-  want  while 
they  are  at  work  during  hot  weather. 

An  animal  which  has  been  affected  with  sunstroke  is  ver^^  liable  to 
have  subsequent  attacks  w^hen  exposed  to  the  necessarj^  exciting 
causes. 

APOrLEXY,    OR   CEREBRAL    HEMORRHAGE. 

Apoplexy  is  often  confounded  with  cerebral  congestion,  but  true 
apoplexy  always  consists  in  rupture  of  cerebral  blood  vessels,  with 
blood  extravasation  and  formation  of  blood  clot. 

Causes. — Two  causes  are  involved  in  the  production  of  apoplexy, 
the  j?r66?/.?/>06'2'w(7  and  the  exciting.  The  predisposing  cause  is  degen- 
eration, or  disease  which  weakens  the  blood  vessel;  the  exciting  cause 
is  any  one  which  tends  to  induce  cerebral  congestion. 

Symptoms. — Apoplexy  is  characterized  by  a  sudden  loss  of  sensa- 
tion and  motion,  profound  coma,  and  stertorous  and  difficult  breathing. 
The  action  of  the  heart  is  little  disturbed  at  first,  but  soon  becomes 
slower,  then  quicker  and  feebler,  and  after  a  little  time  ceases.  If 
the  rupture  is  one  of  a  small  arter}^  and  the  extravasation  limited, 
sudden  paral3^sis  of  some  part  of  the  bod}"  is  the  result.  The  extent 
and  location  of  the  paralysis  depend  upon  the  location  within  the 
brain  which  is  functionally'  deranged  by  the  pressure  of  the  extra- 
vasated  blood;  hence  tliese  conditions  are  very  variable. 

In  the  absence  of  an}-  premonitory  symptoms  or  an  increase  of  tem- 
perature in  the  early  stage  of  the  attack,  we  may  be  reasonabl}'  certain 
in  making  the  distinction  between  this  disease  and  congestion  of  the 
brain,  or  sunstroke. 

Pathology. — In  apoplexy  there  is  generall}'  found  an  atheromatous 
condition  of  the  cerebral  vessels,  with  weakening  and  degeneration  of 
their  walls.  When  a  large  artery  has  been  ruptured  it  is  usuall}'  fol- 
lowed by  immediate  death,  and  large  rents  may  be  found  in  the  cere- 
brum, with  great  destruction  of  brain  tissue,  induced  by  the  forcible 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  201 

pressure  of  the  liberated  blood.  In  small  extravasations  producing 
local  paralysis  without  marked  general  disturbance,  the  animal  may 
recover  after  a  time;  in  such  cases  gradual  absorption  of  the  clot  takes 
place.  In  large  clots  atrophy  of  the  brain  substance  may  follow,  or 
softening  and  abscess  from  want  of  nutrition  may  result,  and  render 
the  animal  worthless,  ultimately  resulting  in  death. 

Treatment. — Place  the  animal  in  a  quiet,  cool  place  and  avoid  all  stinui- 
lating  food.  Administer,  in  his  drinking  water  or  feed,  2  drams  of  the 
iodide  of  potassa  twice  a  day  for  several  weeks  if  necessary.  Medical 
interference  with  sedatives  or  stimulants  is  more  apt  to  be  harmful  than 
of  benefit,  and  bloodletting  in  an  apoplectic  fit  is  extremel}^  hazardous. 
From  the  fact  that  cerebral  apoplexy  is  due  to  diseased  or  weakened 
blood  vessels,  the  animal  remains  subject  to  subsequent  attacks. 

COMPRESSION    OF    THE    BRAIN. 

Causes. — In  injuries  from  direct  violence  apiece  of  broken  bone  may 
press  upon  the  brain,  and,  according  to  its  size,  the  brain  is  robbed  of 
its  normal  space  within  the  cranium.  It  may  also  be  due  to  an  extrava- 
sation of  blood  or  to  exudation  in  the  subdural  or  arachnoid  spaces. 
Death  from  active  cerebral  congestion  results  through  compression. 
The  occurrence  may  sometimes  be  traced  to  the  direct  cause,  which 
will  give  assurance  for  the  correct  diagnosis. 

Symptoms. — Impairment  of  all  the  special  senses  and  localized  paraly- 
sis. All  the  sj'mptoms  of  lessened  functional  activity  of  the  brain  are 
manifested  to  some  degree.  The  paralysis  remains  to  be  our  guide  for 
the  location  of  the  cause,  for  it  will  be  found  that  the  paralysis  occurs 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  body  from  the  location  of  the  injury,  and 
the  parts  suffering  paral3"sis  will  denote,  to  an  expert  veterinarian  or 
ph3^sician,  the  part  of  the  brain  which  is  suffering  compression. 

Treatment. — Trephining,  by  a  skillful  operator,  for  the  removal  of 
the  cause  when  due  to  depressed  bone  or  the  presence  of  foreign  bodies. 
When  the  s3miptoms  of  compression  follow  other  acute  diseases  of  the 
brain,  apoplectic  fits,  etc.,  the  treatment  must  be  such  as  the  exigencies 
of  the  case  demands. 

CONCUSSION   OF    THE    BRAIN. 

Causes. — This  is  generally  caused  by  an  animal  falling  over  back- 
ward and  striking  his  poll,  or  perhaps  falling  forward  on  his  nose;  by 
a  blow  on  the  head,  etc.  Train  accidents  during  shipping  often  cause 
concussion  of  the  brain. 

Symptoms. — Concussion  of  the  brain  is  characterized  by  giddiness, 
stupor,  insensibility,  or  loss  of  muscular  power,  succeeding  immediately 
upon  a  blow  or  severe  injury  involving  the  cranium.  The  animal 
ma}"  rall}^  quickly,  or  not  for  hours;  death  may  occur  on  the  spot  or 
after  a  few  da\'s.     When  there  is  only  slight  concussion  or  stunning 


202  liUliEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

the  animal  soon  recovers  from  the  shock.  When  more  severe,  insen- 
sibility may  be  complete  and  continue  for  a  considerable  time;  the 
animal  lies  as  if  in  a  deep  sleep;  the  pupils  are  insensible  to  light; 
the  pulse  fluttering  or  feeble;  the  surface  of  the  body  cold,  muscles 
relaxed,  and  the  breathing  scarcely  perceptible.  After  a  variable 
interval  partial  recovery  ma}^  take  place,  which  is  marked  by  paralysis 
of  some  parts  of  the  bod}',  often  of  a  limb,  the  lips,  ear,  etc.  Conva- 
lescence is  usually  tedious,  and  frequently  permanent  impairment  of 
some  organs  remains. 

PatJwlogy. — Concussion  produces  laceration  of  the  brain,  or  at  least 
a  jarring  of  the  nervous  elements,  which  if  not  sufficiently  sevei"e  to 
produce  sudden  death  msij  lead  to  softening  or  inflammation,  with 
their  respective  symptoms  of  functional  derangement. 

Treatment. — The  first  object  in  treatment  will  be  to  establish  reac- 
tion or  to  arouse  the  feeble  and  weakening  heart.  This  can  often  be 
accomplished  b}^  dashing  cold  water  on  the  head  and  body  of  the  ani- 
mal; frequent  injections  of  weak  ammonia  water,  ginger  tea,  or  oil  and 
turpentine  should  be  given  per  rectum.  In  the  majoritj''  of  cases  this 
will  soon  bring  the  horse  to  a  state  of  consciousness.  In  more  severe 
cases  mustard  poultices  should  be  applied  along  the  spine  and  above 
the  fetlocks.  As  soon  as  the  animal  gains  partial  consciousness  stimu- 
lants, in  the  form  of  whisk}'  or  capsicum  tea,  should  be  given.  Owing 
to  severity  of  the  structural  injury  to  the  brain  or  the  possible  rupture 
of  blood  vessels  and  blood  extravasation,  the  reaction  may  often  be  fol- 
lowed by  encephalitis  or  cerebritis,  and  will  then  have  to  be  treated 
accordingly-.  For  this  reason  the  stimulants  should  not  be  adminis- 
tered too  f  reel}',  and  they  must  be  abandoned  as  soon  as  reaction  is 
established.  There  is  no  need  for  further  treatment  unless  complica- 
tions develop  as  a  secondary  result.  Bleeding,  which  is  so  often  prac- 
ticed, proves  almost  invariably  fatal  in  this  form  of  brain  affection. 
We  should  also  remember  that  it  is  never  safe  to  drench  a  horse  with 
large  quantities  of  medicine  when  he  is  unconscious,  for  he  is  very 
liable  to  draw  the  medicine  into  the  lungs  in  inspiration. 

Prevention. — Young  horses,  when  harnessed  or  bitted  for  the  first 
few  times,  should  not  have  their  heads  checked  up  high,  for  it  fre- 
quently causes  them  to  rear  up,  and,  being  unable  to  control  their  bal- 
ance, they  are  liable  to  fall  over  sideways  or  backwards,  thus  causing 
brain  concussion  when  they  strike  the  ground. 

ANEMIA    OF    THE    BllAIN. 

This  is  a  physiological  condition  in  sleep. 

Causes. — It  is  considered  a  disease  or  may  give  rise  to  disease  when 
the  circulation  and  blood  supply  of  the  brain  are  interfered  with.  In 
some  diseases  of  the  heart  the  brain  becomes  anemic,  and  fainting  fits 
occur,  Avith  temporar}-  loss  of  consciousness.     Tumors  growing  within 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HUESE.  203 

the  cranium  may  press  upon  one  or  more  arteries  and  stop  the  supply 
of  blood  to  certain  parts  of  the  brain,  thus  inducing  anemia,  ultimately 
atrophy,  softening,  or  suppuration.  Probabl}^  the  most  frequent  cause 
is  found  in  plugging,  or  occlusion,  of  the  arteries  by  a  blood  clot. 

Symjytoms. — Imperfect  vision,  constantly  dilated  pupils,  frequently 
a  feeble  and  staggering  gait,  and  occasionally  cramps,  convulsions,  or 
epileptic  fits  occur. 

Pathology. — The  exact  opposite  of  cerel^ral  hyperemia.  The  blood 
vessels  are  found  empty,  the  membranes  blanched,  and  the  brain  sub- 
stance softened. 

Treatment.- — Removal  of  the  remote  cause  when  possible.  General 
tonics,  nutritious  food,  rest,  and  removal  from  all  causes  of  nervous 
excitement. 

IIYDllOCErnALUS,    OR   DROPSY    OF   THE    BRAIX. 

This  condition  consists  in  an  unnatural  collection  of  fluid  about  or 
in  the  brain.  Depending  upon  the  location  of  the  fluid,  we  speak  of 
external  and  internal  hj^drocephalus. 

External  hydrocephalus  is  seen  chiefly  in  young  animals.  It  con- 
sists in  a  collection  of  fluid  under  the  meninges,  but  outside  of  the 
brain  proper.  This  defect  is  usually  congenital.  It  is  accompanied  by 
an  enlargement  of  the  skull,  especially  in  the  region  of  the  forehead. 
The  pressure  of  the  fluid  may  cause  the  bones  to  soften.  The  disease 
is  incurable  and  usually  fatal. 

Internal  hydrocephalus  is  a  disease  of  mature  horses,  and  consists  in 
the  accumulation  of  an  excessive  quantity  of  fluid  in  the  cavities  or 
ventricles  of  the  cerebrum.  The  cause  of  this  accumulation  may  be  a 
previous  inflammation,  a  defect  in  the  circulation  of  blood  through 
the  brain,  heat  stroke,  overwork,  excessive  nutrition,  or  long-continued 
indigestion.  Common,  heav3'-headed  draft  horses  are  predisposed  to 
this  condition. 

The  synqytoms  are  an  expression  of  dullness  and  stupidity,  and  from 
their  nature  this  disease  is  sometimes  known  as  "dumminess"  or 
"immobilit}".-'  Ahorse  so  afflicted  is  called  a  "dumm3\"  Among 
the  symptoms  are  loss  of  intelligence,  stupid  expression,  poor  memorj', 
etc.  The  appetite  is  irregular;  the  horse  may  stop  chewing  with  a 
wisp  of  ha}'  protruding  from  his  lips;  he  seems  to  forget  that  it  is 
there.  Unnatural  positions  are  sometimes  assumed,  the  legs  being 
placed  in  clumsy  and  unusual  attitudes.  Such  horses  are  difficult  to 
drive,  as  they  do  not  respond  readil}'  to  the  word,  to  pressure  of  the 
bit,  or  to  the  whip.  Graduall}^  the  pulse  becomes  weaker,  respiration 
becomes  faster,  and  the  subject  loses  weight.  Occasionally  there  are 
periods  of  great  excitement  due  to  temporary  congestion  of  the  brain. 
At  such  times  the  horse  becomes  quite  uncontrollable.  A  horse  so 
afflicted  is  said  to  have  "staggers."  The  outlook  for  recovery  is  not 
good. 


204  EUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Treatment  is  merely  palliative.  Regular  work  or  exercise  and  nutri- 
tious food  easy  of  digestion,  with  plenty  of  fresh  water,  are  strongly 
indicated.  Intensive  feeding  should  not  be  practiced.  The  bowels 
should  be  kept  open  by  the  use  of  appropriate  diet  or  h^  the  use  of 
small  regular  doses  of  Glauber's  salts. 

TUMORS    WITHIN    THE    CRANIUM. 

Tumors  within  the  cranial  cavity  and  the  brain  occur  not  infre- 
quentl}^  and  give  rise  to  a  variety  of  symptoms,  imperfect  control  of 
voluntary  movement,  local  paraly.sis,  epilepsy,  etc.  Among-  the  more 
common  tumors  are  the  following: 

Osseous  tumors^  growing  from  the  walls  of  the  cranium,  arc  not  very 
uncommon. 

Dentigerous  cysts^  containing  a  formation  identical  to  that  of  a  tooth, 
growing  from  the  temporal  bone,  sometimes  are  found  l3"ing  loose 
within  the  cranium. 

Tumors  of  the  choroid  plexus^  known  as  hrain  sand^  are  frequently 
met  with  on  postmortem  examinations,  but  seldom  give  rise  to  any 
appreciable  symptoms  during  life.  They  are  found  in  horses  at  all 
ages,  and  are  of  slow  development.  They  are  found  in  one  or  both  of 
the  lateral  ventricles,  enveloped  in  the  folds  of  the  choroid  plexus. 

Melanotic  tumors  have  been  found  in  the  brain  and  meninges  in  the 
form  of  small,  black  nodules  in  gray  horses,  and  in  one  instance  are 
believed  to  have  induced  the  condition  known  as  string-halt. 

Fibrous  tumors  may  develop  within  or  from  the  meningeal  structures 
of  the  brain. 

Gliomatous  tumor  is  a  variety  of  sarcoma  very  rarely  found  in  the 
structure  of  the  cerebellum. 

Treatment  for  tumors  of  the  brain  is  impossible. 

SPASMS,    OR   CRAMPS. 

Causes. — Spasm  is  a  marked  symptom  in  many  diseases  of  the  brain 
and  of  the  spinal  cord.  Spasms  may  result  from  irritation  of  the 
motor  nerves  as  conductors,  or  may  result  from  irritation  of  an}^  part 
of  the  sympathetic  nervous  system,  and  they  usually  indicate  an  excess- 
ive action  of  the  reflex  motor  centers.  Spasms  may  be  induced  by 
various  medicinal  agents  given  in  poisonous  doses,  or  by  effete  mate- 
rials in  the  circulation,  such  as  nux  vomica  or  its  alkaloid  strychnia, 
lead  preparations,  or  an  excess  of  the  urea  products  in  the  circulation, 
etc.  Spasms  may  be  divided  into  two  classes:  Tonic  spasm .^  when  the 
cramp  is  continuous  or  results  in  persistent  rigidity,  as  in  tetanus; 
clonic  spasm^  when  the  cramping  is  of  short  duration,  or  is  alternated 
with  relaxations.  Spasms  may  affect  involuntary  as  well  as  the  vol- 
untary muscles,  the  muscles  of  the  glottis,  intestines,  and  even  the 
heart.     They  are  always  sudden  in  their  development. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  205 

Spasm,  of  the  glottis. — This  is  manifested  by  a  strangling  respira- 
tion; a  wheezing-  noise  is  produced  in  the  act  of  inspiration;  extreme 
anxiety  and  suffering  for  want  of  air.  The  head  is  extended,  the 
body  profusely  perspiring;  pulse  very  rapid;  soon  great  exhaustion 
becomes  manifest;  the  mucous  membranes  become  turgid  and  very 
dark-colored,  and  the  animal  thus  may  suffocate  in  a  short  time. 

Spasms  of  the  intestines. — (See  "Cramp  colic,"  p.  58.) 

SjMsms  of  the  neck  of  the  Madder.- — This  may  be  due  to  spinal  irri- 
tation or  a  reflex  from  intestinal  irritation,  and  is  manifested  by  fre- 
quent but  ineffectual  attempts  to  urinate. 

Sjyasm  of  the  diaphragm^  or  thumps. — Spasmodic  contraction  of  the 
diaphragm,  the  principal  muscle  used  in  respiration,  is  generally  occa- 
sioned b}^  extreme  and  prolonged  speeding  on  the  race  track  or  road. 
The  severe  strain  thus  put  upon  this  muscle  finally  induces  irritation 
of  the  nerves  controlling  it,  and  the  contractions  become  very  forcible 
and  violent,  giving  the  jerking  character  known  among  horsemen  as 
"thumps."  This  condition  may  be  distinguished  from  violent  beating 
of  the  heart  by  feeling  the  pulse  beat  at  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and  at 
the  same  time  watching  the  jerking  movement  of  the  body,  when  it 
will  be  discovered  that  the  two  bear  no  relation  to  each  other.  (See 
"Palpitation  of  the  heart,"  p.  236.) 

Spasm  of  the  thigh.,  or  cramp  of  a  hind  limh. — This  is  frequently 
witnessed  in  horses  that  stand  on  sloping  plank  floors — generally  in 
cold  weather — or  it  nmy  come  on  soon  after  severe  exercise.  It  is 
probably  due  to  an  irritation  of  the  nerves  of  the  thigh.  In  cramps 
of  the  hind  leg  the  limb  becomes  perfectly  rigid,  and  attempts  to  flex 
the  leg  are  unsuccessful;  the  animal  stands  on  the  affected  limb,  but 
is  unable  to  move  it;  it  is  unnaturally  cold;  it  does  not,  however, 
appear  to  cause  much  suffering  unless  attempts  are  made  to  change 
position.  This  cramp  may  be  of  short  duration — a  few  minutes — or 
it  may  persist  for  several  days.  This  condition  is  often  taken  for  a 
dislocation  of  the  stifle  joint.  In  the  latter  the  foot  is  extended  back- 
ward, and  the  horse  is  unable  to  advance  it,  but  drags  the  limb  after 
him.  An  examination  of  the  joint  also  reveals  a  change  in  form. 
Spasms  may  affect  the  eyelids,  b}^  closure  or  by  retraction.  Spasm  of 
the  sterno-maxillaris  muscle  has  been  witnessed,  and  the  animal  was 
unable  to  close  the  jaws  until  the  muscle  became  relaxed. 

Treatment  of  spasms. — An  anodyne  liniment,  composed  of  chloro- 
form 1  part  and  soap  liniment  4  parts,  applied  to  cramped  muscles, 
will  usually  cause  relaxation.  This  may  be  used  where  single  external 
muscles  are  affected.  In  spasm  of  the  glottis,  inhalation  of  sulphuric 
ether  will  give  quick  relief.  In  spasm  of  the  diaphragm,  rest  and  the 
administration  of  half  an  ounce  of  chloroform  in  3  ounces  of  whisk}^ 
with  a  pint  of  water  added,  will  generally  suffice  to  bring  relief,  or  if 
this  fails  give  5  grains  of  sulphate  of  morphia  by  hypodermic  injec- 
tion.    If  spasms  result  from  organic  disease  of  the  nervous  system, 


206  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  latter  should  receive  such  treatment  as  its  character  demands.  In 
cramp  of  the  leg  compulsory  movement  usually  cau  :e3  relaxation  very 
quickly;  therefore  the  animal  should  be  led  out  of  the  stable  and  be 
forced  to  run  or  trot.  Sudden  nervous  excitement,  caused  by  a  crack 
of  the  whip  or  smart  blow,  will  often  bring  about  immediate  relief. 
Should  this  fail,  the  anodyne  liniment  may  be  used  along  the  inside 
of  the  thigh,  and  chloroform,  ether,  or  laudanum  given  internally.  An 
ounce  of  the  chloral  hydrate  will  certainly  relieve  the  spasm  when 
given  internally,  but  the  cramp  may  return  soon  after  the  effect  has 
passed  off,  which  in  manj'  cases  it  does  very  quickl3\ 

Conmdsions. — Althougli  there  is  no  disease  of  the  nervous  system 
which  can  be  properly  termed  convulsive,  or  justify  the  use  of  the 
word  convulsion  to  indicate  any  particular  disease,  yet  it  is  often 
such  a  prominent  sj'mptom  that  a  few  words  ma}'  not  be  out  of  place. 
General,  irregular  muscular  contractions  of  various  parts  of  the  body, 
with  unconsciousness,  characterize  what  we  regard  as  convulsions, 
and  like  ordinarj-  spasms  are  dependent  upon  some  disease  or  irrita- 
tion of  the  nervous  structures,  chiefly  of  the  brain.  No  treatment  is 
required;  in  fact,  a  general  convulsion  must  necessarily  be  self -limited 
in  its  duration.  Suspending,  as  it  does,  respiratory  movements, 
checking  the  oxygenation  and  dccarbonization  of  the  blood,  the  rapid 
accumulation  of  carbonic-acid  gas  in  the  blood  and  the  exclusion  of 
oxj^gen  quickly  puts  the  blood  in  a  condition  to  produce  the  most 
reliable  and  speedy  sedative  effect  upon  the  nerve  excitability  that 
could  be  found,  and  consequently  furnishes  its  own  remedy,  so  far  as 
the  continuance  of  the  convulsive  paroxysm  is  concerned.  Whatever 
treatment  is  instituted  must  be  directed  toward  a  removal  of  the  cause 
of  the  convulsive  paroxysm. 

CHOREA,    OR    ST.    VITUS   DANCK. 

Chorea  is  characterized  by  involuntaiy  contractions  of  voluntary 
muscles.  This  disease  is  an  obscure  disorder,  which  may  be  due  to 
pressure  upon  a  nerve,  cerebral,  or  spinal  sclerosis,  small  aneurisms 
in  the  brain,  etc.  Choreic  symptoms  have  been  produced  by  injecting 
granules  of  starch  into  the  arteries  entering  the  brain.  Epilepsy  and 
other  foi-ms  of  convulsions  simulate  chorea  in  appeaiimce. 

SfringhaJt  is  b}'  some  termed  chorea.  This  is  manifested  by  a  sud- 
den jerking  up  of  one  or  both  hind  legs  when  the  animal  is  walking. 
This  S3'mptom  ma}'  be  very  slight  in  some  horses,  but  has  a  tendency 
to  increase  with  the  age  of  the  animal.  In  some  the  catching  up  of 
the  affected  leg  is  very  violent,  and  when  it  is  lowered  to  the  ground 
the  motion  is  equally  sudden  and  forcible,  striking  the  foot  to  the 
ground  like  a  pile  driver.  Very  rarely  chorea  may  be  found  to  affect 
one  of  the  fore  legs,  or  the  muscles  of  one  side  of  the  neck  or  the 
upper  part  of  the  neck.     Involuntar}'^  jerking  of  the  muscles  of  the 


DISEASES    OP   THE    HORSE.  207 

hip  or  thigh  is  seen  occasioually,  and  is  termed  "shivering'"'  by- 
horsemen. 

Chorea  is  often  associated  with  a  nervous  disposition,  and  is  not  so 
frequent  in  animals  with  a  sluggish  temperament.  The  involuutarj^ 
muscular  contractions  cause  no  pain,  and  do  not  appear  to  produce 
much  exhaustion  of  the  affected  muscles,  although  the  jerking  may  be 
regular  and  persistent  whenever  the  animal  is  in  motion. 

Treatment. — In  a  few  cases,  earlj^  in  the  appearance  of  this  affection, 
general  nerve  tonics  may  be  of  benefit,  viz,  iodide  of  iron,  1  dram; 
pulverized  nux  vomica,  1  dram;  pulverized  Scutellaria,  1  ounce.  Mix 
and  give  in  the  feed  once  a  day  for  two  weeks.  Arsenic  in  the  form 
of  Fowler's  solution  is  often  beneficial.  If  the  cause  is  connected 
with  organic  brain  lesions,  treatment  is  usually  unsuccessful. 

EPILEPSY,  OR    FALLING    FITS. 

The  cause  of  epilepsy  is  seldom  traceable  to  any  special  brain  lesions. 
In  a  few  cases  it  accompanies  disease  of  the  pituitary  bod}^,  which  is 
located  in  the  under  surface  of  the  brain.  Softening  of  the  brain  may 
give  rise  to  this  affection.  Attacks  may  occur  onh'  once  or  twice  a 
year  or  they  may  be  of  frequent  recurrence. 

Synijytoms. — No  premonitory  symptoms  precede  an  epileptic  fit. 
The  animal  suddenly  staggers;  the  muscles  become  cramped;  the  jaws 
ma}'-  be  spasmodically  opened  and  closed,  and  the  tongue  become  lacer- 
ated between  the  teeth;  he  foams  at  the  mouth  and  falls  down  in  a 
spasm.  The  urine  flows  away  involuntarily,  and  the  breathing  may 
be  temporarily  arrested.  The  paroxysm  soon  passes  off,  and  the  animal 
gets  on  his  feet  in  a  few  minutes  after  the  return  of  consciousness. 

Treatment. — Dashing  cold  water  on  the  head  during  the  paroxj'sm. 
After  the  recovery,  1  dram  of  oxide  of  zinc  may  be  given  in  his  feed 
twice  a  day  for  several  weeks,  or  benefit  may  be  derived  from  the  tonic 
prescribed  for  chorea. 

PARALYSIS,    OR   PALSY. 

Paralysis  is  a  weakness  or  cessation  of  the  muscular  contraction,  by 
diminution  of  loss  of  the  conducting  power  or  stimulation  of  the  motor 
nerves.  Paralytic  affections  are  of  two  kinds,  the  comjjlete  and  the 
incomplete.  The  former  includes  those  in  which  both  motion  and  sen- 
sibility are  affected;  the  latter  those  in  which  onl}^  one  or  the  other  is 
lost  or  diminished.  Paral3'sis  may  be  general  or  partial.  The  latter 
is  divided  into  hemiplegia  and  paraplegia.  When  oiiXj  a  small  portion 
of  the  body  is  affected,  as  the  face,  a  limb,  the  tail,  it  is  designated 
b}^  the  term  local  paralysis.  When  the  irritation  extends  from  the 
periphery  to  the  center  it  is  termed  reflex  paralysis. 

Causes. — They  are  very  A'aried.  Most  of  the  acute  affections  of  the 
brain  and  spinal  cord  ma}^  lead  to  paralysis.     Injuries,  tumors,  disease 


208  BUKEAIJ    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

of  the  blood  vessels  of  the  brain,  etc.,  all  have  a  tendency  to  produce 
suspension  of  the  conducting  motive  power  to  the  muscular  structures. 
Pressure  upon,  or  the  severing  of,  a  nerve  causes  a  paralysis  of  the 
parts  to  which  such  a  nerve  is  distributed.  Apoplexy  may  be  termed 
a  general  parah'sis,  and  in  nonfatal  attacks  is  a  frequent  cause  of  the 
various  forms  of  palsy. 

General  paralysis. — This  can  not  take  place  without  producing  imme- 
diate death.  The  term  is,  however,  usually  applied  to  paralysis  of  the 
four  extremities,  whether  any  other  portions  of  the  bod}^  are  involved 
or  not.  This  form  of  palsy  is  due  to  compression  of  the  brain  by  con- 
gestion of  its  vessels,  large  clot  formation  in  apoplexy,  concussion,  or 
shock,  or  any  disease  in  which  the  whole  brain  structure  is  involved 
in  functional  disturbance. 

Hemiplegia^  or  jyaralysis  of  one  side^  or  lialf.^  of  theTjody. — Hemi- 
plegia is  frequently  the  result  of  a  tumor  in  the  lateral  ventricles  of 
the  brain,  softening  of  one  hemisphere  of  the  cerebrum,  pressure  from 
extravasated  blood,  fracture  of  the  cranium,  or  it  may  be  due  to  pois- 
ons in  the  blood  or  to  reflex  origin.  When  hemiplegia  is  due  to  or 
the  result  of  a  prior  disease  of  the  brain,  especially  of  an  inflammatory 
character,  it  is  seldom  complete;  it  may  afl'ect  only  one  limb  and  one 
side  of  the  head,  neck,  or  muscles  along  the  back,  and  ma}^  pass  ofl;  in 
a  few  days  after  the  disappearance  of  all  the  other  evidences  of  the 
primary  aflfection.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  however,  hemiplegia 
arises  from  emboli  obstructing  one  or  more  blood  vessels  of  the  brain, 
or  the  rupture  of  some  vessel  the  wall  of  which  had  become  weakened 
by  degeneration  and  the  extravasation  of  blood.  Sensibility  in  most 
cases  is  not  impaired,  but  in  some  there  is  a  loss  of  sensibility  as  well 
as  of  motion.  In  some  cases  the  bladder  and  rectum  are  involved  in 
the  paralysis. 

Symptoms. — In  hemiplegia  the  attack  rpay  be  very  sudden,  and  the 
animal  fall  down  powerless  to  move  one  side  of  the  bod}",  one  side  of 
the  lips  will  be  relaxed;  the  tongue  may  hang  out  on  one  side  of  the 
mouth;  the  tail  curved  around  sideways;  an  inability  to  swallow  food 
or  water  may  be  present,  and  often  the  urine  dribbles  away  as  fast  as 
it  collects  in  the  bladder.  Sensibility  of  the  afl'ected  side  may  be 
entirely  lost  or  only  partial;  the  limbs  may  be  cold  and  sometimes 
unnaturally  warm.  In  cases  wherein  the  attack  is  not  so  severe  the 
animal  maj'  be  able  to  maintain  the  standing  position,  but  will  have 
great  difiiculty  in  moving  the  aflfected  side.  In  such  cases  the  animal 
may  recover  from  the  disability.  In  the  more  severe,  where  there  is 
complete  loss  of  the  power  of  movement,  recoveries  are  rare. 

Paraplegia.^  or  transverse  paralysis  of  the  hind  extremities. — Paralysis 
of  the  hind  extremities  is  usually  due  to  some  injury  or  inflammation 
affecting  the  spinal  cord.  (See  "Spinal  meningitis,"  p.  211,  and 
"Myelitis,"  p.  212.)     It  ma^'  also  be  due  to  a  reflex  irritation  from 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOKSE.  209 

disease  of  peripheral  nerves,  to  spinal  irritation  or  congestion  caused 
by  blood  poisons,  etc. 

Symptoms. — When  due  to  mechanical  injury  of  the  spinal  cord,  from 
a  broken  back  or  spinal  hemorrhage,  it  is  generally  progressive  in  its 
character,  although  it  may  be  sudden.  When  it  is  caused  by  agents 
in  the  blood,  it  may  be  intermittent  or  recurrent. 

Paraplegia  is  not  difficult  to  recognize,  for  it  is  characterized  by  a 
weakness  and  imperfect  control  of  the  hind  legs  and  powerless  tail. 
The  urine  usually  dribbles  away  as  it  is  formed  and  the  manure  is 
pushed  out,  ball  by  ball,  without  any  voluntary  effort,  or  the  passages 
may  cease  entirel}^.  When  paraplegia  is  complete,  large  and  ill- 
conditioned  sores  soon  form  on  the  hips  and  thighs  from  chafing  and 
bruising,  which  have  a  tendency  to  quickly  weaken  the  animal  and 
necessitate  his  destruction. 

Locomotor'  ataxia,  or  hicoordlnation  of  onovement. — This  is  charac- 
terized by  an  inability  to  control  properly  the  movement  of  the  limbs. 
The  animal  appears  usually  perfectly  healthy,  but  when  he  is  led  out 
of  his  stall  his  legs  have  a  wobbly  movement,  and  he  will  stumble  or 
stagger,  especially  in  turning.  When  this  is  confined  to  the  hind  parts 
it  may  be  termed  a  modified  form  of  paraplegia,  but  often  it  may  be 
seen  to  affect  nearly  all  the  voluntary  muscles  when  they  are  called 
into  play,  and  must  be  attributed  to  some  pressure  exerted  on  the  base 
of  the  brain. 

Local  j)aralysis. — This  is  frequently  met  with  in  horses.  It  may 
affect  many  parts  of  the  body,  even  vital  organs,  and  it  is  very  fre- 
quently overlooked  in  diagnosis. 

Facial  jparalysls. — This  is  a  frequent  type  of  local  paralysis,  and  is 
due  to  impairment  of  function  of  the  motor  nerve  of  the  facial  muscles, 
ihcj^ortlo  dura.  The  cause  may  exist  at  the  base  of  the  brain,  compres- 
sion along  its  course  after  it  leaves  the  medulla  oblongata,  or  to  a 
bruise  after  it  spreads  out  on  the  great  masseter  muscle. 

Sy7nptoms. — A  flaccid  condition  of  the  cheek  muscles,  pendulous  lips, 
inabilit}^  to  grasp  the  food,  often  a  slow  and  weak  movement  in  chew- 
ing, and  difficulty  and  slowness  in  drinking. 

Laryngismus  paralytieiis,  or  roaring. — This  condition  is  characterized 
by  roaring,  and  is  usually  caused  by  an  inflamed  or  hypertrophied 
bronchial  gland  pressing  against  the  left  recurrent  laryngeal  nerve, 
which  interferes  with  its  conducting  power.  A  similar  condition  is 
occasionally  induced  in  acute  pleurisy,  where  the  recurrent  nerve 
becomes  involved  in  the  diseased  process  or  compressed  by  plastic 
exudation. 

Paralysis  of  the  rectum  and  tail. — This  is  generall}^  the  result  of  a- 
blow  or  fall  on  the  rump,  which  causes  a  fracture  of  the  sacrum  bone 
and  injury  to  the  nerves  supplying  the  tail  and  part  of  the  rectum  and 

14384—03 14 


210  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUbTRT. 

muscles  belonging'  thereto.  This  fracture  would  not  be  suspected 
were  it  not  for  the  loss  of  motion  of  the  tail. 

Intestinal  pai^alysis. — Characterized  by  persistent  constipation;  fre- 
quently the  strongest  purgatives  have  no  effect  whatever  on  the  move- 
ment of  the  bowels.  In  the  absence  of  symptoms  of  indigestion,  or 
special  diseases  implicating  the  intestinal  canal,  torpor  of  the  bowels 
must  be  attributed  to  deficient  innervation.  This  condition  may 
depend  upon  brain  affections  or  be  due  to  reflex  paralj^sis.  Sudden 
checks  of  perspiration  may  induce  excessive  action  of  the  bowels  or 
paralysis. 

Paralysis  of  the  hUidder. — This  usually  affects  tlie  neck  of  the  blad- 
der, and  is  characterized  by  incontinence  of  urine;  the  urine  dribbles 
away  as  fast  as  it  is  secreted.  The  cause  may  be  of  reflex  origin, 
disease  of  the  rectum,  tumors  growing  within  the  pelvic  cavity,  injury 
to  the  spinal  cord,  etc. 

Paralysis  of  the  optic  nerve^  or  amaurosis. — A  paralj^sis  of  e3-esight 
ma}^  occur  very  suddenly  from  rupture  of  a  blood  vessel  in  the  brain, 
acute  local  congestion  of  the  brain,  the  administration  of  excessive 
doses  of  belladonna  or  its  alkaloid  atropia,  etc.  In  amaurosis  the 
pupil  is  dilated  to  its  full  extent,  the  ej^e  looks  clear,  but  does  not 
respond  to  light. 

Paralysis  of  hearing,  of  the  external  ear,  of  the  eyelid,  partial 
paral3-sis  of  the  heart  and  organs  of  respiration,  of  the  blood  vessels 
from  injury  to  the  vaso-motor  nerves  of  the  esophagus,  or  loss  of 
deglutition,  pals}^  of  the  stomach,  all  may  be  manifested  when  the 
supply  of  nervous  influence  is  impaired  or  suspended. 

Treatment  for  paralysis. — In  all  paralytic  affections  there  may  lie 
anesthesia.,  or  impairment  of  sensibilit}',  in  addition  to  the  loss  of 
motion,  or  there  may  be  hyperesthesia.,  or  increased  sensibilit3%  in  con- 
nection with  the  loss  of  motion.  These  conditions  may  call  for  special 
treatment  in  addition  to  that  for  loss  of  motion.  Where  hyperesthe- 
sia is  well  marked  local  anodynes  may  be  needed  to  relieve  sufferirig. 
Chloroform  liniment  or  hypodermic  injections  of  from  3  to  5  grains 
of  sulphate  of  morphia  will  allay  local  pain.  If  there  is  marked  anes- 
thesia, or  loss  of  sensibility,  it  may  become  necessary  to  secure  tlic 
animal  in  such  a  way  that  he  can  not  suffer  serious  injury  from  acci- 
dents which  he  can  not  avoid  or  feel.  In  the  treatment  of  any  form  of 
paralj^sis  we  must  always  refer  to  the  cause,  and  attempt  its  removal 
if  it  can  be  discovered.  In  cases  where  the  cause  can  not  be  deter- 
mined we  have  to  rely  solely  upon  a  general  external  and  internal 
treatment.  Externally,  fly  blisters  or  strong  irritant  liniments  may 
,be  applied  to  the  paralyzed  parts.  In  hemiplegia  they  should  be 
applied  along  the  bony  part  of  the  side  of  the  neck;  in  paraplegia, 
across  the  loins.  In  some  cases  hot-water  cloths  will  be  beneficial. 
Internally,  it  is  well  to  administer  1  dram  of  powdered  nux  vomica  or 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  211 

2  o-rains  of  sulphate  of  stiychnia  twice  a  day  until  twitching  of  some 
of  the  voluntary  muscles  occurs;  then  discontinue  it  for  several  days, 
and  then  commence  again  with  a  smaller  dose,  gradually  increasing 
it  until  twitching  recurs.  Iodide  of  potash  in  1  to  2  dram  doses  two 
or  three  times  daily  may  be  emploj'ed  with  the  hope  that  it  will  favor 
the  absorption  of  the  clot  or  obstruction  to  the  nervous  current.  In 
some  cases  Fowler's  solution  of  arsenic  in  teaspoonful  doses  twice  a 
day  in  the  drinking  water  proves  beneficial.  Occasionally  benefit 
ma3^  be  derived  from  the  application  of  the  electric  current,  especi- 
ally' in  cases  of  roaring,  facial  paralysis,  paralj^sis  of  the  eyelid,  etc. 
Nutritious  but  not  too  bulky  food,  good  ventilation,  clean  stabling, 
moderate  exercise  if  the  animal  is  capable  of  taking  it,  good  groom- 
ing, etc.,  should  be  observed  in  all  cases. 

SnXAL   MENINGITIS,    OR   INFLAIVIMATION   OF    THE    MEMBRANES   ENVELOP- 
ING  THE    SPINAL   CORD, 

Causes. — This  may  be  induced  by  the  irritant  properties  of  blood- 
poisons,  exhaustion,  and  exposure,  spinal  concussion,  all  forms  of 
injury  to  the  spine,  tumors,  caries  of  the  vertebrae,  rheumatism,  etc. 

Symptoms. — A  chill  may  be  the  precursor,  a  rise  in  temperature,  or" 
a  general  weakness  and  shifting  of  the  legs.  Soon  a  painful,  convul- 
sive twitching  of  the  muscles  sets  in,  followed  by  muscular  rigidity 
along  the  spine,  in  which  condition  the  animal  will  move  very  stiflly 
and  evince  great  pain  in  turning.  Evidences  of  paral^^sis  or  paraplegia 
develop,  retention  or  incontinence  of  urine,  and  oftentimes  sexual 
excitement  is  present.  The  presence  of  marked  fever  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  attack,  associated  with  spinal  symptoms,  should  lead  us  to 
suspect  spinal  meningitis  or  myelitis.  These  two  conditions  usually 
appear  together,  or  myelitis  follows  inflammation  of  the  meninges  so 
closely  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  separate  i\\&  two;  practically  it 
does  not  matter  much,  for  the  treatment  will  be  about  the  same  in 
both  cases.  Spinal  meningitis  generally  becomes  chronic,  and  is  then 
marked  principally  by  paralysis  of  that  portion,  or  parts  of  it,  poste- 
rior to  the  seat  of  the  disease. 

Pathology. — In  spinal  meningitis  we  will  find  essentially  the  same 
condition  as  in  cerebral  meningitis;  there  will  be  an  effusion  of  serum 
between  the  membranes,  and  often  a  plastic  exudation  firmly  adherent 
to  the  2'>ici  mater  serves  to  maintain  a  state  of  paralysis  for  a  long  time 
after  the  acute  sj^mptoms  have  disappeared  by  compressing  the  cord. 
Finally,  atrophy,  softening,  and  even  abscess  may  develop  within  the 
cord.     Unlike  in  man,  it  is  usually  found  localized  in  horses. 

Treatment. — Bags  filled  with  ice  should  be  applied  along  the  spine, 
to  be  followed  later  on  by  strong  blisters.  The  fever  should  be  con- 
trolled as  early  as  possible  b}^  giving  20  drops  of  Norwood's  tincture 
of  veratrum  viride  eveiy  hour,  until  the  desired  result  is  obtained. 


212  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

One  dram  of  the  fluid  extract  of  belladonna,  to  control  pain  and  vas- 
cular excitement  of  the  vspinal  cord,  may  be  given  every  five  or  six 
hours  until  the  pupils  of  the  eyes  become  prettj^  well  dilated.  If  the 
pain  is  very  intense  5  grains  of  sulphate  of  morphia  should  be  injected 
hypodermically.  The  animal  must  be  kept  as  free  from  excitement  as 
possible.  If  the  urine  is  retained  in  the  bladder  it  must  be  drawn  off 
every  four  or  six  hours.  In  very  acute  attacks  the  disease  generally 
proves  fatal  in  a  few  days.  If,  however,  the  animal  grows  better  some 
form  of  paralysis  is  apt  to  remain  for  a  long  time,  and  the  treatment 
will  have  to  be  directed  then  toward  a  removal  of  the  exudative  prod- 
ucts and  a  strengthening  of  the  system  and  stimulation  of  the  nervous 
functions.  To  induce  absorption,  iodide  of  potassa  in  2-dram  doses  may 
be  given,  dissolved  in  the  drinking  water,  twice  a  da}'.  To  strengthen 
the  system,  iodide  of  iron  1  dram  twice  a  day  and  1  dram  of  nux 
vomica  once  a  day  maj'^  be  given  in  the  feed.  Electricitj^  to  the  para- 
lyzed and  weakened  muscles  is  advisable;  the  current  should  be  weak, 
but  be  continued  for  half  an  hour  two  or  three  times  daily.  If  the 
disease  is  due  to  a  broken  back,  caries  of  the  vertebrte,  or  some  other 
irremediable  cause,  the  animal  should  be  destroyed  at  once. 

MYELITIS,  OK   INFLAMMATION  OF   THE    SUBSTANCE  OF    THE    SPINAL  CORD. 

This  is  a  rare  disease,  except  as  a  secondary  result  of  spinal  menin- 
gitis or  injuries  to  the  spine.  Poisoning  by  lead,  arsenic,  mercury, 
phosphorus,  carbonic-acid  gas,  etc.,  has  been  known  to  produce  it. 
Myelitis  may  be  confined  to  a  small  spot  in  the  cord  or  may  involve 
the  whole  for  a  variable  distance.  It  may  lead  to  softening,  abscess, 
or  degeneration. 

Symi^tonis. — The  attack  may  begin  with  a  chill  or  convulsions;  the 
muscles  twitch  or  become  cramped  very  early  in  the  disease,  and  the 
bladder  usually  is  affected  at  the  outset,  in  which  there  may  be  either 
retention  or  incontinence  of  urine.  These  conditions  are  followed  by 
complete  or  partial  paralysis  of  the  muscles  posterior  to  the  localit}^  of 
the  inflamed  cord,  and  the  muscles  begin  to  waste  away  rapidly.  The 
paralyzed  limb  becomes  cold  and  dry,  due  to  the  suspension  of  proper 
circulation;  the  joints  may  swell  and  become  edematous;  vesicular 
eruptions  appear  on  the  skin;  and  frequently  gangrenous  sloughs  form 
on  the  paralyzed  parts.  It  is  exceedingly  seldom  that  recovery  takes 
place.  In  a  few  instances  it  may  assume  a  chronic  type,  when  all  the 
symptoms  become  mitigated,  and  thus  continue  for  some  time,  until 
septicemia,  pyemia,  or  exhaustion  causes  death. 

PatJiology. — The  inflammation  may  involve  nearly  the  whole  length 
of  the  cord,  but  generally  it  is  more  intense  in  some  places  than  others; 
when  due  to  mechanical  injury,  the  inflammation  may  remain  confined 
to  a  small  section.     The  cord  is  swollen  and  congrested,  reddened,  often 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  213 

softened  and  infiltrated  with  pus  cells,  and  the  nerve  elements  are 
degenerated. 

Treatment. — Similar  to  that  of  spinal  meningitis. 

SPINAL    CONGESTION. 

This  condition  consists  in  an  excess  of  blood.  As  the  blood  vessels 
of  the  pia  mater  are  the  principal  source  of  supply  to  the  spinal  cord, 
peremia  of  the  cord  and  of  the  meninges  usually  go  together.  The 
symptoms  are,  therefore,  closely  allied  to  those  of  spinal  meningitis 
and  congestion.  When  the  pia  mater  is  diseased  the  spinal  cord  is 
almost  invariably  affected  also. 

Cause. — Sudden  checking  of  the  perspiration,  violent  exercise,  blows, 
and  falls. 

Sym-ptoms. — The  symptoms  may  vary  somewhat  with  each  case,  and 
closely  resemble  the  first  s^miptoms  of  spinal  meningitis,  spinal  tumors, 
and  myelitis.  First,  some  disturbance  in  movement,  lowering  of  the 
temperature,  and  partial  loss  of  sensibility  posterior  to  the  seat  of  the 
congestion.  If  in  the  cervical  region  it  may  cause  interference  in 
breathing  and  the  action  of  the  heart.  When  in  the  region  of  the  loins 
there  may  be  loss  of  control  of  the  bladder.  When  the  congestion  is 
sufficient  to  produce  compression  of  the  cord,  paraplegia  may  be  com- 
plete. Usually  fever,  spasms,  muscular  twitching,  or  muscular  rigidity 
are  absent,  which  will  serve  to  distinguish  spinal  congestion  from  spinal 
meningitis. 

Treatment. — Hot-water  applications  to  the  spine,  1-dram  doses  fluid 
extract  of  belladonna  repeated  every  four  hours,  and  tincture  of  aconite 
root  30  drops  every  hour  until  the  symptoms  become  ameliorated.  If 
no  inflammatory  products  occur  the  animal  is  likely  to  recover. 

SPINAL    ANEMIA. 

This  ma}^  be  caused  by  extreme  cold,  exhausting  diseases,  spinal 
embolism  or  plugging  of  a  spinal  blood  vessel,  an  interference  with  the 
circulation  through  the  abdominal  aorta,  from  compression,  thrombosis, 
or  aneurism  of  that  vessel;  the  spinal  vessels  may  be  caused  to  contract 
through  vaso-motor  influence,  a  result  of  peripheral  irritation  of  some 
nerve. 

Symptoms. — Spinal  anemia  causes  paralysis  of  the  muscles  used  in 
extending  the  limbs.  When  the  bladder  is  affected  it  precedes  the 
weakness  of  motion,  while  in  spinal  congestion  it  follows,  and  increased 
sensibiiit}' ,  in  place  of  diminished  sensibility,  as  in  spinal  congestion, 
is  observed.     Pressure  along  the  spine  causes  excessive  pain. 

Treatment. — If  the  exciting  cause  can  be  removed,  the  animal  recov- 
ers; if  this  fails,  the  spinal  cord  may  undergo  softening. 


214  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

SFINAL    COMPRESSIOX. 

When  caused  by  tumors  or  otherwise,  when  pressure  is  slight,  it 
produces  a  paralysis  of  the  muscles  used  in  extending  a  limb  and  con- 
traction of  those  which  flex  it.  When  compression  is  great  it  causes 
complete  loss  of  sensibility  and  motion  posterior  to  the  compressed 
part  of  the  cord. 

Compression  of  a  lateral  half  of  the  cord  produces  motor  paralysis, 
disturbance  of  the  circulation,  and  difficulty  of  movement,  an  increased 
sensibilit}'  on  the  side  corresponding  to  the  compressed  section,  and  a 
diminished  sensibilit}-  and  some  paral3'sis  on  the  opposite  side. 

Treatment.- — When  it  occurs  as  a  sequence  of  a  preceding  inflamma- 
tory disease,  iodide  of  potassa  and  general  tonics  arc  indicated.  When 
due  to  tumors  growing  within  the  spinal  canal,  or  to  pressure  from 
displaced  bone,  no  form  of  treatment  will  result  in  any  benefit. 

SPINAL   HEMORRHAGE. 

This  may  occur  from  changes  in  the  wall  of  the  blood  vessels,  in 
connection  with  tumors,  acute  myelitis,  traumatic  injuries,  etc.  The 
blood  may  escape  through  the  pia  mater  into  the  subarachnoid  ca^nty, 
and  large  clots  be  formed. 

Si/m2}toms.—T\\Q  sjnnptoms  are  largely  dependent  upon  the  seat  and 
extent  of  the  hemorrhage,  as  the}'^  are  principally  due  to  the  compres- 
sion of  the  cord.  A  large  clot  ma}^  produce  sudden  paraplegia,  accom- 
panied by  severe  pain  along  the  spine;  usualh^,  however,  the  parah^sis 
of  both  motion  and  sensation  is  not  very  marked  at  first;  on  the  second 
or  third  day  fever  is  apt  to  appear,  and  increased  or  diminished  sensi- 
bility along  the  spine  posterior  to  the  seat  of  the  clot.  When  the 
bladder  and  rectum  are  involved  in  the  symptoms  it  indicates  that  the 
spinal  cord  is  compressed. 

Treatment. — In  the  occurrence  of  injuries  to  the  back  of  a  horse, 
whenever  there  is  any  evidence  of  paralysis  it  is  always  advisa))le  to 
apply  bags  of  ice  along  the  spine  to  check  or  prevent  hemorrhage  or 
congestion,  and  2  drams  of  the  fluid  extract  of  ergot  and  20  drops  of 
tincture  of  digitalis  may  be  given  every  hour  imtil  three  doses  have 
been  taken.  Subsequently  tincture  of  belladonna  in  half-ounce  doses 
may  be  given  three  times  a  day.  If  there  is  much  pain,  5  grains  of 
sulphate  of  morphia,  injected  under  the  skin,  will  afford  relief  and 
lessen  the  excitability  of  the  animal.  In  all  cases  the  animal  should  be 
kept  perfectly  quiet. 

SPINAL   CONCUSSION. 

This  is  rarely  observed  in  the  horse,  and  unless  it  is  sufficiently  severe 
to  produce  well-marked  symptoms  it  would  not  be  suspected.  It  may 
occur  in  saddle  horses  from  jumping,  or  it  may  be  produced  b}^  falling 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  215 

over  an  embankment,  or  a  violent  fall  upon  the  haunches  ma}- produce 
it.  Concussion  may  be  followed  by  partial  paralysis  or  spinal  hem- 
orrhage; generally,  however,  it  is  confined  to  a  jarring  and  some  dis- 
turbance of  the  nerve  elements  of  the  cord,  and  the  paralj'tic  effect 
which  ensues  soon  passes  off.  Treatment  consists  in  rest  until  the 
animal  has  completely  recovered  from  the  shock.  If  secondary  effects 
follow  from  hemorrhage  or  compression,  the}"  have  to  be  treated  as 
heretofore  directed. 

SPIXAL   TUMORS. 

Within  the  substance  of  the  cord  glioma  or  the  mixed  gliosarcomata 
are  found  to  be  the  most  frequent,  tumors  maj'-  form  from  the  meninges 
and  the  vertebra,  being  of  a  fibrous  or  bony  nature,  and  affect  the 
spinal  cord  indirectly  b}-  compression.  In  the  meninges  w^e  may  find 
glioma,  cancers,  and  psammoma,  fibromata;  and  aneurisms  of  the  spinal 
arteries  have  been  discovered  in  the  spinal  canal. 

Symptoms. — Tumors  of  the  spinal  canal  cause  symptoms  of  spinal 
irritation  or  compression  of  the  cord.  The  gradual  and  slow  develop- 
ment of  symptoms  of  paralysis  of  one  or  both  hind  limbs  or  certain 
muscles  may  lead  to  a  suspicion  of  spinal  tumors.  The  paralysis 
induced  is  progressive,  but  not  usuall}"  marked  with  atroph}^  of  the 
muscles  or  increased  sensibilit}-  along  the  spine.  When  the  tumor  is 
within  the  spinal  cord  itself  all  the  symptoms  of  myelitis  may  be  present. 

Treatment. — General  tonics  and  1-dram  doses  of  nux  vomica  may  be 
giv^en;  iodide  of  iron  or  iodide  of  potassa  in  1-dram  doses,  three  times 
a  day  in  feed,  may,  in  a  very  few  cases,  give  some  temporary  benefit. 
Usually  the  disease  progresses  steadil}"  luitil  it  proves  fatal. 

XEURITIS,  OR   INFLAMMATION    OF  A  NERVE. 

This  is  caused  b}'  a  bruise  or  wound  of  a  nerve  or  by  strangulation 
in  a  ligature  when  the  nerve  is  included  in  the  ligation  of  an  artery. 
The  changes  in  an  inflamed  nerve  are  an  enlargement,  reddening  of  the 
nerve  sheath,  spots  of  extravasated  blood,  and  sometimes  an  infiltration 
of  serum  mixed  with  pus. 

Symj)toms. — Acute  pain  of  the  parts  supplied  by  the  nerve  and 
absence  of  swelling  or  increased  heat  of  the  part. 

Treatment. — H3qoodermic  injections  of  from  3  to  5  grains  of  morphia 
to  relieve  pain,  hot  fomentations,  and  rest.  If  it  is  due  to  an  inclusion 
of  a  ligature,  the  nerve  should  be  divided  above  and  below  the  ligature. 

NEUROMA,  OR  TUMOR  OF  A  NERVE. 

Neuroma  may  be  from  enlargement  of  the  end  of  a  divided  nerve  or 
due  to  fibrous  degeneration  of  a  nerve  which  has  been  bruised  or 
wounded.  Its  most  frequent  occurrence  is  found  after  the  operation 
of  neurotomy  for  foot  lameness,  and  it  maj-  appear  after  the  lapse  of 


216  BUKEAU-   OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

months  or  even  j^ears.  Neuroma  iisuallj'  develops  within  the  sheath 
of  the  nerve  with  or  without  implicating  the  nerve  fibers.  It  is  oval, 
running  lengthwise  with  the  direction  of  the  nerve. 

Symjjtovis. — Pain  of  the  affected  limb  or  part  is  manifested,  more 
especiall}'  after  resting  a  while,  and  when  pressure  is  made  ujDon  the 
tumor,  it  causes  extreme  suffering. 

Treatment. — Excision  of  the~  tumor,  including  part  of  the  n(^r\-e 
above  and  below,  and  then  treat  it  like  any  other  simple  wound. 

INJURIES   TO   NERVES. 

These  ma}'  consist  in  wounding,  bruising,  laceration,  stretching, 
compression,  etc.  The  symptoms  which  are  produced  will  depend 
upon  the  extent,  seat,  and  character  of  the  injury.  Recovery  may 
quickly  take  place,  or  it  may  lead  to  neuritis,  neuroma,  or  spinal  or 
cerebral  irritation,  which  may  result  in  tetanus,  paralysis,  and  other 
serious  derangements.  In  all  diseases,  whether  produced  by  some 
form  of  external  violence  or  intrinsic  causes,  the  nerves  are  necessarily 
involved,  and  sometimes  it  is  to  a  primary  injury  of  them  that  the  prin- 
cipal fault  in  movement  or  change  of  nutrition  of  a  part  is  due.  It  is 
often  difficult  or  impossible  to  discover  that  an  injury  to  a  nerve  has 
been  inflicted,  but  whenever  this  is  possible  it  may  enable  us  to  rem- 
edy that  which  otherwise  would  result  in  permanent  evil.  Treatment 
should  consist  in  relieving  compression,  in  hot  fomentations,  the  appli- 
cation of  anodyne  liniments,  excision  of  the  injured  part,  and  rest. 

FORAGE    POISONING,  OR    SO-CALLED    CEREBRO-SPINAL   MENINGITIS. 

This  disease  prevails  among  horses  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  It  is  most  common  in  Maiyland,  Delawar.e,  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Kansas,  Missouri, 
Illinois,  Indiana,  and  Ohio.  Certain  localities  are  visited  by  it  almost 
every  j^ear.  This  condition  consists  in  a  poisoning  and  depression  of 
the  nervous  system  from  eating  or  drinking  food  or  water  containing 
poison  generated  b}^  mold  or  bacteria.  It  has  been  shown  to  be  due 
to  eating  damaged  ensilage,  corn,  brewers'  grains,  oats,  etc.,  or  to 
drinking  stagnant  pond  water  or  water  from  a  well  contaminated  by 
surface  drainage.  Horses  at  pasture  may  contract  this  disease  when 
the  growth  of  grass  is  so  profuse  that  it  mats  together  and  the  lower 
part  dies  and  ferments  or  becomes  moldy. 

In  England  a  similar  disease  has  been  called  "grass  staggers,"  due 
to  eating  rye  grass  when  it  is  ripening  or  when  it  is  cut  and  eaten 
while  it  is  heating  and  undergoing  fermentation.  In  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania it  was  formerly  known  by  the  name  of  "putrid  sore  throat" 
and  "  choking  distemper."  A  disease  similar  in  many  respects,  which 
is  veiy  prevalent  in  Virginia,  especially  along  the  eastern  border,  is 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  217 

commonl}^  known  by  the  name  of  "blind  staggers,"  and  in  many  of 
the  Southern  States  this  has  been  attributed  to  the  consumption  of 
worm-eaten  corn.  Horses  of  all  ages  and  mules  are  subject  to  this 
disease. 

Symptoms. — The  sj^raptoms  which  typify  sporadic,  or  epidemic,  cere- 
bro-spinal  meningitis  in  man  are  not  witnessed  among  horses,  namely, 
excessive  pain,  high  fever,  and  earl}^  muscular  rigidity.  In  the  recog- 
nition of  the  severity  of  the  attack  we  may  divide  the  symptoms  into 
three  grades.  In  the  most  rapidly  fatal  attacks,  the  animal  may  llrst 
indicate  it  by  weak,  staggering  gait,  partial  or  total  inability  to  swal- 
low solids  or  liquids,  impairment  of  e3^esight;  twitching  of  the  mus- 
cles, and  slight  cramps  may  be  observed.  As  a  rule,  the  temperature 
is  not  elevated — indeed,  it  is  sometimes  below  normal.  This  is  soon 
followed  by  a  paralysis  of  the  whole  body,  inability  to  stand,  delirium  in 
which  the  animal  sometimes  goes  through  a  series  of  automatic  move- 
ments as  if  trotting  or  running;  the  delirium  may  become  very  violent 
and  the  animal  in  his  unconsciousness  bruise  his  head  in  his  struggles 
very  seriously,  but  usually  a  deep  coma  renders  him  quiet  until  he  expires. 
Death  in  these  cases  usually  takes  place  in  from  four  to  twenty-four 
hours  from  the  time  the  first  sj-mptoms  became  manifest.  The  pulse  is 
variable  during  the  progress  of  the  disease;  it  may  be  almost  imper- 
ceptible at  times,  and  then  again  very  rapid  and  irregular;  the  res- 
pirations generally  are  quick  and  catching.  In  the  next  form  in  which 
this  disease  may  develop,  it  first  becomes  manifest  by  a  difficulty  in 
swallowing  and  slowness  in  mastication,  and  a  weakness  which  may  be 
first  noticed  in  the  strength  of  the  tail;  the  animal  will  be  unable  to 
switch  it  or  to  offer  resistance  when  we  bend  it  up  over  the  croup.  The 
pulse  is  often  a  little  slower  than  normal.  There  is  no  evidence  of 
pain;  the  respirations  are  unchanged,  and  the  temperature  little  less 
than  normal;  the  bowels  may  be  somewhat  constipated.  These  symp- 
toms ma}''  remain  unchanged  for  two  or  three  days  and  then  gradual 
improvement  take  place,  or  the  power  to  swallow  may  become  entirely 
lost  and  the  weakness  and  uncertainty  in  gait  more  and  more  percep- 
tible; then  sleepiness  or  coma  maj^  appear;  the  pulse  becomes  depressed, 
slow,  and  weak,  the  breathing-  stertorous,  and  paroxysms  of  delirium 
develop,  with  inability  to  stand,  and  some  rigidity  of  the  spinal  mus- 
cles or  partial  cramp  of  the  neck  and  jaws.  In  such  cases  death  may 
occur  in  frQm  six  to  ten  days  from  the  commencement  of  the  attack. 
In  many  cases  there  is  no  evidence  of  pain,  spasm,  or  fever  at  any 
time  during  the  progress  of  the  disease,  and  finally  profound  coma 
develops  and  death  follows,  painless  and  without  a  struggle. 

In  the  last  or  mildest  form,  the  inability  of  voluntary  control  of  the 
limbs  becomes  but  slightly  marked,  the  power  of  swallowing  never 
entirely  lost,  and  the  animal  has  no  fever,  pain,  or  unconscious  move- 
ments. Generally  the  animal  will  begin  to  improve  about  the  fourth 
day  and  recovers. 


218  BUBEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

In  a  few  cases  the  spinal  S3'mptoms,  manifested  b}'  paraplegia,  may 
be  the  most  prominent  symptoms;  in  others  they  may  be  altogether 
absent  and  the  main  symptoms  be  difficulty  in  mastication  and  swal- 
lowing; rarely  it  may  affect  one  limb  only.  In  all  cases  where  coma 
remains  absent  for  six  or  seven  days  the  animal  is  likely  to  recover. 
When  changes  toward  recovery  take  place,  the  symptoms  usually  leave 
in  the  reverse  order  in  which  they  developed,  but  local  paralysis  may 
remain  for  some  time,  rarely  persistent. 

One  attack  does  not  give  immunity,  for  it  may  recur  at  some  later 
time  and  prove  fatal.  Horses  have  been  known  to  pass  through  three 
attacks,  being  affected  for  a  week  or  longer  each  time. 

Treatment. — In  the  worst  class  of  cases  treatment  is  very  seldom 
successful,  and  it  is  dangerous  to  attempt  the  administration  of  medi- 
cine by  the  mouth,  on  account  of  the  inability  of  the  animal  to  swal- 
low. If  the  condition  of  the  animal  will  admit  of  a  drench,  give  4  to  6 
ounces  of  whisky  in  2  pints  of  milk;  the  inhalation  of  ammonia  vapor 
from  a  sponge  saturated  with  dilute  aqua  ammonia  may  arouse  con- 
sciousness. 

In  the  second  class  of  cases  a  purge  should  always  be  given,  and  the 
further  treatment  recommended  is  to  give  strychnia  in  2-grain  doses 
twice  or  three  times  daily.  If  there  is  twitching  of  the  shoulder  mus- 
cles or  gnashing  of  the  teeth,  this  should  be  discontinued.  The 
strength  of  the  heart  should  be  kept  up  with  carbonate  of  ammonia  or 
whisky.  When  the  animal  is  unable  to  swallow,  one-fourth-grain  doses 
of  sulphate  of  atropia  may  be  injected  .under  the  skin  every  four,  six, 
or  eight  hours,  as  the  case  may  demand.  The  atropia  is  a  heart  sthn- 
ulant,  increases  capillary  circulation,  and  quiets  pain  and  excitability. 
When  the  most  prominent  symptoms  abate  give  such  food  as  they  may 
be  able  to  cat,  and  keep  fresh,  cool  water  constantly  before  them,  sup- 
porting them  in  slings  if  necessary ;  clean  stabling  and  plenty  of  fresh 
air  are  of  the  utmost  importance. 

Pathology. — Postmortem  examination  reveals,  in  some  cases,  more 
or  less  congestion  of  the  blood  vessels  at  the  base  of  the  brain  and  effu- 
sion in  the  ventricles  and  in  the  subarachnoid  space,  both  in  the  cranial 
and  the  spinal  cavities.  The  brain  and  cord  appear  softened  in  some 
cases  where  the  greatest  evidence  of  inflammator}^  action  existed.  In 
other  cases  the  i^ostmortem  examination  is  entirely  negative,  no  gross 
lesions  being  visible. 

Hygienic  measures  needful, — Whenever  this  disease  appears  in  a  stable 
all  the  animals  should  -be  removed  as  soon  as  possible.  They  should 
be  provided  with  clean,  well-ventilated,  and  well-drained  stables,  and 
each  animal  should  receive  a  laxative  and  be  fed  food  and  given  water 
from  a  new,  clean  source.  The  abandoned  stable  should  be  thoroughly 
cleansed  from  all  waste  matters,  receive  a  coat  of  whitewash  contain- 
ing 4  ounces  of  carbolic  acid  to  the  gallon  of  water,  and  should  have 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  219 

time  to  dry  tlioroughlj^  before  the  horses  are  replaced.  A  complete 
change  of  food  is  of  the  very  greatest  importance,  on  account  of  the 
belief  that  the  cause  resides  in  diseased  grain,  hay,  and  grass. 

TETANUS,    OR   LOCKJAW. 

This  disease  is  characterized  by  spasms  affecting  the  muscles  of  the 
face,  neck,  body,  and  limbs,  and  of  all  the  muscles  supplied  by  the 
cerebro-spinal  nerves.  The  spasms  or  muscular  contractions  are  rigid 
and  persistent,  yet  mixed  with  occasional  more  intense  contractions  of 
convulsive  violence. 

Causes. — This  disease  is  caused  b}"  a  bacillus  that  is  often  found  in 
the  soil,  in  manure  and  in  dust.  This  germ  grows  only  in  the  absence 
of  oxygen.  It  produces  a  powerful  nerve  poison,  which  causes  the 
symptoms  of  tetanus.  The  germ  itself  multiplies  at  the  point  where 
it  is  introduced,  but  its  poison  is  absorbed,  and  is  carried  by  the  blood 
to  all  parts  of  the  body,  and  thus  the  nervous  system  is  poisoned. 
Deep  wounds  infected  by  this  germ  are  more  dangerous  than  superfi- 
cial wounds,  because  in  them  the  germ  is  more  remote  from  the  0x3^- 
gen  of  the  air.  Hence,  nail  pricks,  etc.,  are  especiall}^  dangerous. 
In  the  majority  of  instances  the  cause  of  tetanus  can  be  traced  to 
wounds,  especially  pricks  and  wounds  of  the  feet  or  of  tendinous 
structures.  It  sometimes  follows  castration,  docking,  the  introduc- 
tion of  setons,  inclusion  of  a  nerve  in  a  ligature,  etc.  It  maj^  come 
on  a  long  time  after  the  wound  is  healed — three  or  four  months.  In 
som«  countries  where  tetanus  appears  to  be  enzootic  the  presumption 
is  that  it  is  due  to  a  specific  germ.  Horses  with  a  nervous,  excitable 
disposition  are  more  predisposed  than  those  of  a  more  sluggish  nature. 
Stallions  are  more  subject  to  develop  tetanus  as  the  result  of  wounds 
than  geldings,  and  geldings  more  than  mares. 

Symptoms. — The  attacks  may  be  acute  or  subacute.  In  an  acute 
attack  the  animal  usuall}'  dies  within  four  days.  The  first  symptoms 
which  attract  the  attention  of  the  owner  is  difiicult}^  in  chewing  and 
swallowing,  an  extension  of  the  head  and  protrusion  over  the  inner 
part  of  the  ej'e  of  the  membrana  nictitans,  or  haw.  An  examination  of 
the  mouth  will  reveal  an  inabilit}'  to  open  the  jaws  to  their  full  extent, 
and  the  endeavor  to  do  so  will  produce  great  nervous  excitability  and 
increased  sf)asm  of  the  muscles  of  the  jaw  and  neck.  The  muscles  of 
the  neck  and  along  the  spine  become  rigid  and  the  legs  are  moved  in  a 
stifl'  manner.  The  slightest  noise  or  disturbance  throws  the  animal 
into  increased  spasm  of  all  the  affected  muscles.  The  tail  is  usually 
elevated  and  held  immovable;  the  bowels  become  constipated  early  in 
the  attack.  The  temperature  and  pulse  are  not  much  changed.  These 
symptoms  in  the  acute  type  become  rapidl}"  aggravated  until  all  the 
muscles  are  rigid — in  a  state  of  tonic  spasm — with  a  continuous  tremor 
running  through  them;  a  cold  perspiration  breaks  out  on  the  body; 


220  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  breathing  becomes  painful  from  the  spasm  of  the  muscles  used  in 
respiration;  the  jaws  are  com.pletely  set,  eyeballs  retracted,  lips  drawn 
tightl}^  over  the  teeth,  nostrils  dilated,  and  the  animal  presents  a  pic- 
ture of  the  most  extreme  agony  until  death  relieves  him.  The  pulse, 
which  at  first  was  not  much  affected,  will  become  quick  and  hard,  or 
small  and  thready  when  the  spasm  affedts  the  muscles  of  the  heart. 
In  the  subacute  cases  the  jaws  may  never  become  entirely  locked;  the 
nervous  excitabilit}'  and  rigidity  of  the  muscles  are  not  so  great.  There 
is,  however,  always  some  stiffness  of  the  nock  or  spine  manifest  in 
turning;  the  haw  is  turned  over  the  eyeball  when  the  nose  is  elevated. 
It  is  not  uncommon  for  owners  to  continue  such  animals  at  their  work 
for  several  days  after  the  first  symptoms  have  been  observed.  All  the 
s3Miiptoms  may  gradually  increase  in  severity  for  a  period  of  ten  days, 
and  then  gradually  diminish  under  judicious  treatment,  or  they  may 
reach  the  stage  wherein  all  the  characteristics  of  acute  tetanus  become 
developed.  In  some  cases,  how^ever,  we  find  the  muscular  cramps 
almost  solely  confined  to  the  head  or  face,  perhaps  involving  those  of 
the  neck.  In  such  cases  we  have  complete  trismus  (lockjaw),  and  all 
the  head  symptoms  are  aeutel}'^  developed.  On  the  contrary,  we  may 
find  the  head  almost  exempt  in  some  cases,  and  have  the  body  and 
limbs  perfectly  rigid  and  incapable  of  movement  without  falling. 

Tetanus  may  possibly  be  confounded  with  spinal  meningitis,  but  the 
character  of  the  spasm-locked  jaw,  retraction  of  the  eyeballs,  the  difli- 
culty  in  swallowing  due  to  spasms  of  the  muscles  of  the  pharynx,  and, 
above  all,  the  absence  of  paralj^sis,  should  serve  to  make  the  distinc- 
tion. 

Prevention. — Where  a  valuable  horse  has  sustained  a  ^'>ound  that  it 
is  feared  may  be  followed  by  tetanus,  it  is  well  to  administer  a  dose  of 
tetanus  antitoxin.  This  is  injected  beneath  the  skin  with  a  hj^poder- 
mic  syringe.  A  very  high  degree  of  protection  may  in  this  way  be 
afforded. 

Treatment. — The  animal  should  be  placed  in  a  box  stall  without 
bedding,  as  far  away  as  possible  from  other  horses.  If  in  a  country 
district,  the  animal  should  be  put  into  an  outbuilding  or  shed,  where 
the  noise  of  other  animals  will  not  reach  him;  if  the  place  is  moder- 
ately dark  it  is  all  the  better;  in  fly  time  he  should  be  covered  with  a 
light  sheet.  The  attendant  must  be  very  careful  and  cjuiet  about  him, 
to  prevent  all  unnecessary  excitement  and  increase  of  spasm.  Teta- 
nus antitoxin  appears  to  be  useful  as  a  remedy  in  some  cases,  if  given 
in  very  large  c^uantities  early  in  the  disease;  otherwise  it  is  useless. 
Subcutaneous  injections  of  carbolic  acid  in  gl3"cerin  and  water  (car- 
bolic acid,  30  grains,  glycerin  and  water  each  1  ounce)  appear  to  be 
useful  in  some  cases.     Injections  should  be  given  twice  dail3\ 

A  cathartic,  composed  of  Barbados  aloes,  6  to  8  drams,  with  which 
may  be  mixed  2  drams  of  the  solid  extract  of  belladonna,  should  be 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  221 

g-iven  at  once.  This  is  best  given  in  a  ball  form;  if,  however,  the  ani- 
mal is  greatl}^  excited  by  the  attempt  or  can  not  swallow,  the  ball  may 
be  dissolved  in  two  omices  of  olive  oil  and  thrown  on  the  back  of  the 
tongue  with  a  syringe.  If  the  jaws  are  set,  or  nearly  so,  an  attempt 
to  administer  medicine  b}^  the  mouth  should  not  be  made.  In  such 
cases  one-quarter  of  a  grain  of  atropia,  with  5  grains  of  sulphate  of 
morphia,  should  be  dissolved  in  1  dram  of  pure  water  and  injected 
under  the  skin.  This  should  be  repeated  sufficientl}^  often  to  keep  the 
animal  continuallj^  under  its  effect.  This  will  usually  mitigate  the 
severit}^  of  the  spasmodic  contraction  of  the  affected  muscles  and 
lessen  sensibilitj^  to  pain.  Good  results  may  be  obtained  sometimes 
by  the  injection  per  rectum  of  the  fluid  extract  of  belladonna  and  of 
cannabis  indica,  of  each  1  dram,  every  four  or  six  hours.  This  may 
be  diluted  with  a  quart  of  milk.  When  the  animal  is  unable  to  swal- 
low liquids,  oat-meal  gruel  and  milk  should  be  given  by  injection  per 
rectum  to  sustain  the  strength  of  the  animal.  A  pailful  of  cool  water 
should  be  constantly  before  him,  placed  high  enough  for  him  to  reach 
it  without  special  effort;  even  if  he  can  not  drink,  the  laving  of  the 
mouth  is  refreshing.  Excellent  success  frequentl}^  may  be  obtained 
by  clothing-  the  upper  part  of  the  head,  the  neck,  and  greater  part  of 
the  body  in  woolen  blankets  kept  saturated  with  ver}'  warm  water. 
This  treatment  should  be  continued  for  six  or  eight  hours  at  a  time. 
It  often  relaxes  the  cramped  muscles  and  gives  them  rest  and  the  ani- 
mal almost  entire  freedom  from  pain;  but  it  should  be  used  every  day 
until  the  acute  spasms  have  permanently  subsided  in  order  to  be  of 
an}^  lasting  beneHt. 

llecently  subcutaneous  injections  of  brain  emulsion  have  been  rec- 
ommended. It  is  thought  that  the  tetanus  toxin  will  attach  itself  to 
the  brain  cells  so  injected  and  thus  free  the  system  of  this  poison. 
When  it  is  due  to  a  wound,  the  wound  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned 
and  disinfected  with  carbolic  acid.  If  from  a  wound  which  has  healed, 
an  excision  of  the  cicatrix  may  be  beneficial.  In  all  cases  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  have  a  partial  recovery  followed  b}'  relapse  when  tlie 
animal  becomes  excited  from  any  cause. 

RABIES,  HYDROPHOBIA,  OR   MADNKSS. 

This  disease  does  not  arise  spontaneously  among  horses,  but  is  the 
result  of  a  bite  from  a  rabid  animal — generally  a  dog  or  cat.  The 
development  of  the  disease  follows  the  bite  in  from  three  weeks  to 
three  months — very  rarely  in  two  weeks. 

Symjytoms. — The  first  manifestation  of  the  development  of  this  dis- 
ease may  be  an  increased  excitability  and  viciousness;  very  slight 
noises  or  the  approach  of  a  person  incites  the  animal  to  kick,  strike, 
or  bite  at  any  object  near  him.  Very  often  the  horse  will  bite  his  own 
limbs  or  sides,  lacerating  the  flesh  and  tearing  the  skin.     The  eyes 


222  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

appear  staring,  bloodshot;  the  ears  are  on  the  alert  to  catch  all  sounds; 
the  head  is  held  erect.  In  some  cases  the  animal  will  continuaUy 
rub  and  bite  the  locality  of  the  wound  inflicted  by  the  rabid  animal. 
This  symptom  may  precede  all  others.  Generall}'  the  bowels  become 
constipated  and  he  makes  frequent  attempts  at  urination,  which  is 
painful,  and  the  urine  ver}-  dark  colored.  The  furious  symptoms 
appear  in  paroxj^sms;  at  other  times  the  animal  may  eat  and  drink, 
although  swallowing  appears  to  become  painful  toward  the  latter  stage 
of  the  disease,  and  may  cause  renewed  paroxysms.  The  muscles  of 
the  limbs  or  back  maj'  be  subject  to  intermittent  spasms,  or  spasmodic 
tremors;  finalh',  the  hind  limbs  become  paralyzed,  breathing  ver3-  dif- 
ficult, and  convulsions  supervene,  followed  by  death.  The  pulse  and 
respirations  are  increased  in  frequenc}'  from  the  outset  of  the  attack. 
Rabies  maj'  possibly  be  mistiiken  for  tetanus.  In  the  latter  disease 
we  find  tonic  spasms  of  the  muscles  of  the  jaws,  or  stiffness  of  the 
neck  or  back  very  earh'  in  the  attack,  and  evidence  of  viciousness  is 
absent. 

Treatment. — As  soon  as  the  true  nature  of  the  disease  is  ascertained 
the  animal  should  be  killed. 

Prevention. — When  a  horse  is  known  to  have  been  bitten  by  a  rabid 
animal,  immediate  cauterization  of  the  wound  with  a  red-hot  iron  ma}^ 
possibh^  destroy  the  virus  before  absorption  of  it  takes  place. 

PLUMBISM,  OR   LEAD    POISONING. 

This  disease  is  not  of  frequent  occurrence.  It  may  be  due  to  habit- 
ually drinking  water  which  has  been  standing  in  leaden  conductors  or  in 
old  paint  barrels,  etc.  It  has  been  met  with  in  enzootic  form  near 
smelting  works,  where,  bj^  the  fumes  arising  from  such  works,  lead  in 
the  form  of  oxide,  carbonate,  or  suli)hate  was  deposited  on  the  grass 
and  herbage  which  the  horses  ate. 

Symjjtoms. — Lead  poisoning  produces  derangement  of  the  functions 
of  digestion  and  locomotion  or  it  may  affect  the  lungs  principally.  In 
whatever  system  of  organs  the  lead  is  deposited  mostly  there  will  we 
have  the  symptoms  of  nervous  debility  most  manifest.  If  in  the 
lungs,  the  breathing  becomes  difiicult  and  the  animal  gets  out  of  breath 
very  quickly  when  he  is  compelled  to  run.  Roaring,  also,  is  very  fre- 
quently a  symptom  of  lead  poisoning.  When  it  affects  the  stomach, 
the  animal  gradually  falls  away  in  flesh,  the  hair  becomes  rough,  the 
skin  tight,  and  colicky  sjnnptoms  develop.  When  the  deposit  is  prin- 
cipall}^  in  the  muscles,  partial  or  complete  paralysis  gradually  develops. 
When  large  quantities  of  lead  have  been  taken  in  and  absorbed,  symp- 
toms resembling  epilepsy  may  result,  or  coma  and  delirium  develop 
and  prove  fatal.  In  lead  poisoning  there  is  seldom  an}'^  increase  in 
temperature.     A  blue  line  forms  along  the  gums  of  the  front  teeth, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  223 

and  the  breath  assumes  a  peculiarl}^  offensive  odor.     Lead  can  always 
be  detected  in  the  urine  by  chemical  tests. 

Treatment. — The  administration  of  2-dram  doses  of  iodide  of  potassa 
three  times  a  day.  This  will  form  iodide  of  lead  in  the  system, 
which  is  rapidl}'^  excreted  by  the  kidne3^s.  If  much  muscular  weak- 
ness or  paralysis  is  present,  sulphate  of  iron  in  1-dram  doses  and 
strychnia  in  2-grain  doses  may  be  given  twice  a  day.  In  all  cases  of 
suspected  lead  poisoning  all  utensils  which  have  entered  into  the  sup- 
ply of  feed  or  water  should  be  examined  for  the  presence  of  soluble 
lead.  If  it  occurs  near  leadworks,  great  care  must  be  given  to  the 
supply  of  uncontaminated  fodder,  etc. 


Uremic  poisoning  may  affect  the  brain  in  nephritis,  acute  albumi- 
nuria, or  when,  from  an}'^  cause,  the  functions  of  the  kidneys  become 
impaired  or  suppressed  and  urea  (a  natural  product)  is  no  long'er  elim- 
inated from  these  organs,  causing  it  to  accumulate  in  the  svstem  and 
give  rise  to  uremic  poisoning. 

Sym-ptoms. — Uremic  poisoning  is  usuall}^  preceded  b}^  dropsy  of  the 
limbs  or  abdomen;  a  peculiar  fetid  breath  is  often  noticed;  then 
drowsiness,  attacks  of  diarrhea,  and  general  debility  ensue.  Suddenly 
extreme  stupor  or  coma  develops;  the  surface  of  the  body  becomes 
cold;  the  pupils  are  insensible  to  light;  the  pulse  slow  and  intermit- 
ting; the  breathing  labored,  and  death  supervenes.  The  temperature 
throughout  the  disease  is  seldom  increased,  unless  the  disease  becomes 
complicated  with  acute  inflammatory  disease  of  the  brain  or  respira- 
tor}"  organs,  which  often  occur  as  a  result  of  the  urea  in  the  circula- 
tion. Albumen  and  tube  casts  may  frequently  be  found  in  the  urine. 
The  disease  almost  invariably  proves  fatal. 

Treatinent. — This  must  be  directed  to  a  removal  of  the  cause. 

ELECTRIC    SHOCK. 

Electric  shock,  from  coming  in  contact  with  electric  wires,  is  becom- 
ing a  matter  of  rather  frequent  occurrence,  and  has  a  similar  effect 
upon  the  animal  system  as  a  shock  from  lightning.  Two  degrees  of 
electric  or  lightning  shock  may  be  observed,  one  producing  temporary 
contraction  of  muscles  and  insensibility,  from  which  recoveiy  is  pos- 
sible, the  other  killing  directly,  by  producing  a  condition  of  nervous 
and  general  insensibility.  In  shocks  which  are  not  immediatel}^  fatal 
the  animal  is  usually  insensible,  the  respiration  slow,  labored,  or  gasp- 
ing, the  pulse  slow,  feeble,  and  irregular,  and  the  pupils  dilated  and 
not  sensitive,  or  they  may  be  contracted  and  sensitive.  The  tempera- 
ture is  lowered.  There  may  be  a  tendency  to  convulsions  or  spasms. 
The  predominating  sj^mptoms  are  extreme  cardiac  and  respiratory 
depression. 


224  BUREAU    OF    AmMAL    INPUSTEY. 

Treatment.— Sulphate  of  atropia  should  be  given  hypodermically  in 
one-quarter  grain  doses  every  hour  or  two  hours  until  the  heart  beats 
are  invigorated,  the  number  and  fullness  of  the  respirations  increased, 
and  consciousness  returns.  Stunulating  injections  per  rectum  may 
also  be  useful  in  arousing  the  circulation;  for  this  purpose  whisky  or 
ammonia  water  may  be  used. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HEART,  BLOOD  VESSELS, 
AND  LYMPHATICS. 

By  M.  R.  Teumbower,  V.  S. 
[Revised  in  1903  by  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  S.,  V.  M.  D.] 

ANATOMY   AND    PHYSIOLOGY   OF   THE    HEART    AND    BLOOD   VESSELS. 

The  heart  is  a  hollow,  muscular  organ,  situated  a  little  to  the  left  of 
the  center  of  the  chest.  Its  impulse  is  felt  on  the  left  side  on  account 
of  its  location  and  from  the  rotary  movement  of  the  organ  in  action. 
It  is  cone-shaped,  with  the  base  upward;  the  apex  points  downward, 
backward,  and  to  the  left  side.  It  extends  from  about  the  third  to 
the  sixth  ribs,  inclusive.  The  average  weight  is  about  7  to  8  pounds. 
In  horses  used  for  speed  the  heart  is  relatively  larger,  according  to 
the  weight  of  the  animal,  than  in  horses  used  for  slow  work.  It  is 
suspended  from  the  spine  by  the  large  blood  vessels,  and  held  in  posi- 
tion below  by  the  attachment  of  the  pericardium  to  the  sternum.  It 
is  inclosed  in  a  sac,  the  pericardium,  which  is  composed  of  a  dense 
fibrous  membrane  lined  by  a  delicate  serous  membrane,  which  is 
reflected  over  the  heart;  the  inner  layer  is  firmly  adherent  to  the 
heart,  the  outer  to  the  fibrous  sac,  and  there  is  an  intervening  space, 
known  as  the  pericardial  space,  in  which  a  small  amount  of  serum — a 
thin  translucent  liquid — is  present  constantly. 

The  heart  is  divided  by  a  shallow  fissure  into  a  right  and  left  side; 
each  of  these  is  again  subdivided  by  a  transverse  partition  into  two 
compartments  which  communicate.  Thus  there  are  four  cardiac  cavi- 
ties— the  superior,  or  upper,  ones  called  the  auricles;  the  inferior,  or 
lower,  ones  the  ventricles.  These  divisions  are  marked  on  the  outside 
by  grooves,  which  contain  the  cardiac  blood  vessels,  and  are  generally 
filled  with  fat. 

The  right  side  of  the  heart  may  be  called  the  venous  side,  the  left 
the  arterial  side,  named  from  the  kind  of  blood  which  passes  through 
them.  The  auricles  are  thin-walled  cavities  placed  at  the  base,  and  are 
connected  with  the  great  veins — the  vense  cavee  and  pulmonary  veins — 
through  which  they  receive  blood  from  all  parts  of  the  body.  The 
auricles  communicate  with  the  ventricles  each  by  a  large  aperture, 
the  auriculo-ventricular  orifice,  which  is  furnished  with  a  remarkable 
mechanism  of  valves,  allowing  the  transmission  of  blood  from  the 

14384—03 15  .  225 


226  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

auricles  into  the  A-entricles,  but  preventing-  a  reverse  course.  The 
ventricles  are  thick-walled  cavities,  forming  the  more  massive  portion 
of  the  heart  toward  the  apex.  They  are  separated  bv  a  partition,  and 
are  connected  with  the  great  arteries — the  pulmonary  artery  and  the 
aorta — b}-  which  they  send  blood  to  all  parts  of  the  bod3\  At  the 
mouth  of  the  aorta  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  pulmonary  artery  is  an 
ari-angement  of  valves  in  each  case  which  prevents  the  reflux  of  blood 
into  the  ventricles.  The  auriculo- ventricular  valves  in  the  left  side 
are  composed  of  two  ilaps,  hence  it  is  called  the  hicus])id  valve;  in  the 
right  side  this  valve  has  three  flaps,  and  is  called  the  tricuspid  valve. 
The  flaps  which  form  these  valves  are  connected  with  a  tendinous  ring 
between  the  auricles  and  ventricles;  and  each  flap  of  the  auriculo- 
ventricular  valves  is  supplied  with  tendinous  cords,  which  are  attached 
to  the  free  margin  and  under-surface,  so  as  to  keep  the  valves  tense 
when  closed — a  condition  which  is  produced  by  the  shortening  of 
muscular  pillars  with  which  the  cords  are  connected.  The  arterial 
openings,  both  on  the  right  and  on  the  left  side,  are  providecl  with 
three-flapped  semilunar-shaped  valves,  to  prevent  the  regurgitation 
of  blood  when  the  ventricles  contract.  The  veins  emptying  into  the 
auricles  arc  not  capable  of  closure,  but  the  posterior  vena  cava  has  an 
imperfect  valve  at  its  aperture. 

The  inner  surface  of  the  heart  is  lined  b}"  a  serous  membrane,  the 
endocardium,  which  is  smooth  and  firmly  adherent  to  the  muscular 
structure  of  the  heart.  This  membrane  is  continuous  with  the  lining 
membrane  of  the  blood  vessels,  and  it  enters  into  the  formation  of  the 
valves. 

The  circulation  through  the  heart  is  as  follows:  The  venous  blood  is 
carried  into  the  right  auricle  by  the  anterior  and  posterior  vense  cavie. 
It  then  passes  through  the  right  auriculo-ventricular  opening  into  the 
right  ventricle,  thence  through  the  pvdmonary  artery  to  the  lungs.  It 
returns  by  the  pulmonary  veins  to  the  left  auricle,  then  is  forced 
through  the  auriculo-ventricular  opening  into  the  left  ventricle,  which 
propels  it  through  the  aorta  and  its  branches  into  the  system,  the 
veins  returning  it  again  to  the  heart.  The  circulation,  therefore,  is 
double,  the  pulmonar}^,  or  lesser,  being  performed  Iw  the  right  side, 
and  the  sj^stemic,  or  greater,  by  the  left  side. 

As  the  blood  is  forced  through  the  heart  by  forcible  contractions  of 
its  muscular  walls,  it  has  the  action  of  a  force  pump,  and  gives  the 
impulse  at  each  beat,  which  we  call  the  pulse — the  dilatation  of  the 
arteries  throughout  the  system.  The  contraction  of  the  auricles  is 
quickly  followed  by  that  of  the  ventricles,  and  then  a  slight  pause 
occurs;  this  takes  j)lace  in  regular  rhythmical  order  during  health. 

The  action  of  the  heart  is  governed  and  maintained  by  the  pneumo- 
gastric  nerve  (tenth  pair  of  cranial  nerves);  it  is  the  inhibitory  nerve 
of  the  heart,  and  regulates,  slows,  and  governs  its  action.     When  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  227 

nerve  is  cut,  the  heart-beats  increase  rapidl}-,  and  in  fact  the  organ 
works  without  control.  When  the  nerve  is  undulj"  irritated  the  hold- 
back, or  inhibitory  force,  is  increased,  and  the  heart  slows  up  in  the 
same  measure.  The  left  cavities  of  the  heart,  the  pulmonar}"  veins, 
and  the  aorta,  or  S3^stemic  artery,  contain  red  or  florid  blood,  fit  to  cir- 
culate through  the  body.  The  right  cavities  of  the  heart,  with  the 
vena?  cava^,  or  sj^stemic  veins,  and  pulmonary  artery,  contain  dark 
blood,  which  must  be  transmitted  through  the  kings  for  renovation. 

The  arteries,  commencing  in  two  great  trunks,  the  aorta  and  the 
pulmonary  artery,  undergo  division,  as  in  the  branching  of  a  tree. 
Their  branches  mostl}^  come  off  at  acute  angles,  and  are  commonly  of 
uniform  diameter  in  each  case,  but  successive!}^  diminish  after  and  in 
consequence  of  division,  and  in  this  manner  gradually  merge  into  the 
capillary  system  of  blood  vessels.  As  a  general  rule,  the  combined 
area  of  the  branches  is  greater  than  that  of  the  vessels  from  which 
they  emanate,  and  hence  the  collective  capacity  of  the  arterial  system 
is  greatest  at  the  capillary  vessels.  The  same  rule  applies  to  the  veins. 
The  effect  of  the  division  of  the  arteries  is  to  make  the  blood  move  more 
slowly  along  their  branches  to  the  capillar}^  vessels,  and  the  effect  of 
the  union  of  the  branches  of  the  veins  is  to  accelerate  the  speed  of  the 
blood  as  it  returns  from  the  capillar}'  vessels  to  the  venous  trunks. 

In  the  smaller  vessels  a  frequent  running  together,  or  anastomosis^ 
occurs.  This  admits  of  a  free  communication  between  the  currents  of 
blood,  and  must  tend  to  promote  equabilit}'  of  distribution  and  of  pres- 
sure, and  to  obviate  the  effects  of  local  interruption.  The  arteries  are 
highly  elastic,  being  extensile  and  retractile  both  in  length  and  breadth. 
During  life  thej"  are  also  contractile,  being  provided  with  muscular 
tissue.  When  cut  across  the}'  present,  although  empty,  an  open  orifice; 
the  veins,  on  the  other  hand,  collapse. 

In  most  parts  of  the  body  the  arteries  are  inclosed  in  a  sheath  formed 
of  connective  tissue,  but  are  connected  so  loosely  that,  when  the  vessel 
is  cut  across,  its  ends  readily  retract  some  distance  within  the  sheath. 
Independently  of  this  sheath,  arteries  are  usually  described  as  being 
formed  of  three  coats,  named,  from  their  relative  positions,  external, 
middle,  and  internal.  This  applies  to  their  structure  so  far  as  it  is 
discernible  by  the  naked  eye.  The  internal,  serous,  or  tunica  intiina^ 
is  the  thinnest,  and  is  continuous  with  the  lining  membrane  of  the  heart. 
It  is  made  up  of  two  layers—  an  inner,  consisting  of  a  layer  of  epithelial 
scales,  and  an  outer,  transparent,  whitish,  highly  elastic,  and  perforated. 
The  middle  coat,  tunica  media,  is  elastic,  dense,  and  of  a  yellow  color, 
consisting  of  nonstriated  muscular  and  elastic  fibers,  thickest  in  the 
largest  arteries  and  becoming  thinner  in  the  smaller.  In  the  smallest 
vessels  it  is  almost  entirely  muscular.  The  external  coat,  tunica  adven- 
titia,  is  composed  mainly  of  fine  and  closely  woven  bundles  of  white 
connective  tissue,  Avhich  chiefly  run  diagonally  or  obliquely  round  the 


228  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

vessel.  In  this  coat  the  nutrient  vessels,  the  vasa  va-sorum,  form  a  cap- 
illary network,  from  which  a  few  penetrate  as  far  as  the  muscular  coat. 
The  veins  differ  from  arteries  in  possessing  thinner  walls,  less 
elastic  and  muscular  tissue,  and  for  the  most  part  a  stronger  tunica 
adventitia.  They  collapse  when  cut  across  or  when  they  are  empty. 
The  majority  of  veins  are  provided  with  valves;  these  are  folds  of 
the  lining  membrane,  strengthened  by  fibrous  tissue.  They  favor  the 
course  of  the  blood  and  prevent  its  reflux.  The  nerves  which  suppl}' 
both  the  arteries  and  the  veins  come  from  the  sympathetic  sj^stem. 
The  smaller  arteries  terminate  in  the  system  of  minute  vessels,  known 
as  the  capillaries,  which  are  interposed  between  the  termination  of  the 
arteries  and  the  commencement  of  the  veins.  Their  average  diameter 
is  about  one  three-thousandth  of  an  inch. 

DISEASES    OF   THE    HEART    AND    BLOOD    VESSELS. 

In  considering  diseases  of  the  heart  we  meet  with  many  difficulties, 
depending  much  upon  the  position  which  this  organ  occupies  in  the 
animal.  The  shoulders  cover  so  much  of  the  anterior  portion  of  the 
chest,  and  often  in  very  heavy-muscled  horses  the  chest  walls  are  so 
thick,  that  a  satisfactory  examination  of  the  heart  is  attended  with 
difficulty.  Diseases  of  the  heart  are  not  uncommon  among  horses; 
the  heart  and  its  membranes  are  frequently  involved  in  cfiseases  of 
the  respiratory  organs,  diseases  of  the  kidneys,  rheumatism,  influenza, 
etc.  Some  of  the  diseases  of  this  organ  are  never  suspected  by  the 
ordinary  observer  during  life,  and  are  so  diflacult  to  diagnose  with 
any  degree  of  certainty  that  we  will  have  to  confine  ourselves  to  a 
general  outline,  giving  attention  to  such  symptoms  as  maj^  serve  to 
lead  to  a  knowledge  of  their  existence,  with  directions  for  treatment, 
care,  etc. 

Nervous  affections  often  produce  prominent  heart  symptoms  l)y 
causing  functional  disturbance  of  that  organ,  which,  if  removed,  will 
leave  the  heart  restored  to  perfect  vigor  and  normal  action.  Organic 
changes  involving  the  heart  or  valves,  however,  usually  grow  worse 
and  eventually  prove  fatal.  Therefore  it  is  necessary  that  we  arrive 
at  an  appreciation  of  the  true  nature  and  causes,  so  that  we  may  be 
able  to  form  a  true  estimate  of  the  possibilities  for  recovery  or  en- 
couragement for  medical  treatment. 

Disease  of  the  heart  may  occur  at  any  age,  but  it  is  witnessed  most 
frequently  in  j^oung  horses,  which,  when  being  trained  for  fast  work, 
are  often  subjected  to  excessive  hardship  and  fatigue.  Nervous  or 
timid  animals  also  suffer  from  such  diseases  more  frequentl}"  than 
those  of  a  sluggish  disposition.  Any  cause  which  induces  a  violent 
or  sudden  change  in  the  circulation  ma}^  result  in  injur}'  to  the  heart. 
Symptoms  which  may  frequently  denote  disease  of  the  heart  are  diffi- 
cult breatiiing  or  short-windedness,  dropsies  of  the  limbs,  habitual 


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DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  229 

coldness  of  the  extremities,  giddiness  or  fainting-  attacks,  irmbility  to 
stand  work,  although  the  general  appearance  would  indicate  strength 
and  ability,  etc. 

INFLAMMATORY    DISEASES   OF    THp    HEART. 

This  will  embrace  m3"ocarditis,  endocarditis,  and  pericarditis. 

MYOCARDITIS,    OR    INFLAMMATIOX    OF    THE    MUSCULAR    STRUCTURE    OF    THE    HEART. 

The  heart  muscle  sometimes  becomes  inflamed  as  a  complication  or 
result  of  the  existence  of  general  or  febrile  and  of  infectious  diseases. 
Severe  influenza  or  infectious  pneumonia  is  not  infrequently  followed 
by  myocarditis.  By  extension  of  inflammation  for  the  endocardium 
or  pericardium  the  muscle  of  the  heart  may  become  involved.  Over- 
exertion or  especially  hard  work  continued  for  a  long  time  may  cause 
this  muscle  to  become  inflamed. 

Symptoms. — Inflammation  of  the  heart  muscle  is  shown  by  inability 
to  contract  forcibly;  this  results  in  a  rapid  but  weak,  soft  pulse  and 
irregular  heart  sounds.  The  pulse  may  be  quite  irregular  as  a  result 
of  the  irregular,  tumultuous  action  of  the  heart.  There  is  great  gen- 
eral weakness,  shortness  of  breath,  and  rapid  respiratory  movements^ 
In  some  cases,  where  the  muscle  is  very  much  softened  and  weakened, 
or,  perhaps  when  an  abscess  forms  in  the  wall  of  the  heart,  the  course 
of  the  disease  is  very  rapid  and  terminates  suddenly  from  paralysis  or 
rupture  of  the  heart. 

Alterations. — The  heart  muscle  has  a  brownish  or  yellowish,  boiled 
appearance,  and  is  so  brittle  that  it  tears  easil3^  There  may  be  a 
spotted  appearance  of  the  muscle  from  the  intense  changes  in  struc- 
ture in  small  areas;  these  small  areas  may  be  due  to  suppuration,  in 
which  case  they  have  the  characteristics  of  small  abscesses.  This  last 
condition  is  seen  in  pyemia  (blood  poisoning).  If  the  disease  is  of  long 
duration,  the  fibrous  tissue  in  the  wall  of  the  heart  may  increase  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  produce  an  unnatural  hardness  of  the  wall. 

Treatment. — In  this  disease  the  nutrition  and  strength  of  the  heart 
should  be  kept  up  as  much  as  possible  with  good  food,  good  care,  and 
heart  tonics  and  stimulants.  The  horse  should  be  tempted  to  eat  such 
foods  as  he  will  take;  he  should  be  kept  in  an  airy  box  stall;  his  legs 
should  be  well  rubbed  as  often  as  necessaiy  to  keep  them  warm  and 
bandaged  loosely  with  flannel  bandages.  Internally,  the  horse  may 
have  strychnia  in  2-grain  doses  twice  daily,  whisk}^  in  4-ounce  doses 
every  two  to  four  hours,  digitalis  in  the  form  of  the  tincture  m  doses 
of  1  dram  eveiy  three  to  six  hours.  Artificial  Carlsbad  salts  in  heap- 
ing tab'espoonful  doses  in  the  feed  may  be  given  three  times  daily  for 
a  couple  of  weeks.  Rest  is  of  the  greatest  importance  and  fihould  be 
allowed  for  a  few  weeks  after  recovery  seems  to  be  complete. 


230  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

EXDOCARDiriS,    OR    INFLAMMATION    OF   THE    LINIXG    MEMBRANE   OF   THE    HEART,    USUALLY 
INVOLVING    THE    MUSCULAR   STRUCTURE. 

Endocarditis  frequenth'  occurs  as  a  complication  of  rheumatism, 
some  of  the  specific  or  zymotic  fevers,  septic  poisoning,  etc.  This  is 
a  more  frequent  disease  among-  horses  than  is  generally  known,  and 
often  gives  rise  to  symptoms  which,  at  first,  are  obscure  and  unnoticed. 

In  influenza  we  mav  find  the  heart  becoming  involved  in  the  disease, 
in  consequence  of  the  morbid  material  conve3^ed  through  the  heart  in 
the  blood  stream.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  many  affections,  in  even 
remote  portions  of  the  body,  may  be  traced  directly  to  a  primarj'' 
endocardial  disease,  we  shall  feel  justified  in  inviting  special  attention 
to  this  disease. 

Endocarditis  maj'  be  acute,  subacute,  or  chronic.  In  acute  iutlam- 
mation  we  find  a  thickening  and  a  roughened  appearance  of  the  endo- 
cardium throughout  the  cavities  of  the  heart.  This  condition  may  be 
followed  b}""  a  coagulation  of  fibrin  upon  the  inliamed  surface,  which 
adheres  to  it,  and  by  attrition  soon  becomes  worked  up  into  shreddy- 
like  granular  elevations;  this  may  lead  to  a  formation  of  fibrinous 
clots  in  the  heart  and  sudden  death  early  in  the  disease,  the  second  or 
third  da}'. 

Subacute  endocarditis,  which  is  the  most  common  form,  may  not 
become  appreciable  for  several  days  after  its  commencement.  It  is 
characterized  by  being  confined  to  one  or  more  anatomical  divisions 
of  the  heart,  and  all  the  successive  morbid  changes  follow  each  other 
in  a  comparatively  slow  process.  Often  we  would  not  be  led  to  suspect 
heart  affection  were  it  not  for  the  distress  in  breathing,  which  it  gen- 
eralh'  occasions  when  the  animal  is  exercised,  especially  if  the  valves 
are  much  involved.  When  coagula  or  vegetations  form  upon  the 
inflamed  membrane,  either  in  minute  shreds  or  patches,  or  when  forma- 
tion of  fibrinous  clots  occurs  in  the  cavity  affected,  some  of  these  mate- 
rials ma\'  be  carried  from  the  cavit}'  of  the  heart  by  the  blood  current 
into  remote  organs,  constituting  emboli  that  are  lia])le  to  suddenly"  plug 
vessels  and  thereb}^  interrupt  important  functions.  In  the  great  major- 
ity of  either  acute  or  subacute  grades  of  endocarditis,  whatever  the 
exciting  cause,  the  most  alarming  s\'mptoms  disappear  in  a  week  or  ten 
days,  often  leaving,  however,  such  changes  in  the  interior  lining  or 
va'vular  structures  as  to  cause  impairment  in  the  circulation  for  a  umch 
longer  period  of  time.  These  changes  usually  consist  of  thickening  or 
induration  of  the  inflamed  structures.  But  while  the  effects  of  the 
inflammation  in  the  membrane  lining  the  walls  of  the  ventricles  may 
subside  to  such  a  degree  as  to  cause  little  or  no  inconvenience,  or  even 
wholly  disappear,  yet  after  the  valvular  structures  have  been  involved, 
causing  them  to  be  thicker,  less  flexible  than  normal,  they  usually 
remain,  obstructing  the  free  passage  of  the  blood  through  the  openings 
of  the  heart,  thereby  inducing  secondary  changes  which  take  place 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  231 

slowlj^  at  first,  but  ultimately  seriously  impair  the  animal's  usefulness. 
What  was  but  a  slight  olxstruction  to  the  circulation  during  the  first 
few  weeks  after  the  subsidence  of  the  cardiac  inflammatory  attack 
becomes  in  process  of  time  so  much  increased  as  to  induce  increased 
growth  in  the  muscular  structure  of  the  heart,  constituting  hypertrophy^ 
of  the  walls  of  the  ventricles,  more  particularly  of  the  left,  with  corre- 
sponding fullness  of  the  left  auricle  and  pulmonarj-  veins,  thereby  pro- 
ducing fullness  of  the  capillaries  in  the  lungs,  pressure  upon  the  air 
cells,  difiicult  or  asthmatic  breathing — greatl}"  increased  in  attempts  to 
work — until  in  a  few  months  many  of  these  cases  become  entirely  dis- 
abled for  work.  Sometimes,  too,  dropsical  effusions  in  the  limbs  or  into 
the  cavities  of  the  body  result  from  the  irregular  and  deficient  circula- 
tion. Derangement  of  the  urinary  secretion,  with  passive  congestipn 
of  the  kidneys,  ma}^  also  appear. 

Endocardial  inflammation  is  seldom  fatal  in  its  early  stages,  but  in 
many  cases  the  recovery  is  incomplete,  for  a  large  proportion  is  left 
with  some  permanent  thickening  of  the  valves,  which  constitutes  the 
beginning  of  valvular  disease. 

Symjytonis. — Endocarditis  may  be  ushered  in  by  a  chill,  with  sud- 
den and  marked  rise  in  temperature.  The  pulse  rapidly  decreases  in 
strength  or  may  become  irregular,  while  the  heart  beats  more  or  less 
tumultuously.  In  the  earl}'  stages  soft-blowing  sounds  may  be  heard 
by  placing  the  ear  over  the  heart  on  the  left  side,  which  correspond  in 
number  and  rhythm  to  the  heart's  action.  Excessive  pain,  though  not 
so  great  as  in  acute  pleuritis,  is  manifested  when  the  animal  is  com- 
pelled to'trot;  very  often  difficult}'  in  breathing,  or  shortness  of  breath, 
on  the  slightest  exertion  develops  early  in  the  attack.  When  the 
valves  are  involved  in  the  inflammatory  process  the  visible  mucous 
membranes  become  either  very  pale  or  very  dark  colored,  and  fainting 
may  occur  when  the  head  is  suddenly  elevated.-  When  the  valves  of 
the  right  side  are  affected  we  may  find  a  regurgitant  pulsation  in  the 
jugular  vein.  Occasionally  it  happens  that  the  heart  contracts  more 
frequently  than  the  j)ulse  beats — that  is,  there  may  be  twice  as  many 
contractions  of  the  heart  in  a  minute  as  there  are  pulse  waves  in  the 
arteries.  The  pulse  is  always  very  fast.  In  some  cases  we  find  marked 
lameness  of  the  left  shoulder,  and  when  the  animal  is  turned  short  to 
the  left  side  he  may  groan  with  pain,  and  the  heart's  action  become 
violently  excited,  although  pressure  against  the  chest  wall  will  not  pro- 
duce pain  unless  roughly  applied.  The  animal  is  not  disposed  to  eat 
or  drink  much;  the  surface  of  the  body  and  legs  is  cold — rarely  exces- 
sively hot — and  frequently  the  body  of  the  animal  is  in  a  subdued  tre- 
mor. In  nearly  all  cases  there  is  partial  suppression  of  the  urinary 
secretion.  The  symptoms  may  continue  with  very  little  modification 
for  three  or  four  days,  sometimes  seven  days,  witliout  any  marked 
changes.     If  large  fibrinous  clots  form  in  the  heart  the  change  will  be 


232  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

sudden  and  quickl}'  prove  fatal  unless  the}-  become  loosened  and  are 
carried  awdj  in  the  circulation;  then  apoplex}-  may  result  from  the 
plugging-  of  arteries  too  small  to  give  further  transmission.  If  the 
animal  manifests  symptoms  of  improvement,  the  changes  usually  are 
slow  and  steady  until  he  feels  apparently  as  well  as  ever,  eats  Avell,  and 
moves  freely  in  his  stall  or  yard.  When  he  is  taken  out,  however, 
the  seeming  strength  often  proves  deceptive,  as  he  may  quickly  weaken 
if  urged  into  a  fast  gait,  the  breathing  becomes  quickened  with  a  dou- 
ble flank  movement  as  in  heaves,  and  all  the  former  symptoms  reap- 
pear in  a  modified  degree.  An  examination  at  this  stage  may  reveal 
valvular  insufRcicncy,  cardiac  hypertrophy,  or  pulmonary  engorgement. 

In  fatal  cases  of  endocarditis  death  often  occurs  about  the  fourth 
day,  from  the  formation  of  heart  clot  or  too  great  embarrassment  of 
the  circulation.  Endocarditis  ma}-  be  suspected  in  all  cases  where 
plain  symptoms  of  cardiac  affection  are  manifested  in  animals  affected 
with  influenza,  rheuniiitism,  or  any  disease  in  which  the  blood  may 
convey  septic  matter. 

Acute  endocardial  inflammation  ma}-  be  distinguished  from  pleuritis 
by  the  absence  of  any  friction  murmur,  absence  of  pain  when  the  chest 
wall  is  percussed,  and  the  absence  of  effusion  in  the  cavity  of  the  chest. 
It  may  be  distinguished  from  pericarditis  by  the  absence  of  the  friction 
sounds  and  want  of  an  enlarged  area  of  dullness  on  percussion. 

Treatment. — The  objects  to  be  attained  by  treatment  will  be  to 
remove  or  mitigate  as  much  as  possible  the  cause  inducing  the  disease; 
to  find  a  medicine  which  will  lessen  the  irritability  of  the  heart  with- 
out weakening  it;  and,  last,  to  maintain  a  free  urinary  secretion  and 
prevent  exudation  and  hypertrophy.  So  long  as  there  is  an  increase 
of  temperature,  with  some  degree  of  scantiness  of  the  urine,  it  may  be 
safe  to  believe  that  there  is  some  degree  of  inflammatory  action  exist- 
ing in  the  cardiac  structures,  and,  as  long  as  any  evidence  of  inflamma- 
tory action  remains,  however  moderate  in  degree,  there  is  a  tendency 
to  increase  or  hypertrophy  of  the  connective  tissue  of  the  heart  or 
valves,  thereby  rendering  it  almost  certain  that  the  structural  changes 
will  become  permanent  unless  counteracted  by  persistent  treatment 
and  complete  rest. 

The  tincture  of  digitalis,  in  20-drop  doses,  repeated  every  hour,  is 
perhaps  the  most  reliable  agent  we  know  to  control  the  irritability  of 
the  heart,  and  this  also  has  a  decided  influence  upon  the  urinary  secre- 
tion. After  the  desired  impression  upon  the  heart  is  obtained  the 
dose  may  be  repeated  every  two  or  three  hours,  or  as  the  case  may 
demand.  Tincture  of  strophanthus,  in  2-dram  doses,  will  quiet  the 
tumultuous  action  of  the  heart  in  some  cases  where  the  digitalis  fails. 
Bleeding,  blistering,  and  stimulating  applications  to  the  chest  should 
be  avoided.  They  serve  to  irritate  the  animal  and  can  do  no  possible 
good.     Chlorate  of   potassa,  in  2-dram  doses,  may  be  given  in  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  233 

drinking  water  every  four  hours  for  tlie  first  five  or  six  da3^s,  and  then 
be  superseded  by  the  nitrate  of  potassa,  in  half-ounce  doses,  for  the 
following  week,  or  until  the  urinary  secretion  becomes  abnormally 
profuse.  Where  the  disease  is  associated  with  rheumatism,  2-dram 
doses  of  salic3date  of  soda  may  be  substituted  for  the  chlorate  of 
potassa.  To  guard  against  chronic  iuduration  of  the  valves,  the  iodide 
of  potassa,  in  1  to  2  dram  doses,  should  be  given  early  in  the  disease, 
and  may  be  repeated  two  or  three  times  a  da}^  for  several  weeks. 
When  chronic  efi'ects  remain  after  the  acute  stage  has  passed  this  drug 
becomes  indispensable. 

When  dropsy  of  the  limbs  develops,  it  is  due  to  weakened  circulation 
or  functional  impairment  of  the  kidneys.  When  there  is  much  weak- 
ness in  the  action  of  the  heart,  or  general  debility  is  marked,  the  iodide 
of  iron,  in  1-dram  doses,  combined  with  hydrastis,  3  drams,  may  be 
given  three  times  a  day.  Arsenic,  in  5-grain  doses  twice  a  da}^,  will 
give  excellent  results  in  some  cases  of  weak  heart  associated  with  diffi- 
cult breathing.  In  all  cases  absolute  rest  and  warm  stabling,  with 
comfortable  clothing,  become  necessar}^,  and  freedom  from  work 
should  be  allowed  for  along  time  after  all  symptoms  have  disappeared. 

.      PERICARDITIS,   OR    INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    SAC    INCLOSING    THE    HEART. 

Causes.  —Pericarditis  may  be  induced  by  cold  and  damp  stabling, 
exposure  and  fatigue,  from  wounds  caused  by  broken  ribs,  etc.  Gen- 
erally, however,  it  is  associated  with  an  attack  of  influenza,  rheuma- 
tism, plcuritis,  etc. 

Si/m^toms. — Usuall}^  the  disease  manifests  itself  abruptly  by  a  brief 
stage  of  chills  coincident  with  pain  in  moving,  a  short  painful  cough, 
rapid  and  short  breathing,  and  high  temperature,  with  a  rapid  and 
hard  pulse.  In  the  early  stages  of  the  disease  the  pulse  is  regular  in 
beat;  later,  when  there  is  much  exudation  present  in  the  pericardial  sac, 
the  heart-beat  becomes  muffled,  and  may  be  of  a  double  or  rebounding 
character.  By  placing  the  ear  against  the  left  side  of  the  chest  behind 
the  elbow  a  rasping  sound  may  be  heard,  corresponding  to  the  fre- 
quency of  the  hea,rt-beat.  This  is  known  as  a  friction  sound.  Between 
the  second  and  fourth  daj^s  this  sound  may  disappear,  due  to  a  disten- 
sion of  the  pericardium  by  an  exudate  or  serous  eflfusion.  As  soon  as 
this  effusion  partly  fills  the  pericardium,  percussion  will  reveal  an 
abnormally  increased  area  of  dullness  over  the  region  of  the  heart,  the 
heart-beats  become  less  perceptible  than  in  health,  and  in  some  cases  a 
splashing  or  flapping  sound  may  become  audible. 

If  the  effusion  becomes  absorbed,  the  friction  sound  usually  recurs 
for  a  short  time;  this  friction  mQ.y  often  be  felt  by  appljdng  the  hand 
to  the  side  of  the  chest.  In  a  few  cases  clonic  spasms  of  the  muscles 
of  the  neck  may  be  present.  In  acute  pericarditis,  when  the  effusion 
is  rapid  and  excessive,  the  animal  ma^^  die  in  a  few  days  or  recovery 


234  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTET. 

ma}'  begin  equally  as  early.  In  subacute  or  in  chronic  cases  the  effu- 
sion may  .slowl}'  become  augmented  until  the  pressure  upon  the  lungs 
and  interference  with  the  circulation  becomes  so  great  that  death  will 
result.  Whether  the  attack  is  acute,  subacute,  or  chronic,  the  charac- 
teristic symptoms  which  will  guide  us  to  a  correct  diagnosis  are  the 
friction  sound,  which  is  always  synchronous  with  the  heart's  action, 
the  high  temperature  with  hard,  irritable  pulse,  and,  in  cases  of  peri- 
cardial effusion,  the  increased  area  of  dullness  over  the  cardiac  region. 
When  the  disease  is  associated  with  influenza  or  rheumatism,  some  of 
the  symptoms  may  be  obscure,  but  a  careful  examination  will  reveal 
sufficient  evidence  upon  which  to  base  a  diagnosis.  When  pericarditis 
develops  as  a  result  of  or  in  connection  with  pleuritis,  the  distinction 
ma}^  not  l^e  very  clearly  definable,  neither  will  many  recover.  When 
it  results  from  a  wound  or  broken  rib,  it  almost  invariably  proves 
fatal. 

Pathology. — Pericarditis  ma}'  at  all  times  be  regarded  as  a  ver}'  seri- 
ous affection.  At  first  we  will  find  an  intense  injection  or  accumula- 
tion of  blood  in  the  vessels  of  the  pericardium,  giving  it  a  red  and 
swollen  appearance,  during  which  we  have  the  friction  sound.  In 
twenty-four  to  forty-eight  hours  this  engorgement  is  followed  by  an 
exudation  of  sero -fibrinous  fluid,  the  fibrinous  portion  of  which  may 
soon  form  a  coating  over  the  internal  surface  of  the  pericardial  sac, 
and  may  ultimately  form  a  imion  of  the  opposing  surfaces.  Generally 
this  adhesion  will  only  be  found  to  occupy  a  portion  of  the  surfaces. 
As  the  serous  or  watery  portion  of  this  effusion  is  absorbed,  the  dis- 
tinctness of  the  friction  sound  recurs,  and  may  remain  perceptible  in  a 
varied  degree  for  a  long  time.  When  the  serous  effusion  is  very  great, 
the  pressure  exerted  upon  the  heart  weakens  its  action,  and  may  pro- 
duce death  soon;  when  it  is  not  so  great,  it  may  cause  dropsies  of  other 
portions  of  the  body.  When  the  adhesions  of  the  pericardial  sac  to 
the  body  of  the  heart  are  extensive,  the}-  generally  lead  to  increased 
growth,  or  hypertrophy,  of  the  heart,  with  or  Avithout  dilatation  of  its 
cavities;  when  they  are  but  slight,  they  may  not  cause  any  inconvenience. 

Treatment. — In  acute  or  subacute  pericarditis  the  tincture  of  digi- 
talis may  be  given  in  20  to  30  drop  doses  every  hour  until  the  pulse 
and  temperature  become  reduced.  Whisky  or  carbonate  of  ammonia 
may  be  given  regularly  as  stimulants.  Bandages  should  be  applied  to 
the  legs;  if  the  legs  are  very  cold,  tincture  of  capsicum  should  be  first 
applied;  the  body  should  be  warmly  clothed  in  blankets,  to  promote 
perspiration.  When  the  suffering  from  pain  is  very  severe,  10  grains 
of  morphine  may  be  given  by  the  mouth  once  or  twice  a  day;  nitrate 
of  potassa,  half  an  ounce,  in  drinking  water,  every  six  hours;  after 
the  third  day,  iodide  of  potassa,  in  2-dram  doses,  may  be  substituted. 
Cold  packs  to  the  chest  in  the  early  stages  of  the  disease  may  give 
narked  relief,  or,  late  in  the  disease,  smart  blisters  may  be  applied  to 
the  sides  of  the  chest  with  benefit.     If  the  disease  becomes  chronic, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  235 

iodide  of  iron  and  gentian  to  support  the  strengtli  will  be  indicated, 
but  the  iodide  of  potassa,  in  1  or  2  dram  doses,  two  or  three  times  a 
day,  must  not  be  abandoned  so  long  as  there  is  an  evidence  of  effusion 
or  plastic  exudate  accumulating  in  the  pericardial  sac.  Where  the 
effusion  is  great  and  threatens  the  life  of  the  patient,  tapping  b}-  an 
expert  veterinarian  ma}^  save  the  animal. 

VALVULAR   DISEASE    OF    THE    HEART. 

Acute  valvular  disease  can  not  be  distinguished  from  endocarditis, 
and  chronic  valvular  affections  are  generally  the  result  of  endocardial 
inflammation.  The  valves  of  the  left  side  are  the  most  subject — the 
bicuspid  or  mitral  and  the  aortic  or  semilunar.  The  derangement 
may  consist  of  mere  inflammation  and  swelling,  or  the  edges  of  the 
valves  may  become  covered  by  the  organization  of  the  exudation,  thus 
narrowing  the  passage.  Valvular  obstruction  and  adhesions  may 
occur  or  the  tendinous  cords  ma}^  be  lengthened  or  shortened,  thus 
obstructing  the  orifices  and  permitting  the  regurgitation  of  blood. 
In  protracted  cases  the  fibrous  tissue  of  the  valves  may  be  transformed 
into  fibro-cartilage  or  bone,  or  there  may  be  deposits  of  salts  of  lime 
beneath  the  serous  membrane,  which  may  terminate  in  ulceration,  rup- 
ture, or  fissures.  Sometimes  the  valves  become  covered  b}^  fibrinous, 
fleshy,  or  hard  vegetations,  or  excrescences.  In  cases  of  considerable 
dilatation  of  the  heart  there  may  be  atrophy  and  shrinking  of  the 
valves. 

Si/mj)to)ns. — Valvular  disease  may  be  indicated  by  a  venous  pulse, 
jerking  pulse,  intermittent  pulse,  irregular  pulse;  palpitation;  constant 
abnormal  fullness  of  the  jugular  veins;  difiiculty  of  breathing  when 
the  animal  becomes  excited  or  is  urged  out  of  a  walk  or  into  a  fast 
trot;  attacks  of  vertigo;  congestion  of  the  brain;  dropsical. swelling  of 
the  limbs.  A  blowing,  cooing,  or  bubbling  murmur  \nsi\  sometimes 
be  heard  \>y  placing  the  ear  over  the  heart  on  the  left  side  of  the  chest. 

Hj^pcrtrophy,  or  dilatation,  or  both,  usually  follow  valvular  disease. 

Treatment. — When  the  pulse  is  irregular  or  irritable,  tonics,  such 
as  preparations  of  iron,  gentian,  and  ginger,  may  be  given.  When 
the  action  of  the  heart  is  jerking  or  violent,  20  to  30  drop  doses  of 
tincture  of  digitalis  or  of  veratrum  viride  may  be  given  until  these 
symptoms  abate.  As  the  disease  nearlj^  alwa3's  is  the  result  of  endo- 
carditis, the  iodide  of  potassa  and  general  tonics,  sometimes  sthnu- 
lants,  when  general  debility  supervenes,  may  be  of  temporary  benefit. 
Very  few  animals  recover  or  remain  useful  for  any  length  of  time 
after  once  marked  organic  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  valvular 
structure  of  the  heart. 

ADVENTITIOUS    GROWTHS   IN    THE    HEART. 

Fibrous^  cartilaginous.,  and  hony  formations  have  been  observed  in 
some  rare  instances  in  the  muscular  tissue.     Isolated  calcareous  masses 


236  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTKY. 

have  sometimes  been  embedded  in  the  cardiac  walls.  Fibrinous  coagula 
^n(\.j)oly2)Ous  concretions  may  be  found  in  the  cavities  of  the  heart.  The 
former  consist  of  coagulated  fibrin,  separated  from  the  mass  of  blood, 
of  a  whitish  or  j^ellowish  white  color,  translucent,  of  a  jelly-like  con- 
sistence, and  having  a  nucleus  in  the  center.  They  may  slightly 
adhere  to  the  surface  of  the  cavit}^,  from  which  they  can  easily  be 
separated  without  altering  the  structure  of  the  endocardium.  They 
probably  result  from  an  excess  of  coagulabilit}^  of  fibrin,  which  is 
produced  by  an  organization  of  the  lymph  during  exudation.  The}'-  are 
usually  found  in  the  right  auricle  and  ventricle. 

Polypous  concretions  are  firmer  than  the  preceding,  more  opaque, 
of  a  fibrous  texture,  and  may  be  composed  of  successive  layers.  In 
some  instances  they  are  exceedingly  minute,  while  in  others  they 
almost  fill  one  or  more  of  the  cavities.  Their  color  is  usuall}'  white, 
but  occasionally  red  from  the  presence  of  blood.  They  firm!}-  adhere 
to  the  endocardium,  and  when  detached  from  it  give  it  a  torn  appear- 
ance. Occasionally,  a  vascular  communication  seems  to  exist  between 
them  and  the  substance  of  the  heart.  They  may  be  the  result  of 
fibrinous  exudation  from  inflammation  of  the  inner  surface  of  the  heart 
or  the  coagulation  of  a  portion  of  the  blood  which  afterwards  contracts 
adhesion  with  the  heart.  These  concretions  prove  a  source  of  great 
inconvenience  and  often  danger,  no  matter  how  formed.  The}^  cause 
a  diminution  in  the  cavity  in  which  they  are  found,  thus  narrowing 
the  orifice  through  which  the  blood  passes,  or  preventing  a  proper 
coaptation  of  the  valves,  which  may  produce  most  serious  valvular 
disease. 

Symptoms. — These  are  frequently  uncertain;  they  may,  however, 
be  suspected  when  the  action  of  the  heart  suddenly  becomes  embar- 
rassed with  irregular  and  confused  pulsations,  great  difliculty  of 
breathing,  and  the  usual  signs  dependent  upon  the  imperfect  artcriali- 
zation  of  the  blood. 

Treatment. — Stimulants,  whisk}^,  or  carbonate  of  ammonia  may  be 
of  service. 

PALPITATION    OF   THE    HEART. 

This  is  a  tumultuous  and  usually  irregular  beating  of  the  heart.  It 
may  be  due  to  a  variety  of  causes,  both  functional  and  organic.  It 
may  occur  as  a  result  of  indigestion,  fright,  increased  nervousness, 
sudden  excitement,  excessive  speeding,  etc.  (See  "Thumps,"  pp. 
140,  205.) 

Symptoms. — The  heart  may  act  with  such  violence  that  each  beat 
may  jar  the  whole  body  of  the  animal;  very  commonly  it  may  be 
heard  at  a  short  distance  away  from  the  animal.  It  can  usuall}^  be 
traced  very  readily  to  the  exciting  cause,  which  we  may  be  able  to 
avoid  or  overcome  in  the  futui'e  and  thereby  obviate  subsequent 
attacks.     Rest,  a  mild  stimulant,  or  a  dose  or  two  of  tincture  of  digi- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  237 

talis  or  opium  will  generally  give  prompt  relief.  When  it  is  due  to 
organic  impairment  of  the  heart  it  must  be  regarded  as  a  sjmiptom, 
not  as  a  matter  of  primar}^  specific  treatment. 

SYNCOPE,  OR    FAINTING. 

Actual  fainting  rarel}^  occurs  among  horses.  It  may,  however,  be 
induced  bj^  a  rapid  and  great  loss  of  blood,  pain  of  great  intensity,  a 
mechanical  interference  with  the  circulation  of  the  brain,  etc. 

Symptoms. — Syncope  is  characterized  by  a  decrease  or  temporary 
suspension  of  the  action  of  the  heart  and  respiration,  with  partial  or 
total  loss  of  consciousness.  It  generally  occurs  suddenly,  though 
there  may  bo  premonitory  symptoms,  as  giddiness,  or  vertigo,  dilated 
pupil,  staggering-,  blanching  of  the  visible  mucous  membranes,  a  rap- 
idly sinking  pulse,  and  dropping  to  the  ground.  The  pulse  is  feeble 
or  ceases  to  beat;  the  surface  of  the  body  turns  cold;  breathing  is 
scarcely  to  be  perceived,  and  the  animal  may  be  entirelv  unconscious. 
This  state  is  uncertain  in  duration — generally  it  lasts  only  a  few 
minutes;  the  circulation  becomes  restored,  breathing  becomes  more 
distinct,  and  consciousness  and  muscular  strengl;h  return.  In  cases 
attended  with  much  hemorrhage  or  organic  disease  of  the  heart,  the 
fainting  fit  may  be  fatal;  otherwise  it  will  prove  but  a  transient  occur- 
rence. In  paralysis  of  the  heart  the  symptoms  may  be  exactly  similar 
to  syncope.  Syncope  may  be  distinguished  from  apoplexy  by  the 
absence  of  stertorous  breathing  and  lividit}^  of  the  visible  nuicous 
membranes. 

Treatment. — Dash  cold  water  on  the  head;  administer  a  stimulant — 
4  ounces  of  whisky  or  half  an  ounce  of  carbonate  of  ammonia.  Pre- 
vent the  animal  from  getting  up  too  soon,  or  the  attack  may  immedi- 
ately recur.  Afterwards,  if  the  attack  was  due  to  weakness  from  loss 
of  blood,  impoverished  blood,  or  associated  with  debility,  general 
tonics,  rest,  and  nourishing  food  are  indicated. 

HYPERTROPHY    OF    THE    HEART,  OR    CARDIAC    ENLARGEMENT. 

H3^pertrophy  of  the  heart  implies  augmentation  of  bulk  in  its  muscu- 
lar substance,  with  or  without  dilatation  or  contraction  of  its  cavities. 
It  may  exist  with  or  without  other  cardiac  affections.  In  valvular 
disease  or  valvular  insufiicienc}^,  hypertrophy  frequently  results  as  a 
consequence  of  increased  demand  for  propelling  power.  The  difficul- 
ties with  which  it  is  most  frequently  connected  are  dilatation  and  ossi- 
fication of  the  valv^es.  It  may  also  occur  in  connection  with  atrophied 
kidnej^s,  weak  heart,  etc.  It  may  be  caused  by  an  increased  determi- 
nation of  blood  to  the  organ  or  from  a  latent  form  of  myocarditis,  and 
it  may  arise  from  a  long-continued  increase  of  action  dependent  upon 
nervous  disease.  All  the  cavities  of  the  heart  may  have  their  walls 
hypertrophied  or  the  thickening  may  involve  one  or  more.  While  the 
wall  of  a  ventricle  is  thickened  its  cavity  may  retain  its  normal  size 


238  BUREAU    OF   ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

{sinqyle  hypertrophy)  or  be  dilated  {eccentric  hypeiirophy)  or  it  ma}'  be 
contracted  {co7iccntric  hypertrophy).  H^pcrtroph}-  of  both  ventricles 
increases  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  heart.  Hypertropliy  of  the 
left  ventricle  alone  increases  its  length,  of  the  right  ventricle  alone 
increases  its  })readth  toward  the  right  side.  HA'pertrophy  with  dilata- 
tion may  affect  the  chambers  of  the  heart  conjointh'  or  separately. 
This  form  is  by  far  the  most  frequent  Aarietv  of  cardiac  enlargement. 
When  the  entire  heart  is  affected  it  assumes  a  globular  appearance,  the 
apex  being  almost  obliterated  and  situated  transversely  in  the  chest. 
The  bulk  may  become  three  or  four  times  greater  than  the  average 
heart. 

S'ymptoras. — In  hypertrophy  of  the  heart,  in  addition  to  the  usual 
symptoms  manifested  in  organic  diseases  of  the  heart,  there  is  a  power- 
ful and  heaving  impulse  at  each  beat,  which  may  be  felt  on  the  left 
side,  often  also  on  the  right.  These  pulsations  are  regular,  and  when 
full  and  strong  at  the  jaw  there  is  a  tendency  to  active  congestion  of 
the  capillary  vessels,  which  frequently  gives  rise  to  local  inflammation, 
active  hemorrhage,  ej:c.  If  the  pulse  is  small  and  feeble  at  the  jaw  we 
may  conclude  that  there  is  some  obstacle  to  the  escape  of  the  blood  from 
the  left  ventricle  into  the  aorta,  which  has  given  rise  to  the  hj'pertro- 
phy.  In  case  of  hypertrophy  with  dilatation,  the  impulse  is  not  only 
powerful  and  healing,  but  it  is  diffused  over  the  whole  region  of  the 
heart,  and  the  normal  sounds  of  the  heart  are  greatly  increased  in 
intensity.  Percussion  reveals  an  enlarged  area  of  dullness,  while  the 
impulse  is  usualh'  much  stronger  than  normal. 

Drops}'  of  the  pericardium  will  give  the  same  wide  space  of  dullness, 
l)ut  the  impulse  and  sound  are  lessened.  An  animal  with  a  moderate 
degree  of  enlargement  may  possibly  live  a  number  of  years  and  be 
capable  of  ordinary  work;  it  depends  largely  upon  concomitant  disease. 
As  a  rule,  an  animal  affected  with  hypertrophy  of  the  heart  will  soon 
be  incapacitated  for  work,  and  it  becomes  useless  and  incurable. 

Treatment. — If  the  cause  can  be  discovered  and  is  removable,  it  should 
be  done.  The  iodide  of  potassa,  in  cases  of  valvular  thickening,  ma}- 
be  of  some  benefit  if  continued  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time;  it  may  be 
given  in  2-dram  doses,  twice  a  day,  for  a  month  or  more.  The  tincture 
of  digitalis  ma}'  be  given,  in  cases  where  the  pulse  is  weak,  in  doses  of 
2  teaspoonf  uls  three  times  daily.  This  remedy  should  not  be  continued 
if  the  pulse  becomes  irregular.  General  tonics,  freedom  from  excite- 
ment or  fatigue,  avoidance  of  bulky  food,  good  ventilation,  etc.,  are 
indicated. 

DILATATION    OF    THE    HEART. 

This  is  an  enlargement,  or  stretching,  of  the  cavities  of  the  heart, 
and  may  be  confined  to  one  or  extend  to  all.  Two  forms  of  dilatation 
may  be  mentioned — mm2>le  dilatation,  where  there  is  normal  thickness 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  239 

of  the  walls,  and  passive,  or  attenuated^  dilatation,  where  the  walls  are 
simply  distended  or  stretched  out  without  any  addition  of  substance. 

Causes. — Any  cause  producing  constant  and  excessive  exertion  of 
the  heart  may  lead  to  dilatation.  Valvular  disease  is  the  most  frequent 
cause.  General  anemia  predisposes  to  it  by  producing  relaxation  of 
muscular  fiber.  Changes  in  the  muscular  tissue  of  the  heart  Walls, 
serous  infiltration  from  pericarditis,  myocarditis,  fatty  degeneration 
and  infiltration,  and  atrophy  of  the  muscular  fibers  may  all  lead  to 
dilatation. 

Symptoms. — The  movements  of  the  heart  are  feeble  and  prolonged, 
a  disposition  to  staggering  or  vertigo,  dropsy  of  the  limbs,  very  pale 
or  very  dark-colored  membranes,  and  difficult  breathing  on  the 
slightest  excitement. 

Treatment. — General  tonics,  rich  food,  and  rest. 

FATTY    DEGENERATION    OF    THE    HEART. 

Fatty  degeneration  ma}'  involve  the  whole  organ,  or  ma}-  be  limited 
to  its  walls,  or  even  to  circumscribed  patches.  The  latter  is  situated 
at  the  exterior,  and  gives  it  a  mottled  appearance.  When  generally 
involved  it  is  flabby  or  flaccid,  and  in  extreme  cases  collapses  when 
emptied  or  cut.  Upon  dissection  the  interior  of  the  ventricles  is 
observed  to  be  covered  with  buff-colored  spots  of  a  singular  zigzag 
form.  This  appearance  may  be  noticed  beneath  the  pericardium,  and 
pervading  the  whole  thickness  of  the  ventricular  walls,  and  in  extreme 
cases  those  of  the  fleshy  columns  in  the  interior  of  the  heart.  These 
spots  are  found  to  be  degenerated  muscular  fibers  and  colonies  of  oil 
glol)ules.  Fatty  degeneration  is  often  associated  with  other  morbid 
conditions  of  the  heai-t,  such  as  obesit}^,  dilatation,  rupture,  aneurism, 
etc.  It  ma}'  be  connected  with  fatty  diseases  of  other  organs,  such  as 
the  liver,  kidneys,  etc.  When  it  exists  alone  its  presence  is  seldom 
suspected  previous  to  death.  It  may  be  secondary  to  hypertrophy  of 
the  heart,  to  myocarditis,  or  to  pericarditis.  It  may  be  due  to 
deteriorated  conditions  of  the  blood  in  wasting  diseases,  excessive 
hemorrhages,  etc. ,  or  to  poisoning  with  arsenic  and  phosphorus. 

Siimptoms. — The  most  prominent  symptoms  of  fatty  degeneration 
are  a  feeble  action  of  the  heart,  a  remarkably  slow  pulse,  general 
debility,  and  attacks  of  vertigo.  It  may  exist  for  a  long  time,  but  is 
apt  to  terminate  suddenly  in  death  upon  the  occurrence  of  other  dis- 
eases, surgical  operations,  etc.  It  may  involve  a  liability  to  sudden 
death  from  rupture  of  the  ventricular  walls. 

Treatment. — Confinement  in  feed  to  oats,  wheat  or  rye  bran,  and 
timothy  hay.  Twenty  drops  of  sulphuric  acid  may  be  given  in  drink- 
ing water  three  times  a  day,  and  hypophosphite  of  iron  in  2-dram 
doses,  mixed  with  the  feed,  twice  a  day.  Other  tonics  and  stimulants 
as  they  may  be  indicated. 


2i0  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

KUI^UKE    OF   THE    HEART. 

This  may  occur  as  the  result  of  some  previous  disease,  such  as  fatty 
degeneration,  dilatation  with  weakness  of  the  muscular  walls,  etc.  It 
may  be  caused  by  external  violence,  a  crushing  fall,  pressure  of  some 
great  weight,  etc.  Usually  death  follows  a  rupture  very  quicklv, 
though  an  animal  may  live  for  some  time  when  the  rent  is  not  very 
large. 

WEAKNESS    OF    THE    HEART. 

This  ma}^  arise  from  general  debilit}^,  the  result  of  exhausting  disease, 
overwork,  or  heart  strain,  or  loss  of  blood.  It  is  indicated  by  a  small, 
feeble,  but  generally  regular  pulse,  coldness  of  the  body,  etc. 

Treatment. — This  should  be  directed  to  support  and  increase  the 
strength  of  the  animal  b}^  tonics,  rest,  and  nutritious  food.  Carbonate 
of  ammonia  may  be  given  to  stimulate  the  heart's  action  and  to  pre- 
vent the  formation  of  heart  clot. 

CONGESTION    OF    THE    HEART. 

Congestion,  or  an  accumulation  of  the  blood  in  the  cavities  of  the 
heart,  may  occur  in  consequence  of  fibrinous  deposits  interfering  with 
the  free  movements  of  the  valves,  usually  the  product  of  endocarditis 
or  as  a  result  of  excessive  muscular  exertion. 

Symj^toms. — Great  difficulty  of  breathing,  paleness  of  the  visible 
mucous  membranes,  great  anxiety,  frequentlj^  accompanied  by  a  gen- 
eral tremor  and  cold  perspiration,  followed  by  death.  It  usually 
results  in  death  ver}^  quickl3^ 

CYANOSIS    OF    NEWBORN    FOALS. 

This  is  a  condition  sometimes  found  in  foals  immediately  after  birth, 
and  is  due  to  nonclosure  of  ihQ  foramen  ovale,  which  allows  a  mixture 
of  the  venous  with  the  arterial  blood  in  the  left  cavities  of  the  heart. 
It  is  characterized  by  a  dark  purple  or  bluish  color  of  the  visible 
mucous  membranes,  shortness  of  breath,  and  general  feebleness. 
Foals  thus  affected  general^  live  only  a  few  hours  after  birth. 

DISEASES    OF   ARTERIES,  OR    ARTERITIS    AND    ENDARTERITIS. 

Inflammation  of  arteries  is  rarely  observed  in  the  horse  as  a  primary 
affection.  Direct  injuries,  such  as  bloAvs,  may  produce  a  contusion 
and  subsequent  inflammation  of  the  wall  of  an  artery;  severe  muscu- 
lar strain  ma}^  involve  an  arterial  trunk;  hypertroph}^  of  the  heart,  by 
increasing  arterial  tension,  may  result  in  the  production  of  a  general 
endarteritis.  Septic  infection  may  affect  the  inner  coat  and  ultimately 
involve  all  three,  or  it  may  be  the  result  of  an  inflammation  in  the 
vicinitv  of  the  vessels,  etc.     Inflammation  of  arteries,  whatever  the 


DISEASES    OB^    THE    HORSE.  241 

cause  may  be,  often  leads  to  veiy  serious  results  in  the  development 
of  secondai\v  changes  in  their  walls.  Arteritis  may  be  acute,  sub- 
-acute,  or  chronic;  when  the  inner  coat  alone  is  affected  it  is  known  as 
endarteritis. 

Symptoms. — Arteritis  is  characterized  by  a  painful  swelling  along 
the  inflamed  vessel,  throbbing  pulse,  coldness  of  the  parts  supplied  by 
the  inflamed  vessel,  sometimes  the  formation  of  gangrenous  sloughs, 
suppuration,  abscess,  etc.  In  an  inflammation  of  the  iliac  arteries  we 
find  coldness  and  excessive  lameness  or  paralysis  of  one  or  both  hind 
limbs. 

Pathology. — In  acute  arteritis  we  find  swelling  along  the  vessel,  loss 
of  elasticity,  friability,  and  thickening  of  the  walls;  a  roughness  and 
loss  of  gloss  of  the  inner  coat,  with  the  formation  of  coagula  or  pus  in 
the  vessel.  Subacute  or  chronic  arteritis  may  afl'ect  onl}^  the  outer 
coat  {periarteritis).,  both  the  outer  and  middle  coat,  or  the  inner  coat 
alone  {endarteritis)',  and  by  weakening  the  respective  coats  leads  to 
rupture,  aneurism,  or  to  degenerations,  such  as  bony,  calcareous,  fatty, 
atheromatous,  etc.  It  ma}^  also  lead  to  sclerosis  or  increase  of  fibrous 
tissue,  especially  in  the  kidne3^s,  when  it  may  result  in  the  condition 
known  as  arterlo-capUlary  fihrosls.  Chronic  endarteritis  is  fruitful  in 
the  production  of  thrombus  and  atheroma.  Arteritis  may  be  limited 
to  single  trunks,  or  it  may  affect,  more  or  less,  all  the  arteries  of  the 
body.  Arteries  which  are  at  the  seat  of  chronic  endarteritis  are  liable 
to  suffer  degenerative  changes,  consisting  chiefly  of  fatty  degeneration, 
calcification,  or  the  breaking  down  of  the  degenei-ated  tissue,  and  the 
formation  of  erosions  or  ulcer-like  openings  in  the  inner  coat.  These 
erosions  are  frequently  called  atheromatous  ulcers,  and  fragments  of 
tissue  from  these  ulcers  may  be  carried  into  the  circulation,  forming 
emboli.  Fibrinous  thrombi  are  apt  to  form  upon  the  roughened  sur- 
face of  the  inner  coat  or  upon  the  surface  of  the  erosions. 

Fatt}'  degeneration  and  calcification  of  the  middle  and  outer  coats 
may  occur,  and  large,  hard,  calcareous  plates  project  inward,  upon  which 
thrombi  may  form  or  maj^  exist  in  connection  with  atheroma  of  the 
inner  coat.  When  there  is  much  thickening  and  increase  of  new  tissue 
in  the  wall  of  the  affected  artery,  it  may  encroach  upon  the  capacity  of 
the  vessel,  and  even  lead  to  obliteration.  This  is  often  associated  with 
interstitial  inflammation  of  glandular  organs. 

Treatment. — Carbonate  of  potassa  in  1-dram  doses,  to  be  given  in  4 
ounces  liquor  acetate  of  ammonia  every  six  hours;  scalded  bran  suffi- 
cient to  produce  loosening  of  the  bowels,  and  complete  rest;  exter- 
nall}',  applications  of  hot  water  or  hot  hop  infusion. 

ATHEROMA. 

Atheroma  is  a  direct  result  of  an  existing  chronic  endarteritis,  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  vessels  being  invariably  involved  to  a  greater 

14384—03 16 


242  BUKEAU    Oi'    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

or  less  degree.  It  is  most  frequently  found  in  the  arteries,  although 
the  veins  may  develop  an  atheromatous  condition  when  exposed  to  any 
source  of  prolonged  irritation.  Athei'oma  may  effect  arteries  in  any. 
part  of  the  body;  in  some  instances  almost  ever}'  vessel  is  diseased,  in 
others  only  a  few,  or  even  parts  of  one  vessel.  It  is  a  very  common 
result  of  endocarditis  extending  into  the  aorta,  which  Ave  find  perhaps 
the  most  frequent  scat  of  atheroma.  As  a  result  of  this  condition  the 
affected  vessel  becomes  impaired  in  its  contractile  power,  loses  its  nat- 
ural strength,  and  in  consequence  of  its  inability  to  sustain  its  accus- 
tomed internal  pressure,  undergoes,  in  manv  cases,  dilatation  at  the 
seat  of  disease,  constituting  aneurhm.  In  an  atheromatous  vessel,  cal- 
careous deposits  soon  occ;ur,  which  render  it  rigid,  brittle,  and  subject 
to  ulceration  or  rupture.  In  such  vessels  the  contractility'  is  destroyed, 
the  middle  coat  atrophied  and  be3'ond  repair.  Atheroma  in  the  ves- 
sels of  the  brain  is  a  frequent  cause  of  cerebral  apoplexy.  No  symp- 
toms are  manifested  bv  which  we  can  recognize  this  condition  during 
life. 

COXSTRICTTOX    OF    AN   AIJTEEY. 

This  is  usually  the  result  of  arteritis,  and  ma}'  partly  or  wholly  be 
impervious  to  the  flow  of  blood.  When  this  occurs  in  a  large  vessel 
it  may  be  followed  by  gangrene  of  the  parts;  usually,  however,  col- 
lateral circulation  will  ])e  esta])lished  to  nourish  the  parts  previously 
supplied  by  the  obliterated  vessel.  In  a  few  instances  constriction  of 
the  aorta  has  produced  death. 

ANEURISM. 

Aneurism  is  usually  dcscrilied  as  true  •aw^  false.  True  aneurism  is  a 
dilatation  of  tlie  coats  of  an  artery  over  a  larger  or  smaller  pai't  of  its 
course.  Such  dilatations  are  usually  due  to  chronic  endarteritis  and 
atheroma.  False  aneurism  is  formed  after  a  puncture  of  an  artery  by 
a  dilatation  of  the  adhesive  lymph  by  which  the  puncture  was  united. 

Symptoms. — If  the  aneurism  is  seated  along  the  neck  or  a  liml)  it 
appears  as  a  tumor  in  the  course  of  an  artery  and  pulsating  with  it. 
The  tumor  is  round,  soft,  and  compressible,  and  yields  a  peculiar 
fluctuation  upon  pressure.  By  applying  the  ear  over  it  a  peculiar 
purring  or  hissing  sound  may  sometimes  be  heard.  Pulsation,  syn- 
chronous with  the  action  of  the  heart,  is  the  diagnostic  symptom.  It 
is  of  a  slow,  expansive,  and  heavy  character,  as  if  the  w  hole  tumor 
were  enlarging  under  the  hand.  Aneurisms  seated  internally  may 
occupy  the  cavity  of  the  cranium,  chest,  or  abdomen.  As  regards  the 
first,  little  is  known  during  life,  for  all  the  symptons  which  they  pro- 
duce may  arise  from  other  causes.  Aneurism  of  the  anterior  aorta 
may  be  situated  very  closely  to  the  heart  or  in  the  arch,  and  it  is  very 
seldom  that  we  can  distinguish  it  from  disease  of  the  heart.     The 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  243 

tumor  ma}^  encroach  upon  tne  windpipe  and  produce  difficulty  in 
])reathing,  or  it  may  produce  pressure  upon  the  vens^  cavas  or  the 
thoracic  duct,  obstructing  the  flow  of  blood  and  lymi^h.  In  fact,  what- 
ever parts  the  aneurism  may  reach  or  sul)ject  to  its  pressure,  ma}^ 
have  their  fvmctions  suspended  or  disturbed.  When  the  tumor  in  the 
chest  is  large,  we  generally  lind  much  irregularit}-  in  the  action  of  the 
heart;  the  superficial  veins  of  the  neck  are  distended,  and  there  is 
usually  dropsical  swelling  under  the  breast  and  of  the  limbs.  There 
may  be  a  very  troublesome  cough  Vv^thout  anj-  evidence  of  lung  affec- 
tion. Sometimes  pulsation  of  the  tumor  ma}"  be  felt  at  the  lower  part 
of  the  neck  where  it  joins  the  chest.  When  the  aneurism  occurs  in 
the  posterior  aorta  no  diagnostic  symptoms  are  appreciable;  when  it 
occurs  in  the  internal  iliac  arteries  an  examination  per  rectum  will 
reveal  it. 

There  is  one  form  of  aneurism  which  is  not  unfrequently  overlooked, 
affecting  the  anterior  mesenteric  arterj^,  primarily  induced  bj^  a  worm — 
the  Strongyhis  annafiis.  This  worm  produces  an  arteritis,  with  athe- 
roma, degeneration,  and  dilatation  of  the  mesenteric  arteries,  asso- 
ciated with  thrombus  and  aneurism.  The  aneurism  gives  rise  to  colic, 
which  appears  periodically  in  a  very  violent  and  often  persistent  type. 
Ordinary  colic  remedies  have  no  effect,  and  after  a  time  the  animal 
succumbs  to  the  disease.  In  all  cases  of  animals  which  are  habitually 
subject  to  colicky  attacks,  parasitic  aneurism  of  the  anterior  mesen- 
teric artery  ma}"  be  suspected. 

Pathology.- — ^ Aneurisms  may  be  diffuse  or  sacculated.  The  diffuse 
consists  in  a  uniform  dilatation  of  all  the  coats  of  an  artery,  so  that  it 
assumes  the  shape  of  a  cylindrical  swelling.  The  wall  of  the  aneurism 
is  atheromatous,  or  calcified;  the  middle  coat  maj"  be  atrophied.  The 
sacculated,  or  circumscribed,  aneurism  consists  either  in  a  dilatation 
of  the  entire  circumference  of  an  artery  over  a  short  portion  of  its 
length,  or  in  a  dilatation  of  only  a  small  portion  of  one  side  of  the  wall. 
Aneurism  may  become  very  large;  as  it  increases  in  size  it  presses 
upon  and  causes  the  destruction  of  neighboring  tissues.  The  cavity 
of  the  aneurismal  sac  is  filled  with  fluid  or  clotted  blood  or  with  la^^ers 
of  fibrin  which  adhere  closely  to  its  wall.  Death  is  produced  usually 
by  the  pressure  and  interference  of  the  aneurism  with  adjoining 
organs  or  b}^  rupture.  In  worm  aneurism  we  usually  find  large 
thrombi  within  the  aneurismal  dilatation  of  the  arter}^,  which  some- 
times plug  the  whole  vessel  or  extend  into  the  aorta.  Portions  of  this 
thrombus,  or  clot,  may  be  washed  aAva}^  and  produce  embolism  of  a 
smaller  artery.  The  effect  in  either  case  is  to  produce  anemia  of  the 
intestinal  canal,  serous  or  bloody  exudation  in  its  walls,  which  leads 
to  paralysis  of  the  intestine  and  resultant  colick}^  symptoms. 

Treatment. — The  only  treatment  advisable  is  to  extirpate  or  ligate 
the  tumor  above  and  below. 


244  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

RUPTURE  OF  AN  ARTERY. 

Endarteritis,  with  its  subsequent  changes  in  the  walls  of  arteries,  is 
the  primar}'  cause  of  rupture  in  the  majorit}^  of  instances.  The  rup- 
ture may  be  partial,  involving  onlj^  one  or  two  coats,  and  will  then  form 
an  aneurism.  If  complete,  it  may  produce  death  when  it  involves  a 
large  vessel,  especially  if  it  is  situated  in  one  of  the  large  cavities  per- 
mitting an  excessive  escape  of  blood.  Rupture  may  be  produced  by 
mechanical  violence  or  accident. 

Sym^^toms. — In  fatal  rupture  associated  with  profuse  bleeding,  the 
animal  becomes  weak,  the  visible  mucous  membranes  become  blanched, 
the  breathing  hurried  or  gasping,  pupils  dilated,  staggering  in  gait, 
syncope,  death.  When  the  hemorrhage  is  limited,  the  symptoms  may 
not  become  noticeable;  if  it  is  near  the  surface  of  the  bodj"  a  round  or 
diffuse  swelling  or  tumor  may  form,  constituting  a  hygroma.  If  the 
rupture  is  associated  with  an  external  wound  the  bleeding  arter}-  should 
be  ligated,  or  where  a  bandage  is  applicable,  pressure  may  be  applied 
by  tight  bandaging.  As  a  secondary  result  of  rupture  of  an  arter}-  we 
may  have  formation  of  abscess,  gangrene  of  a  part,  etc. 

Treatment. — When  rupture  of  a  deep-seated  artery  is  suspected,  large 
doses  of  fluid  extract  of  ergot  may  be  given  to  produce  contraction  of 
the  blood  vessels.  Taimin  and  iron  are  also  useful.  The  animal  should 
be  allowed  to  have  as  much  water  as  he  desires.  Afterwards  stimu- 
lants and  nourishing  food  are  indicated. 

THROMBUS   AND    EMBOLISM. 

B}^  thromhosis  is  generall}^  understood  the  partial  or  complete  closure 
of  a  vessel  by  a  morbid  product  developed  at  the  site  of  the  obstruc- 
tion. The  coagulum,  which  is  usually  fibrinous,  is  known  as  a  throm- 
hus.  The  term  emholism  designates  an  obstruction  caused  b}^  anj'  body 
detached  and  transported  from  the  interior  of  the  heart  or  of  some 
vessel.  Thrombi  occur  as  the  result  of  an  injuiy  to  the  wall  of  the 
vessel  or  may  follow  its  compression  or  dilatation;  they  ma}^  result 
from  some  alteration  of  the  wall  of  the  vessel  b}^  disease  or  by  the 
retardation  of  the  circulation.  These  formations  ma}^  occur  during 
life,  in  the  heart,  arteries,  veins,  or  in  the  portal  S3'stem'.  When  a 
portion  of  fibrin  coagulates  in  one  of  the  arteries  and  is  carried  along 
by  the  circulation,  it  will  be  arrested,  of  course,  in  the  capillaries,  if 
not  before;  when  in  the  veins  it  may  not  be  stopped  until  it  reaches 
the  lungs;  and  when  in  the  portal  system  the  capillaries  of  the  liver 
will  prevent  its  further  progress.  The  formation  of  thrombi  may  act 
primarily  by  causing  partial  or  complete  obstruction,  and,  secondarily, 
either  by  larger  or  smaller  fragments  becoming  detached  from  their 
end,  and  by  being  carried  along  b}^  the  circulation  of  the  blood  to 
remote  vessels,  embolism;  or  by  the  coagulum  becoming  softened  and 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE,  245 

converted  into  pus,  constituting-  suppurative  phlebitis.  These  sub- 
stances occur  most  frequent!}"  in  those  affections  characterized  by 
f^reat  exhaustion  or  debility,  such  as  pneumonia,  purpura  hemor- 
rhagica, endocarditis,  phlebitis,  puerperal  fever,  hemorrhages,  etc. 
These  concretions  ma}-  form  suddenl}-  and  produce  instantaneous 
death  by  retarding'  the  blood  current,  or  they  may  arise  gradually,  in 
which  case  the  thrombi  may  be  organized  and  attached  to  the  walls  of 
the  heart,  or  they  may  soften,  and  fragments  of  them  (emboli)  may 
be  carried  awa3\  The  small,  wart-like  excrescences  occurring  some- 
times in  endocarditis  ma}-  occasionally  form  a  foundation  on  which  a 
thrombi  maj'  develop. 

Symjytoms. — When  heart  clot,  or  thrombus,  exists  in  the  right  side 
the  return  of  blood  from  the  bod}^  and  the  aeration  in  the  lungs  is 
impeded,  and  if  death  occurs  it  is  owing  to  S3'ncope  rather  than  to 
strangulation  in  pulmonar}"  respiration.  There  will  be  hurried  and 
gasping  breathing,  paleness  and  coldness  of  the  surface  of  the  bod}",  a 
feeble  and  intermittent  or  fluttering  pulse,  and  fainting.  When  a 
fibrinous  coagulum  is  carried  into  the  pulmonary  arter}"  from  the  right 
side  of  the  heart,  the  indications  are  a  swelling  and  infiltration  of  the 
lungs  and  pulmonar}'  apoplex}".  When  the  clot  is  situated  in  the  left 
cavities  of  the  heart  or  in  the  aprta,  death,  if  it  occurs,  takes  place 
either  suddenl}^  or  at  the  end  of  a  few  hours  from  coma. 

Pathology. — When  a  coagulum  is  observed  in  the  heart  it  may  become 
a  question  whether  it  was  formed  during  life  or  after  death.  The 
loose,  dark  coagula  so  often  found  after  death  are  polypi.  If  the 
deposition  has  taken  place  during  the  last  moments  of  life,  the  fibrin 
will  be  isolated  and  soft,  but  not  adherent  to  the  walls;  if  it  be  isolated, 
dense,  and  adherent  or  closely  intertwined  with  the  muscles  of  the 
papillae  and  tendinous  cords,  the  deposition  has  occurred  more  or  less 
remote  from  the  act  of  dying.  Occasionally^  the  fibrin  may  be  seen 
lining  one  of  the  cavities  of  the  heart,  like  a  false  endocardium,  or  else 
forming  an  additional  coat  to  the  aorta  or  other  large  vessels  without 
producing  much  obstruction.  Thrombi,  in  some  instances,  soften  in 
their  centers,  and  are  then  observed  to  contain  a  pus-like  substance. 
If  this  softening  has  extended  considerably  an  outer  shell,  or  cyst,  only 
m:iy  remain.  The  sources  of  danger  exist  not  only  in  the  interruption 
of  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  but  also  in  a  morbid  state  of  the  system, 
produced  by  the  disturbed  nutrition  of  a  limb  or  organ,  as  well  as  the 
mingling  of  purulent  and  gangrenous  elements  with  the  blood. 

Treatment. — The  urgent  s3'niptoms  should  be  relieved  by  rest,  stim- 
ulants, and  the  use  of  agents  which  will  act  as  solvents  to  the  fibrinous 
clots.  Alkalies  are  specially  useful  for  this  purpose.  Carbonate  of 
ammonia  may  be  administered  in  all  cases  of  thrombus,  and  should  be 
continued  for  a  long  time  in  small  doses  several  times  a  da}'.     Incases 


246  KLRKAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

of  great  debility  a.ssooiated  with  a  low  grade  of  fever,  stimulants  and 
tonics,  and  nitro-muriatic  acid  as  an  antiseptic,  nia\'  be  l>eneticial. 

DISEASES   OF  VEINS.  OR  rULEBITIS. 

Inflammation  of  veins  may  K^  simple  or  diffuse.  In  simple  phlebitis 
the  disease  of  the  vein  is  contincd  to  a  circumscri))ed  or  limited  portion 
of  a  vein;  in  diffuse  it  involves  the  vein  for  a  lonir  distance:  it  may 
even  extend  from  a  limb  or  foot  to  the  heart. 

CaMses. — Phlebitis  may  be  induced  b^'  contusions  or  direct  injuries, 
an  extension  of  inflammation  from  surrounding  tissue,  such  as  in 
abscess,  formation  of  tumor,  or  malignant  growth.  It  is  oftt^n  due  to 
embolism  of  infective  material,  gangrenous  matter,  etc.  Blood-letting 
from  the  jugular  vein  is  occasionally  followed  by  dangerous  phlebitis. 

>Sf/i)tj)hwis. — The  symptoms  vary  according  to  the  extent  and  sever- 
ity of  the  inflanunation.  In  most  cases  the  vein  is  swollen,  thickened, 
and  indurated  to  such  a  degree  as  to  rescml)le  an  arterv.  A  diffused 
swelling,  with  great  tenderness,  may  extend  along  the  affected  vessel 
and  the  animal  manifest  all  the  symptonoi^  connected  with  acute  fever 
and  general  functional  distur])ance. 

PatJiology. — The  disease  is  only  serious  when  large  veins  are  aflected. 
The  coats  undergo  the  same  changes  as  in  arteritis;  clots  of  blood  and 
h'mph  plug  the  inflamed  vessel,  and,  if  the  inflammatory  process  con- 
tinues, these  are  converted  into  pus,  which  ruptures  the  vessel  and  pro- 
duces a  deep  abscess;  or  it  may  be  carried  away  in  tlie  circulation  and 
produce  met-astatic  abscess  in  the  lungs  or  other  remote  organs.  In 
mild  cases  the  clots  may  become  absorbed  and  the  vessel  restored  to 
health.  Phlebitis  in  the  coui*se  of  the  veins  of  the  limbs  frequently 
leads  to  numerous  abscesses,  which  may  be  mistaken  for  farcy  ulcera- 
tions. A  very  common  result  of  phlebitis  is  an  obliteration  of  the 
affected  portion  of  the  vein,  but  as  collateml  circulation  is  readily  estal>- 
lished  this  is  seldom  of  any  material  inconvenience. 

Treatment. — Phlebitis  should  be  treated  by  the  application  of  a 
smart  blister  along  the  coui-se  of  the  inflamed  vessel;  early  opening  of 
any  abscesses  which  may  form;  the  animal  should  have  complete  rest, 
and  the  bowels  be  kept  loose  with  bran  mashes.  When  the  fever  runs 
high,  half-omice  doses  of  nitrate  of  potassa  may  be  given  in  the  drink- 
ing water,  which  may  be  changed  in  two  or  three  days  for  1-draiu 
doses  of  the  iodide  of  potassa.  If  the  animal  becomes  debilitated, 
carbonate  of  ammonbi,  1  dram,  and  powdered  gentian,  3  drams,  may 
be  given  every  six  hours. 

VARICOSE    VEINS,  VARIX.   OK    DILATATION    OF    VEINS. 

This  ma}'  be  a  result  of  weakening  of  the  coats  from  inflammatory 
disease  and  degeneration.  It  may  also  be  due  to  meclianical  obstruc- 
tion from  internal  or  external  sources.     It  is  sometimes  found  in  the 


DISEASED    OF    THE    IIOESE.  247 

vein  which  lies  supoilicial  over  the  inside  of  the  hock  joint,  and  may 
be  due  to  the  pressure  of  a  spavin.  OccasionuU}'  it  nia\'  be  observed 
in  stallions,  which  are  more  or  less  subject  to  varicocele,  or  dilatation 
of  the  veins  of  the  testicular  cord.  Ilcraorrhoidal  veins,  or  piles,  arc 
occasionall}'  met  with,  generally  in  horses  which  run  at  pasture. 
Varicose  veins  ma}^  ulcerate  and  form  an  abscess  in  the  surrounding 
tissues,  or  the}-  ma}'  rupture  from  internal  blood  pressure  and  the 
blood  form  large  tumors  where  the  tissues  are  soft. 

Treatment. — Stallions  which  manifest  a  tendenc}'  to  varicocele 
should  wear  suspensor}-  bags  when  the}'  are  exercised.  Piles  may 
often  l>e  icduccd  by  astringent  washes — tea  made  from  white-oak 
bark  or  a  saturated  solution  of  alum.  The  bowels  should  be  kept 
loose  with  bran  mashes  and  the  animal  kept  quiet  in  the  stable. 
When  varicose  veins  exist  superficially  and  threaten  to  produce 
inc<jnvenience,  they  may  be  ligated  above  and  below  and  thus  obliter- 
ated.    Sometimes  absorption  may  be  induced  by  constant  bandages. 

AIR    IN   VEIXS,  OF    AIK    EMBOLISM. 

It  was  formerly  supposed  that  the  entrance  of  air  into  a  vein  at  the 
time  of  the  infliction  of  a  wound  or  in  blood-letting  was  extremely 
dangerous  and  very  often  produced  sudden  death  by  interfering  with 
tlie  circulation  of  the  blood  tlirongh  the  heart  and  lungs.  Danger  from 
air  embolism  is  exceedingly  dou>)tful,  unless  great  quantities  were 
forced  into  a  large  vein  by  artificial  means. 

PUKPUEA    HEMOREHAGICA. 

Purpura  hemorrhagica  usually  occurs  as  a  sequel  to  debilitating  dis- 
eases, such  as  strangles,  influenza,  etc.  It  may,  however,  arise  in  the 
absence  of  any  previous  disease  in  badly  ventilated  stables,  among 
poorly  fed  horses,  and  in  animals  subject  to  exhausting  work  and 
extreme  temperatures.  The  disease  is  probably  due  to  some  as  yet 
undiscovered  infectious  principle.  Its  gravity  does  not  depend  so 
much  upon  the  amount  of  blood  extravasated  as  it  does  upon  the  dis- 
turbance or  diminished  action  or  the  vaso-motor  centers. 

Sijmjdonts. — This  disease  becomes  manifested  by  the  occurrence  of 
sudden  swellings  on  various  parts  of  the  body,  on  the  head  or  lips, 
limbs,  abdomen,  etc.  These  swellings  may  be  diffused  or  very  mark- 
edly circumscribed,  though  in  the  advanced  stages  they  cover  large 
areas.  They  pit  on  pressure  and  are  but  slightly  painful  to  the  touch. 
The  limbs  may  swell  to  a  very  large  size,  the  nostrils  may  become 
almost  closed,  and  the  head  and  throat  may  swell  to  the  point  of  suf- 
focation. The  swellings  not  infrequently  disappear  from  one  portion 
of  the  body  and  develop  on  another,  or  may  recede  from  the  surface 
and  invade  the  intestinal  mucous  membrane.     The  mucous  lining  of 


248  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTEY. 

the  nostrils  and  month  show  more  or  less  dark-red  or  purple  spots. 
There  ma}'  be  a  discharge  of  blood-colored  serum  from  the  nostrils; 
the  tongue  ma}''  be  swollen  so  as  to  prevent  eating  or  closing  of  the 
jaws.  In  the  most  intense  cases,  within  from  twenty-four  to  forty- 
eight  hours  bloody  serum  may  exude  through  the  skin  over  the  swollen 
parts,  and  finall}'  large  gangrenous  sloughs  may  form.  The  tempera- 
ture is  never  very  high,  the  pulse  is  frequent  and  compressible,  and 
becomes  feebler  as  the  animal  loses  strength.  A  cough  is  usually 
present.  The  urine  is  scanty  and  high  colored,  and  Avhen  the  intestines 
are  much  affected  a  bloody  diarrhea  may  set  in,  with  colicky  pains. 
Some  of  the  internal  organs  become  implicated  in  the  disease,  the 
lungs  may  beconie  edematous,  extravasation  may  occur  in  the  intesti- 
nal canal,  or  effusion  of  serum  into  the  cavity  of  the  chest  or  abdomen; 
occasionally  the  brain  becomes  affected.  A  few  cases  run  a  mild 
course  and  recovery  may  commence  in  three  or  four  days;  generally, 
however,  the  outlook  is  unfavorable.  In  severe  cases  septic  poisoning- 
is  liable  to  occur,  which  soon  brings  the  case  to  a  fatal  issue. 

Pathology. — On  section  we  find  the  capillaries  dilated,  the  connective 
tissue  filled  with  a  coagulable  or  coagulated  lymph,  and  frequently  we 
may  discover  gangrenous  spots  beneath  the  skin  or  involving  the  skin. 
The  lymphatic  glands  are  swollen  and  inflamed.  Extensive  extravasa- 
tions of  blood  may  be  found  embedded  between  the  coats  of  the  intes- 
tines, or  excessive  effusion  into  the  substance  of  the  lungs. 

Treatment. — Diffusible  stimulants  and  tonics  should  be  given  from 
the  start.  Carbonate  of  ammonia,  1  dram,  fluid  extract  of  red  cin- 
chona bark,  2  drams,  and  tincture  of  ginger  half  an  ounce,  with  half 
a  pint  of  water;  thin  gruel  or  milk  should  be  given  every  four  or  six 
hours.  But  especial  care  should  be  exercised  to  avoid  injury  by 
drenching.  If  the  horse  has  difiiculty  in  getting  the  head  up  and 
swallowing,  smaller  doses  must  be  given  with  a  small  hard-rubber 
syringe.  Sulphate  of  iron  in  1-dram  doses  may  be  dissolved  in  water 
and  given  every  six  hours.  Chlorate  of  potassa,  in  2-ounce  doses, 
may  be  given  every  eight  or  twelve  hours.  Colloidal  silver  may  l)c 
administered  intravenously  in  doses  of  from  5  to  12  grains.  Washings 
with  lead  and  alum  water  are  useful  and  may  be  repeated  several 
times  each  day.  If  the  swellings  are  very  great,  they  may  be  incised 
freely  and  the  resulting  wounds  should  be  washed  at  least  twice  daily 
with  a  warm  3  per  cent  solution  of  creolin  or  other  good  antiseptic. 
Tracheotomy  may  be  necessary.  Complications,  when  they  arise, 
must  be  treated  with  proper  circumspection. 

DISEASES    OF   THE    LYMPHATIC    SYSTEM. 

The  lymphatic,  or  absorbent,  system  is  connected  with  the  blood- 
vascular  system,  and  consists  of  a  series  of  tubes  which  absorb  and 
convey  to  the  blood  certain  fluids.     These  tubes  lead  to  lymphatic 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  249 

glands,  through  which  the  fluids  pass  to  reach  the  right  Ij-mphatic 
vein  and  thoracic  duct,  both  of  which  enter  the  venous  sj^stem  near 
the  heart.  Through  the  excessively  thin  walls  of  the  capillaries  the 
fluid  part  of  the  blood  transudes,  to  nourish  the  tissues  outside 
the  capillaries;  at  the  same  time  fluid  passes  from  the  tissues  into  the 
blood.  The  fluid,  after  it  passes  into  the  tissues,  constitutes  the  Ijmiph, 
and  acts  like  a  stream  irrigating  the  tissue  elements.  Much  of  the 
surplus  of  this  Ij-mpli  passes  into  the  Ijnuph  vessels,  which  in  their 
commencement  can  hardlj  be  treated  as  independent  structures,  since 
their  walls  are  so  closely  joined  with  the  tissues  through  which  they 
pass,  being  nothing  more  than  spaces  in  the  connective  tissue  until 
they  reach  the  larger  lymph  vessels,  which  finally  empty  into  lymph 
glands.  These  Ijnnph  glands  are  structures  so  placed  that  the  lymph 
flowing  toward  the  larger  trunks  passes  through  them,  undergoing  a 
short  of  filtration.  From  the  fact  of  this  arrangement  lymph  glands  are 
sul)ject  to  inflammator}^  diseases  in  the  vicinit}^  of  diseased  structures, 
because  infective  material  being  conveyed  in  the  lymph  strea,m  lodges 
in  the  glands  and  produces  irritation. 

LOCAL   INFLAMMATION    AND    ABSCESS    OF   LYMPHATIC    GLANDS. 

Acute  inflammation  of  the  13'mph  glands  usually  occurs  in  connec- 
tion with  some  inflammatory  process  in  the  region  from  which  its 
lymph  is  gathered.  Several  or  all  of  the  glands  in  a  cluster  may 
become  affected,  as  in  strangles,  nasal  catarrh,  or  nasal  gleet,  diseased 
or  ulcerated  teeth,  the  Ij^mph  glands  between  the  branches  of  the 
lower  jaw  almost  invariably  become  affected,  which  may  lead  to  sup- 
puration or  induration.  Similar  results  obtained  in  other  portions  of 
the  body;  in  pneumonia  the  bronchial  glands  become  affected;  in 
pharyngitis,  the  postpharyngeal  glands  h^ing  above  the  trachea  become 
affected,  etc. 

Si/mptoms. — The  glands  swell  and  become  painful  to  the  touch,  the 
connective  tissue  surrounding  them  becomes  involved,  suppuration 
usually  takes  place,  and  one  or  more  abscesses  form.  If  the  inflamma- 
tion is  of  a  milder  type,  resolution  ma}^  take  place  and  the  swelling 
recede,  the  exudative  material  being  absorbed,  and  the  gland  restored 
without  the  occurrence  of  suppuration.  In  the  limbs  a  whole  chain  of 
the  glands  along  the  lymphatic  vessels  may  become  affected,  as  in 
farcy,  phlebitis,  or  septic  poisoning. 

Treatment. — Fomentation  with  hot  water  and  the  application  of 
camphorated  soap  liniment  or  camphorated  oil  may  produce  a  revul- 
sive action  and  prevent  suppuration.  If  there  is  an}^  indication  of 
abscess  forming,  poultices  of  linseed  meal  and  bran  made  into  a  paste 
with  hot  water  should  be  applied,  or  a  mild  blistering  ointment  rubbed 
in  over  the  swollen  gland.  As  soon  as  fluctuation  can  be  felt  a  free 
opening  must  be  made  for  the  escape  of  the  contained  pus.     The 


250  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    IIN^DUSTHY. 

wound  may  subsequently  be  washed  out  with  a  solution  of  chloride  of 
zinc.  5  grains  to  the  ounce  of  water,  three  times  a  day. 

lA'MPHAlsGITIS. 

specific  inflammation  of  the  h'mphatic  structures  usually  affects  the 
hind  leg;  very  seldom  a  fore  leg.  This  disease  is  very  sudden  in  its 
attack,  exceedingly  painful,  accompanied  by  a  high  temperature  and 
great  general  disturbance. 

CauMS. — Horses  of  lymphatic,  or  sluggish,  temperament  are  pre- 
disposed to  this  affection.     It  usually  attacks  well-fed  animals,  and  in. 
such  cases  ma}'  be  due  to  an  excess  of  nutritive  elements  in  the  blood. 
Sudden  changes  in  work  or  in  the  habits  of  the  aniuiul  may  induce  an 
attack. 

Symptam^.  —  lX  is  usually  ushered  in  by  a  chill,  rise  in  temperature, 
and  some  uneasiness;  in  a  very  short  time  this  is  followed  by  lameness 
in  one  leg  and  swelling  on  the  inside  of  the  thigh.  The  swelling  gradu- 
ally^ surrounds  the  whole  limb  and  continues  on  downward  until  it 
reaches  the  foot.  The  limb  is  excessively  tender  to  the  touch,  the 
animal  perspires,  the  breathing  is  accelerated,  pulse  hard  and  quick, 
and  the  temperature  may  reach  106°  F.  The  bowels  earl}'  become 
constipated  and  the  urine  scanty.  The  symptoms  usuallj-  are  on  the 
increase  for  about  two  days,  then  they  remain  stationary-  for  the  same 
length  of  time;  the  fever  then  abates;  the  swelling  recedes  and  becomes 
less  painful.  It  is  very  seldom,  though,  that  all  the  swelling  leaves  the 
leg;  generally  it  leaves  some  permanent  enlargement,  and  the  animal 
becomes  subject  to  recurrent  attacks.  Occasionally,  the  inguinal  lym- 
phatic glands  (in  the  groin)  undergo  suppuration,  and  pyemia  may 
supervene  and  prove  fatal.  In  severe  cases  the  limb  becomes  denuded 
of  hair  in  patches,  and  the  skin  remains  indurated  with  a  fibrous 
growth,  which  is  known  by  the  name  of  ch-j>Ji<infiat>!s. 

Treatment. — The  parts  should  be  bathed  freelv  and  frequently  with 
water  as  hot  as  the  hand  can  bear  and  then  fomented  with  vinegar  and 
water,  equal  parts,  to  which  add  2  ounces  of  nitrate  of  potassa  for 
each  gallon.  This  should  be  applied  frequenth',  after  the  hot  water 
for  the  first  da}'.  Afterwards,  the  leg  may  l>e  dried  with  a  woolen  cloth 
and  bathed  with  camphorated  soap  liniment.  Internally,  administer 
artilicial  Carlsbad  salts  in  2  to  4  ounce  doses  three  times  daih'.  Feed 
lightly  and  give  complete  rest.  This  treatment,  if  instituted  early  in 
the  attack,  very  frequentlj-  brings  about  a  remarkable  change  within 
twenty-four  hours. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  BYE. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  A\  8., 

Prof  elisor  of  Veterinary  Science,  etc.,  Cornell  UniverffUy. 

[Revised  in  1903  bj-  tlie  author.] 

We  can  scarcely  overestimate  the  value  of  sound  eyes  in  the  horse, 
and  hence  all  diseases  and  injuries  which  serioush"  interfere  with  vision 
are  matters  of  extreme  gravity  and  apprehension,  for  should  they  prove 
peraianent  the}"  invariably  depreciate  the  selling  price  to  a  considerable 
extent.  A  blind  horse  is  alwa3'S  dangerous  in  the  saddle  or  in  single 
harness,  and  he  is  scarcely  less  so  when,  with  partially  impaired  vision, 
he  sees  things  imperfecth',  in  a  distorted  form  or  in  a  wrong  place,  and 
Avhen  he  shies  or  avoids  objects  which  are  commonplace  or  familiar. 
When  we  add  to  this  that  certain  diseases  of  the  eyes,  like  recurring 
inflammation  (moon  blindness),  are  habitually  transmitted  from  parent 
to  ofl'spring,  we  can  realize  still  more  full}"  the  importance  of  these 
maladies.  Again,  as  a  mere  matter  of  beauty,  a  sound,  full,  clear, 
intelligent  eye  is  something  which  must  always  add  a  high  value  to 
our  equine  friends  and  servants. 

THE    EYEBALL.  * 

A  full  description  of  the  structure  of  the  eye  is  incompatible  with 
our  prescribed  limits,  and  yet  a  short  description  is  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  the  clear  understanding  of  what  is  to  follow. 

The  horse's  eye  is  a  spheroidal  body,  flattened  behind,  and  with  its 
posterior  four-fifths  inclosed  by  an  opaque,  white,  strong  fibrous  mem- 
brane (the  sclerotic),  on  the  inner  side  of  which  is  laid  a  more  delicate 
friable  membrane,  consisting  mainly  of  blood  vessels  and  pigment 
cells  (the  choroid),  and  that  in  its  turn  is  lined  by  the  extremely  deli- 
cate and  sensitive  expansion  of  the  nerve  of  sight  (the  retina).  The 
anterior  fifth  of  the  globe  of  the  eye  bulges  forward  from  what  would 
have  been  the  direct  line  of  the  sclerotic,  and  thiLS  forms  a  segment  of 
a  much  smaller  sphere  than  is  inclosed  by  the  sclerotic.  Its  walls, 
too,  have  in  health  a  perfect  trauslucency  from  which  it  has  derived 
the  name  of  transjmrent  cornea.  This  transparent  coat  is  composed, 
in  the  main,  of  fibers  with  lymph  interspaces,  and  it  is  to  the  condi- 
tion of  these  and  their  condensation  and  compression  that  the  trans- 
lucency  is  largely  due.     This  may  be  shown  by  compressing  with  the 

251 


252  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

fingers  the  e3'e  of  an  ox  which  has  just  been  killed,  when  the  clear 
transparent  cornea  w^ill  suddenly  become  clouded  over  with  a  whitish 
blue  opacit}',  and  this  will  remain  until  the  compression  is  interrupted. 
The  interior  of  the  e3^e  contains  three  transparent  media  for  the  refrac- 
tion of  the  rays  of  light,  on  their  waj'  from  the  cornea  to  the  visual 
nerve.  Of  these  media  the  anterior  one  (aqueous  humor)  is  liqtiid, 
the  posterior  (vitreous  humor)  is  semisolid,  and  {he  internrediate  one 
(crj'stalline  lens)  is  solid.  The  space  occupied  by  the  aqueous  humor 
corresponds  nearly  to  the  portion  of  the  eye  covered  by  the  trans- 
parent cornea.  It  is,  however,  divided  into  two  chambers,  anterior 
and  posterior,  hj  the  iris,  a  contractile  curtain  with  a  hole  in  the  cen- 
ter (the  pupil),  and  which  maj'  be  looked  on  as  in  some  sense  a  projec- 
tion inward  of  the  vascular  and  pigmentary  coat  from  its  anterior 
margin  at  the  point  where  the  sclerotic  or  opaque  outer  coat  becomes 
continuous  with  the  cornea  or  transparent  one.  This  iris,  or  curtain, 
besides  its  abundance  of  blood  vessels  and  pigment,  possesses  two  sets 
of  muscular  fibers,  one  set  radiating  from  the  margin  of  the  pupil  to 
the  outer  border  of  the  curtain  at  its  attachment  to  the  sclerotic  and 
choroid,  and  the  other  encircling  the  pupil  in  the  manner  of  a  ring. 
The  action  of  the  two  sets  is  necessarily  antagonistic,  the  radiating 
fibers  dilating  the  pupil  and  exposing  the  interior  of  the  eye  to  view, 
while  the  circular  fibers  contract  this  opening  and  shut  out  the  raj^s  of 
light.  The  form  of  the  pupil  in  the  horse  is  ovoid,  with  its  longest 
diameter  from  side  to  side,  and  its  upper  border  is  fringed  by  several 
minute  black  bodies  (corpora  nigra)  projecting  forward  and  serving  to 
some,extent  the  purpose  of  eyebrows  in  arresting  and  absorbing  the 
excess  of  rays  of  light  which  fall  upon  the  eye  from  above.  These 
pigmentary  projections  in  front  of  the  upper  border  of  the  pupil  are 
often  mistaken  for  the  products  of  disease  or  injury,  in  place  of  the 
normal  and  beneficent  protectors  of  the  nerve  of  sight  which  they  are. 
They  may,  like  all  other  parts,  become  the  seat  of  disease,  but  so  long 
as  the}^  and  the  iris  retain  their  clear,  dark  aspect,  without  any  tints 
of  brown  or  j^ellow,  they  may  be  held  to  be  healthy. 

The  vitreous  or  semisolid  refi'acting  medium  occupies  the  posterior 
part  of  the  eye — the  part  corresponding  to  the  sclerotic,  choroid,  and 
retina — and  has  a  consistency  corresponding  to  that  of  the  white  of 
an  Q^g^  and  a  power  of  refraction  of  the  light  rays  correspondingh^ 
greater  than  the  aqueous  humor. 

The  third  or  solid  refracting  medium  is  a  biconvex  lens,  with  its 
convexity  greatest  on  its  posterior  surface,  which  is  lodged  in  a 
depression  in  the  vitreous  humor,  while  its  anterior  surface  corre- 
sponds to  the  opening  of  the  pupil.  It  is  inclosed  in  a  membranous 
covering  (capsule),  and  is  maintained  in  position  by  a  membrane 
(suspensory  ligament)  which  extends  from  the  margin  of  the  lens 
outward  to  the  sclerotic  at  the  point  of  junction  of  the  choroid  and 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  253 

iris.  This  lig-ament  is,  in  its  turn,  furnished  with  radiating  muscular 
fibers,  which  change  the  form  or  position  of  the  lens  so  as  to  adapt  it 
to  see  with  equal  clearness  objects  at  a  distance  or  close  by. 

Another  point  which  strikes  the  obserA'cr  of  the  horse's  eye  is  that 
in  the  darkness  a  bright  bluish  tinge  is  reflected  from  the  widely 
dilated  pupil.  This  is  owing  to  a  comparative  absence  of  pigment  in 
the  choroid  coat  inside  the  upper  part  of  the  eyeball,  and  enables  the 
animal  to  see  and  advance  with  security  in  darkness  where  the  human 
eye  would  be  of  little  use.  The  lower  part  of  the  cavit}^  of  the  horse's 
eye.,  into  which  the  dazzling-  raj^s  fail  from  the  sky,  is  furnished  with 
an  intensely  black  lining,  by  which  the  rays  penetrating  the  inner 
nervous  layer  are  instantly  absorbed. 

MUSCLES    OF    THE    EYE. 

These  consist  of  four  straight  muscles,  two  oblique  and  one  retractor. 
The  straight  muscles  pass  from  the  depth  of  the  orbit  forward  on  the 
inner,  outer,  upper,  and  lower  sides  of  the  eyeball,  and  are  fixed  to 
the  anterior  portion  of  the  fibrous  (sclerotic)  coat,  so  that  in  contract- 
ing singly  the}"  respectiveh"  turn  the  eye  inward,  outward,  upward, 
and  downward.  When  all  act  together  the}'  draw  the  eyeball  deeply 
into  its  socket.  The  retractor  muscle  also  consists  of  four  muscular 
slips,  repeating  the  straight  muscles  on  a  smaller  scale,  but  as  they  are 
only  attached  on  the  back  part  of  the  eyeball  they  are  less  adapted  to 
roll  the  eye  than  to  draw  it  down  into  its  socket.  The  two  oblique 
muscles  rotate  the  eye  on  ite  own  axis,  the  upper  one  turning  its  outer 
surface  upward  and  inward,  and  the  lower  one  turning  it  downward 
and  inward. 

THE    HAW  (the    WINKING    CARTILAGE,   OK    CARTILAGO    NICTITANS). 

This  is  a  structure,  which,  like  the  retractor  muscle,  is  not  found  in 
the  eye  of  man,  but  it  serves  in  the  lower  animals  to  assist  in  remov- 
ing foreign  bodies  from  the  front  of  the  eyeball.  It  consists,  in  the 
horse,  of  a  cartilage  of  irregular  form,  thickened  inferiorly  and  pos- 
teriorly where  it  is  intimately  connected  Avith  the  muscles  of  the  eye- 
ball and  the  fatty  material  around  them,  and  expanded  and  flattened 
anteriorly  where  its  upper  surface  is  concave,  and,  as  it  were,  molded 
on  the  lower  and  inner  surface  of  the  eyeball.  Externally  it  is  cov^- 
ered  by  the  mucous  membrane  which  line's  the  eyelids  and  extends 
over  the  front  of  the  eye.  In  the  ordinary  restful  state  of  the  eye  the 
edge  of  this  cartilage  should  just  appear  as  a  thin  fold  of  membrane  at 
the  inner  angle  of  the  eye,  but  when  the  eyeball  is  drawn  deeply  into 
the  orbit  the  cartilage  is  pushed  forward,  outward,  and  upward  over 
it  until  the  entire  globe  may  be  hidden  from  sight.  This  protrusion 
of  the  cartilage,  so  as  to  cover  the  eye,  may  be  induced  in  the  healthy 


254  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUcsTllY. 

eye  bv  pressing  the  finger  and  thum))  on  the  upper  and  lower  lids,  so 
as  to  cause  retraction  of  the  eyeball  into  the  socket.  When  foreign 
bodies,  such  as  sand,  dust,  and  chaff,  or  other  irritants  have  fallen  on 
the  eyeball  or  eyelids,  it  is  similarly  projected  to  push  them  off',  their 
expulsiqn  being  further  favored  by  a  profuse  flow  of  tears. 

This  is  seen,  to  a  lesser  extent,  in  all  painful  inflammations  oi^  the 
e3'e,  and  to  a  very  marked  degree  in  lockjavr,  when  the  sj^asm  of  the 
muscles  of  the  eyeball  draws  the  latter  deeply  into  the  orbit  and  pro- 
jects forward  the  masses  of  fat  and  the  cartilage.  The  brutal  practice 
of  cutting  off  this  appai*atus,  whenever  it  is  projected,  necessitates 
this  explanation  which,  it  is  hoped,  may  save  to  many  a  faithful  serv- 
ant a  most  valuable  appendage.  That  tlie  cartilage  and  membrane 
may  become  the  seat  of  disease  is  undeniable,  but  so  long  as  its  edge 
is  thin  and  even,  and  its  surface  smooth  and  regular,  the  mere  fact  of 
its  projection  over  a  portion  or  the  whole  of  the  eyeball  is  no  evidence 
of  disease  in  its  substance,  nor  an^'  warrant  for  its  removal.  It  is 
usually  but  the  evidence  of  the  presence  of  some  pain  in  another  part 
of  the  eye,  which  the  suffering  animal  endeavors  to  assuage  by  the  use 
of  this  beneficent  provision.  For  the  diseases  of  the  cartilage  itself, 
see  "Encephaloid  cancer." 

LACiraTMAL   APPAEATUS. 

This  consists,  firs-t,  of  a  gland  for  the  secretion  of  the  tears,  and, 
second,  of  a  series  of  canals  for  the  conveyance  of  the  superfluous 
tears  into  the  cavity  of  the  nose. 

The  gland  is  situated  above  the  outer  part  of  the  eyeball,  and  the 
tears  which  have  flowed  over  the  eye  and  reached  the  inner  angle  are 
there  directed  bj^  a  small  conical  papilla  (lachrymal  caruncle)  into  two 
minute  orifices,  and  thence  by  two  ducts  (lachrymal)  to  a  small  pouch 
(lachrymal  sac)  from  which  a  canal  leads  through  the  bones  of  the 
face  into  the  nose.  This  opens  in  the  lower  part  of  the  nose  on  the 
floor  of  the  passage  and  a  little  outside  the  line  of  union  of  the  skin 
which  lines  the  false  nostril  with  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose. 
In  the  ass  and  mule  this  opening  is  situated  on  the  roof  instead  of  the 
floor  of  the  nose,  but  still  close  to  the  external  opening. 

EXAMINATION    OF    THE    EYE. 

To  avoid  unnecessary  repetition  the  following  general  directions  are 
given  for  the  examination  of  the  e5'e:  The  eye,  and  to  a  certain  extent, 
the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  eyelids,  may" be  exposed  to  view  by 
gently  parting  the  ej-elids  with  the  thumb  and  forefinger  pressed  on 
the  middle  of  the  respective  lids.  The  pressure,  it  is  true,  causes  the 
protrusion  of  the  haw  over  a  portion  of  the  lower  and  inner  part  of 
the  eye,  but  bj-  gentleness  and  careful  graduation  of  the  pressure  this 


DISEASES    OF    THE    nOKSE.  255 

may  be  kept  within  bounds,  and  oftentimes  even  the  interior  of  the 
eye  can  be  seen.  As  a  rule  it  is  best  to  use  the  right  hand  for  the 
left  eye,  and  the  left  hand  for  the  right,  the  finger  in  each  case  being 
pressed  on  the  upper  lid  while  the  thumb  depresses  the  loAver  one.  In 
cases  in  which  it  is  desirable  to  examine  the  inner  side  of  the  eyelid 
farther  than  is  possil)le  b}^  the  above  means,  the  upper  lid  may  lie 
drawn  down  by  the  e3^elashes  with  the  one  hand  and  then  everted  ov(>r 
the  tip  of  the  forefinger  of  the  other  hand,  or  over  a  probe  laid  flat 
against  the  middle  of  the  lid.  Where  the  interior  of  the  eye  must  be 
examined  it  is  useless  to  make  the  attempt  in  the  open  sunshine  or 
under  a  clear  sky.  The  worst  cases,  it  is  true,  can  be  seen  under  such 
circumstances,  but  for  the  slighter  forms  the  horse  should  be  taken 
indoors,  where  all  light  from  above  will  be  shut  off,  and  should  be 
placed  so  that  the  light  shall  fall  on  the  eye  from  the  front  and  side. 
Then  the  observer,  placing  himself  in  front  of  the  animal,  will  receive 
the  reflected  rays  from  the  cornea,  the  front  of  the  lens  and  the  back, 
and  can  much  more  easily  detect  any  cloudiness,  opacity  or  lack  of 
transparenc3^  The  examination  can  be  made  much  more  satisfactory 
by  placing  the  horse  in  a  dark  chamber  and  illuminating  the  eye  by 
a  lamp  placed  forward  and  outward  from  the  e3"e  which  is  to  be  exam- 
ined. Any  cloudiness  is  thus  easily  detected,  and  any  doubt  may 
be  resolved  b}''  moving  the  lamp  so  that  the  image  of  the  flame  may  be 
passed  in  succession  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  transparent  cornea 
and  of  the  cr3"stalline  lens.  Three  images  of  the  flame  will  be  seen, 
the  larger  one  upright,  reflected  from  the  anterior  surface  of  the  eye; 
a  smaller  one  upright,  reflected  from  the  anterior  surface  of  the  lens; 
and  a  second  small  one  inverted  from  the  back  surface  of  the  lens. 

So  long  as  these  images  are  reflected  from  healthy  surfaces  they  will 
be  clear  and  perfect  in  outline,  but,  as  soon  as  one  strikes  on  an  area 
of  opacit3",  it  will  become  diffused,  cloudy,  and  indefinite.  Thus,  if 
the  large  upright  image  becomes  haz3^  and  imperfect  over  a  particular 
spot  of  the  cornea,  that  will  be  found  to  be  the  seat  of  disease  and 
opacit3^  Should  the  large  image  remain  clear,  but  the  small  upright 
one  become  diffuse  and  indefinite  over  a  given  point,  it  indicates 
opacity  on  the  front  of  the  capsule  of  the  lens.  If  both  upright 
images  remain  clear  while  the  inverted  one  becomes  indistinct  at  a 
given  point,  then  the  opacity  is  in  the  substance  of  the  lens  itself  or  in 
the  posterior  part  of  its  capsule. 

If  in  a  given  case  the  pupil  remains  so  closeh^  contracted  that  the 
deeper  parts  of  the  eye  can  not  be  seen,  the  e3"elids  ma3^  be  rubbed  with 
extract  of  belladonna,  and  in  a  short  time  the  pupil  will  be  found 
widel3^  dilated. 

DISEASES    OF   THE    EYELIDS. 

Congenital  disorders. — Some  fault3'^  conditions  of  the  e3'elids  are 
congenital,  as  division  of  an  eyelid  in  two,  after  the  manner  of  harelip. 


256  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

dbnormally  small  oj^ening  between  the  lids,  often  connected  with  imper- 
fect development  of  the  eje,  and  closure  of  the  lids  hy  adhesion.  The 
first  is  to  be  remedied  by  paring  the  edges  of  the  division  and  then 
bringing  them  together,  as  in  torn  lids.  The  last  two,  if  remediable 
at  all,  require  separation  by  the  knife,  and  subsequent  treatment  with 
a  cooling  astringent  e^^ewash. 

Nervous  disorders. — Sjyasm  of  the  eyelids  may  be  owing  to  constitu- 
tional susceptibility,  or  to  the  presence  of  local  irritants  (insects, 
chemical  irritants,  sand,  etc.)  in  the  ej'-e,  to  wounds  or  inflammation  of 
the  mucous  membrane,  or  to  disease  of  the  brain.  When  due  to  local 
irritation,  it  may  be  temporarily  overcome  by  instilling  a  few  drops 
of  a  4  per  cent  solution  of  cocaine  into  the  eye,  when  the  true  cause 
may  be  ascertained  and  removed.  The  nervous  or  constitutional 
disease  must  be  treated  according  to  its  nature. 

Droojying  eyelids,  or  ptosis. — This  is  usually  present  in  the  upper 
lid,  or  is  at  least  little  noticed  in  the  lower.  It  is  sometimes  but  a 
symptom  of  paralysis  of  one-half  of  the  face,  in  which  case  the  ear, 
lips,  and  nostrils  on  the  same  side  will  be  found  soft,  drooping,  and 
inactive,  and  even  the  half  of  the  tongue  maj'  partake  of  the  palsy. 
If  the  same  condition  exists  on  both  sides  there  is  difficult  snuflling 
breathing,  from  the  air  drawing  in  the  flaps  of  the  nostrils  in  inspira- 
tion, and  all  food  is  taken  in  by  the  teeth,  as  the  lips  are  useless.  In 
both  there  is  a  free  discharge  of  saliva  from  the  mouth  during  masti- 
cation. This  paralysis  is  a  frequent  result  of  injury,  by  a  poke,  to 
the  seventh  nerve,  as  it  passes  over  the  back  of  the  lower  jaw.  In 
some  cases  the  paral3^sis  is  confined  to  the  lid,  the  injury  having  been 
sustained  hy  the  muscles  which  raise  it,  or  by  the  supraorbital  nerve 
which  emerges  from  the  bone  just  above  the  eye.  Such  injur}-  to  the 
nerve  may  have  resulted  from  fracture  of  the  orbital  process  of  the 
frontal  bone  above  the  eyeball. 

The  condition  may,  however,  be  due  to  spasm  of  the  sphincter 
muscle,  which  closes  the  lids,  or  to  inflammation  of  the  upper  lid, 
usually  a  result  of  blows  on  the  orbit.  In  the  latter  case  it  may  run 
a  slow  course  with  chronic  thickening  of  the  lid. 

The  paralj'sis  due  to  the  poke  may  be  often  remedied,  first,  b}-  the 
removal  of  any  remaining  inflammation  by  a  wet  sponge  worn  beneath 
the  ear  and  kept  in  place  by  a  bandage;  second,  when  all  inflannnation 
has  passed,  by  a  blister  on  the  same  region,  or  b}'-  rubbing  it  daily  with 
a  mixture  in  equal  proportions  of  olive  oil  and  strong  aqua  ammonia. 
Improvement  is  usually  slow,  and  it  may  be  months  before  complete 
recovery  ensues. 

In  paralysis  from  blows  above  the  eyes  the  same  treatment  may  be 
applied  to  that  part. 

Thickening  of  the  lid  may  be  treated  by  painting  with  tincture  of 
iodine,  and  that  failing,  by  cutting  out  an  elliptical  strip  of  the  skin 
from  the  middle  of  the  upper  lid  and  stitching  the  edges  together. 


PI.ATF:   XIX. 


Theoretical  Section  ol'tlie  Horse's  Eye. 
(t, Optic  /verve;    b,  Sclerotic  ;  c,(^ioroid  ;    d,Hetirva  ;   e.  Cornea,-    f.Iros; 
g,h,  Ciliary  circle,  (orUgcunerU  J  and  processcA-  ffivcn  ofCby  the  choroixi , 
thouffh   represented  a^  isolcUed  fronh  U,in  order  to  indicaie  their-  lirnits 
morc  clearly;    i ,  In^-eriixw  of  the,  ciliary  proce^se^'i  on  tlie  crystalline  I c/os; 
/.Crystalline  lens ;  k, Crystalline  capsule;  I, Vitreous  body;    rrh,n,,Antetio/- 
and  posterior  chnnibers;  o,Th£oreticcd  iruiication  oCt/i.e  membrane  of 
the  ac/aeous  humour;  p,p,Tarsi ;    q,(f, Fibrous  Tnemhra/ie  of  the  eyelids ; 
nElevaJor  muscle  of  the  upper  eyelid ;   s,s.Orbicularuv  muscle  of  the 
eyelids;  t,t,Skin  of  the  eyelids;  u,Conju/ieti\-a ;  v,  Epidervtuc  layer  of 
this  me/nbrcuie  coverinff  the  Corneo ;  :jc,  Posterior  rectus  mitscle  ; 
y,  Superior  r^ecfus  muscle ;    x,In/erior  r^ectzcs  nuiscle ;    w,  Ftbrous 
sheath  of  the  orbit  (or  orbital  memhrraie ) . 


Maix.del.filterllArbovTil.i)  3/ 1.  juuus  bien  &  . 

DIxVGRAA'L\TIC  \'ERTrCAI,  SE("nON  'ITIROIJCtH  EYE. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  257 

INFLAMMATION    OF   THE    EYELIDS. 

The  eyelids  suffer  more  or  less  in  all  severe  inflammations  of  the 
eye,  whether  external  or  internal,  but  inasmuch  as  the  disease  some- 
times starts  in  the  litis  and  at  other  times  is  exclusively  confined  to 
them,  it  deserves  independent  mention. 

Among  the  causes  may  be  named:  Exposure  to  drafts  of  cold  air^ 
or  to  cold  rain  or  snowstorms;  the  bites  or  stings  of  moscjuitoes,  flies^ 
and  other  insects;  snake  bites,  pricks  with  thorns,  blows  of  whip  or 
club;  accidental  bruises  against  the  stall  or  ground,  especiallj'^  during 
the  violent  struggles  of  colic,  enteritis,  phrenitis  (staggers),  and  when 
thrown  for  operations.  It  is  also  a  result  of  infecting  inoculations,  as- 
of  erysipelas,  anthrax,  boil,  etc.,  and  is  noted  by  Leblanc  as  especially 
prevalent  among  horses  kept  on  low^  marshy  pastures.  Finall}^,  the 
introduction  of  sand,  dust,  chaff,  beards  of  barlej"  and  seeds  of  the 
finest  grasses,  and  the  contact  with  irritant  chemical  powders,  liquids, 
and  gases  (ammonia  from  manure  or  factor\',  chlorine,  strong  sulphur 
fumes,  smoke,  and  other  products  of  combustion,  etc.)  may  start  the 
inflammation.  The  eyelids  often  undergo  extreme  inflammatory  and 
dropsical  swelling  in  urticaria  (nettlerash,  surfeit)  and  in  the  general 
inflammator}"  dropsy  known  as  purpura  hemorrhagica. 

The  affection  will,  therefore,  readily  divide  itself  into  (1)  inflamma- 
tions due  to  constitutional  causes;  (2)  those  due  to  direct  injury, 
mechanical  or  chemical;  and  (.S)  such  as  are  due  to  inoculation  with 
infecting  material. 

(1)  Inflammations  due  to  constitutional  causes  are  distinguished  by 
the  absence  of  any  local  wound,  and  the  histor}^  of  a  low  damp  pas- 
ture, exposure,  indigestion  from  unwholesome  food,  or  the  presence 
elsewhere  on  the  limbs  or  body  of  the  general  doughy  swellings  of 
purpura  hemorrhagica.  The  lids  are  swollen  and  thickened,  it  may 
be  slightly  or  it  may  be  so  extremely  that  the  eyeball  can  not  be  seen. 
If  the  lid  can  be  everted  to  show  its  mucous  membrane,  that  is  seen 
to  be  of  a  deep-red  color,  especially  along  the  branching  lines  of  the 
blood  vessels.  The  part  is  hot  and  painful,  and  a  profuse  flow  of  tears 
and  mucus  escapes  on  the  side  of  the  face,  causing  irritation  and  loss 
of  the  hair.  If  improvement  follows,  this  discharge  becomes  more 
tenacious,  and  tends  to  cause  adhesion  to  the  edges  of  the  upper  and 
lower  lids  and  to  mat  together  the  eyelashes  in  bundles.  This  grad- 
uall}"  decreases  to  the  natural  amount,  and  the  redness  and  congested 
appearance  of  the  eye  disappears,  but  swelling,  thickening,  and  stiff- 
ness of  the  lids  may  continue  for  a  length  of  time.  There  may  be 
more  or  less  fever  according  to  the  violence  of  the  inflammation,  but 
so  long  as  there  is  no  serious  disease  of  the  interior  of  the  eye  or  of 
other  vital  organ  this  is  usuall}^  moderate. 

The  local  treatment  consists  in  astringent,  soothing  lotions  (sugar  of 
14384—03 17 


258  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

lead  30  grains,  laudanum  2  teaspoonful?;,  rain  water — boiled  and 
cooled — 1  pint),  applied  with  a  soft  cloth  kept  wet  with  the  lotion, 
and  hung  over  the  eye  by  tying  it  to  the  headstall  of  the  bridle  on  the 
two  sides.  If  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  lids  is  the  seat  of  little 
red  granular  elevations,  a  drop  of  a  solution  of  2  grains  of  nitrate  of 
silver  in  an  ounce  of  distilled  water  should  be  applied  with  the  soft  end 
of  a  clean  feather  to  the  inside  of  the  lid  twice  a  day.  •  The  patient 
should  be  removed  from  all  such  conditions  (pasture,  faultj^  food, 
exposure,  etc.)  as  maj^have  caused  or  aggravated  the  disease,  and  from 
dust  and  irritant  fumes  and  gases.  He  should  be  fed  from  a  manger 
high  enough  to  favor  the  return  of  blood  from  the  head,  and  shoidd 
be  kept  from  work,  especially  in  a  tight  collar,  which  w^ould  prevent 
the  descent  of  blood  by  the  jugular  veins.  His  diet  should  be  laxa- 
tive and  nonstimulating  (grass,  bran  mashes,  carrots,  turnips,  beets, 
potatoes,  or  steamed  hay),  and  an}"  costivcness  should  be  corrected  by 
a  mild  dose  of  raw  linseed  oil  (1  to  1}  pints).  In  cold  weather  warm 
blanketing  may  be  needful,  and  even  loose  flannel  bandages  to  the 
limbs,  and  heat  should  never  be  sought  at  the  expense  of  pure  air. 

(2)  In  inflammations  due  to  local  irritants  of  a  noninfective  kind, 
a  careful  examination  will  usually  reveal  their  presence,  and  the  first 
step  must  be  their  removal  with  a  pair  of  blunt  forceps  or  the  point  of 
a  lead  pencil.  Subsequent  treatment  v,ill  be  in  the  main  the  local 
treatment  advised  above. 

(3)  In  case  of  infective  inflammation,  there  will  often  be  found  a 
prick  or  tear  by  which  the  septic  matter  has  entered,  and  in  such  case 
the  inflammation  will  for  a  time  be  concentrated  at  that  point.  A  round 
or  conical  swelling  round  an  insect  bite  is  especially  characteristic.  A 
snake  bite  is  marked  by  the  double  prick  made  by  the  two  teeth  and 
bj^  the  violent  and  rapidly  spreading  inflammation.  Erysipelas  is 
attended  w4th  much  svrelling,  extending  beyond  the  lids,  and  causing 
the  mucous  membrane  to  protrude  beyond  the  edge  of  the  eyelid 
(chemosis).  This  is  characterized  by  a  bright,  uniform,  rosy  red,  dis- 
appearing on  pressure,  or  later  by  a  dark,  livid  hue,  but  with  less 
branching  redness  than  in  noninfecting  inflammation,  and  less  of  the 
dark,  dusky,  brownish  or  yellowish  tint  of  anthrax.  Little  vesicles 
may  appear  on  the  skin,  and  pus  may  be  found  without  any  distinct 
limiting  membrane,  as  in  abscess.  It  is  early  attended  by  high  fever 
and  marked  general  weakness  and  inappetence.  Anthrax  of  the  lids  is 
marked  by  a  firm  swelling,  surmounted  by  a  blister,  with  bloody  serou- 
contcnts,  which  tends  to  burst  and  dry  up  into  a  slough,  while  the  sur 
rounding  parts  become  involved  in  the  same  way.  Or  it  may  show  as 
a  diffuse  dropsical  swelling,  with  less  of  the  hard  central  sloughing 
nodule,  but  like  that  tending  to  spread  quickly.  In  both  cases  alike 
the  mucous  membrane  and  the  skin,  if  white,  assume  a  dusky  brown 
or  yellowish  brown  hue,  Avhich  is  largely  characteristic.     This  may  pass 


DISEASES    O'^    THE    HOKSE.  259 

into  a  black  color  by  reason  of  extravasation  of  blood.  There  appears 
early  great  constitutional  disturbance,  with  much  prostration  and 
weakness  and  generalized  anthrax  sjnuptoms. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  these  will  vary  according-  to  the  sever- 
ity. Insect  bites  maj'^  be  touched  with  a  solution  of  equal  parts  of 
glycerine  and  aqua  ammonia,  or  a  10  per  cent  solution  of  carbolic  acid 
in  wat^r.  Snake  bites  may  be  bathed  with  aqua  ammonia,  and  the  same 
agent  given  in  doses  of  2  teaspoonf  uls  in  a  quart  of  water.  Or  alcohol 
ma}"  be  given  in  pint  or  quart  doses,  according  to  the  size  of  tHe  animal. 
In  erysipelas  the  skin  rnay  be  painted  with  tincture  of  muriate  of  iron, 
or  with  a  solution  of  20  grains  of  iodine  in  an  ounce  of  carbolic  acid, 
and  one-half  an  ounce  of  tincture  of  muriate  of  iron  may  be  given 
thrice  daily  in  a  bottle  of  water.  In  anthrax  the  swelling  should  be 
painted  with  tincture  of  iodine,  or  of  the  mixture  of  iodine  and  carbolic 
acid,  and  if  very  threatening  it  may  have  the  tincture  of  iodine  injected 
into  the  swelling  with  a  hypodermic  syringe,  or  the  hard  mass  may  be 
freely  incised  to  its  depth  with  a  sharp  lancet  and  the  lotion  applied  to 
the  exposed  tissues.  Internally  iodide  of  potassium  may  be  given  in 
doses  of  2  di-ams  thrice  a  day,  or  tincture  of  the  muriate  of  iron  every 
four  hours. 

STY,   OK    FUKUNCLE  (bOIL)  OF   THE    EYELID. 

This  is  an  inflammation  of  limited  extent,  advancing  to  the  formation 
of  matter  and  the  sloughing  out  of  a  small  mass  of  the  natural  tissue 
of  the  eyelid.  It  forms  a  lirm,  rounded  swelling,  usually  near  the 
margin  of  the  lid,  which  suppurates  and  bursts  in  four  or  five  da3's. 
Its  course  may  be  hastened  by  a  poultice  of  chamomile  flowers,  to 
which  have  been  added  a  few  drops  of  carbolic  acid,  the  whole  applied 
in  a  very  thin  muslin  bag.  If  the  swelling  is  slow  to  open  after  having 
become  j^ellowish  white,  it  may  be  opened  by  a  lancet,  the  incision 
being  made  at  right  angles  to  the  margin  of  the  lid. 

EXTKOI'ION     AND     ECTROPION,    OR    INVERSION     AND     EVERSION     OF     THE 

EYELID. 

These  are  respectively  caused  hj  wounds,  sloughs,  ulcers,  or  other 
causes  of  loss  of  substance  of  the  mucous  membrane  on  the  inside  of 
the  lid  and  of  the  skin  on  the  outside;  also  of  tumors,  skin  diseases, 
or  paralysis  which  leads  to  displacement  of  the  margin  of  tiie  eyelid. 
As  a  rule,  they  require  a  surgical  operation,  with  removal  of  an  ellip- 
tical portion  of  the  mucous  membrane  or  skin,  as  the  case  ma}'-  be,  but 
which  requires  the  skilled  and  delicate  hand  of  the  surgeon. 

TRICHIASIS. 

This  consists  in  the  turning  in  of  the  eyelashes  so  as  to  irritate  the 
front  of  the  eye.  If  a  single  eyelash,  it  may  be  snipped  off  with  scis- 
sors close  to  the  margin  of  the  eyelid  or  pulled  out  by  the  root  v/ith  a 


OILS. 


260  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

pair  of  flat-bladed  forceps.  If  the  divergent  lashes  are  more  numei 
the  treatment  ma}'  be  as  for  entropion,  bj  excising  an  elliptical  portion 
of  skin  opposite  the  offending  lashes  and  stitching  the  edges  together, 
so  as  to  draw  outward  the  margin  of  the  lid  at  that  point. 

WARTS  AND   OTHER   TUMORS   OF   THE    EYELIDS. 

The  ej'elids  form  a  favorite  site  for  tumors,  and  above  all,  warts, 
which  consist  in  a  simple  diseased  overgrowth  (hj-pertrophy)  of  the 
surface  layers  of  the  skin.  If  small,  these  may  be  snipped  off  with 
scissors  or  tied  around  the  neck  with  a  stout  waxed  thread  and  left  to 
drop  off,  the  destruction  being  completed,  if  necessary,  b}^  the  daily 
application  of  a  piece  of  sulphate  of  copper  (blue  vitriol),  until  any 
unhealthy  material  has  been  removed.  If  more  widely  spread  the 
wart  ma}^  still  be  clipped  off  with  curved  scissors  or  knife,  and  the 
caustic  thoroughly  applied  day  by  day. 

A  bleeding  wart,  or  erectile  tumor,  is  more  liable  to  bleed,  and  is 
best  removed  bj^  constricting  its  neck  with  the  waxed  cord  or  rub))er 
band,  or  if  too  broad  for  this  it  may  be  transfixed  through  its  base  1)}' 
a  needle  armed  with  a  double  thread,  which  is  then  to  be  cut  in  two 
and  tied  around  the  two  portions  of  the  neck  of  the  tumor.  If  still 
broader  the  armed  needle  may  be  carried  through  the  base  of  the  tumor 
at  regular  intervals,  so  that  the  whole  may  be  tied  in  moderate!}'  sized 
sections. 

In  gray  and  white  horses  ])lack  pigmentar}-  tumors  (melanotic)  are 
common  on  the  black  portions  of  skin,  such  as  the  eyelids,  and  are  to 
be  removed  by  scissors  or  knife,  according  to  their  size.  In  the  horse 
these  do  not  usuall}^  tend  to  recur  when  thoroughly  removed,  but  at 
times  they  prove  cancerous  (as  is  the  rule  in  man),  and  then  they  tend 
to  reappear  in  the  same  site  or  in  internal  organs  with,  it  ma}-  be,  fatal 
effect. 

Encj'sted,  honey-like  (melicerous),  sebaceous,  and  fibrous  tumors  of 
the  lids  all  require  removal  with  the  knife. 

TORN    EYELIDS    OR   WOUNDS    OF    EYELIDS. 

The  eyelids  are  torn  by  attacks  with  horns  of  cattle,  or  with  the 
teeth,  or  b}'  getting  caught  on  nails  in  stall,  rack,  or  manger,  on  the 
point  of  stumps,  fences,  or  fence  rails,  on  the  barbs  of  wire  fences,  and 
on  other  pointed  bodies.  The  edges  should  be  brought  together  as 
promptly  as  possible,  so  as  to  secure  union  without  the  formation  of 
matter,  puckering  of  the  skin,  and  unsightly  distortions.  Great  care 
is  necessaiy  to  bring  the  two  edges  together  evenl}^  without  twisting 
or  puckering.  The  simplest  mode  of  holding  them  together  is  by  a 
series  of  sharp  pins  passed  through  the  lips  of  the  wound  at  intervals 
of  not  over  a  third  of  an  inch,  and  held  together  ])y  a  thread  twisted 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  261 

around  each  pin  in  the  form  of  the  figure  8,  and  carried  obliquely 
from  pin  to  pin  in  two  directions,  so  as  to  prevent  gaping  of  the 
wound  in  the  intervals.  The  points  of  the  pins  may  then  be  cut  off 
with  scissors,  and  the  wound  may  be  wet  twice  a  day  with  a  weak 
solution  of  carbolic  acid. 

TUMOR   OF    THE    HAAV,    OR    CARIES   OF   THE    CARTILAGE. 

Though  cruelly  excised  for  alleged  "hooks,"  when  itself  perfectly 
health}^  in  the  various  diseases  which  lead  to  retraction  of  the  eye  into 
its  socket,  the  haw  may,  like  other  bodily  structures,  be  itself  the  seat 
of  actual  disease.  The  pigmentary  black  tumors  of  white  horses  and 
soft  (encephaloid)  cancer  may  attack  this  part  primarily  or  extend  lo 
it  from  the  eyeball  or  eyelids;  hairs  have  been  found  growing  from  its 
surface;  and  the  mucous  membrane  covering  it  becomes  inflamed  in 
common  with  that  covering  the  front  of  the  eye.  These  inflamma- 
tions are  but  a  phase  of  the  inflammation  of  the  external  structures 
of  the  eye,  and  demand  no  particular  notice  nor  special  treatment. 
The  tumors  lead  to  such  irregular  enlargement  and  distortion  of  the 
haw  that  the  condition  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  simple  pro- 
jection of  the  healthy  structure  over  the  eye  when  the  lids  are  pushed 
apart  with  the  finger  and  thumb,  and  the  same  remark  applies  to  the 
ulceration,  or  caries,  of  the  cartilage.  In  the  latter  case,  besides  the 
swelling  and  distortion  of  the  haw,  there  is  this  peculiarit}^,  that  in 
the  midst  of  the  red  inflamed  mass  there  appears  a  white  line  or  mass 
formed  by  the  exposed  edge  of  the  ulcerating  cartilage.  The  animal 
having  been  thrown  and  properl}"  fixed,  an  assistant  holds  the  eyelids 
apart  while  the  operator  seizes  the  haw  with  forceps  or  hook  and  care- 
fully dissects  it  out  with  blunt-pointed  scissors.  The  eye  is  then  cov- 
ered with  a  cloth,  kept  wet  with  an  eyewash,  as  for  external  ophthalmia, 

OBSTRUCTION  OF  THE  LACHRYMAL  APPARATUS,  OR  WATERING  EYE. 

The  escape  of  tears  on  the  side  of  the  cheek  is  a  symptom  of  extor- 
nal  inflammation  of  the  eye,  but  it  may  also  occur  from  any  disease 
of  the  lachiymal  apparatus  which  interferes  with  the  normal  progress 
of  the  tears  to  the  nose.  Hence,  in  all  cases  when  this  sj^mptom  is 
not  attended  by  special  redness  or  swelling  of  the  eyelids,  it  is  well 
to  examine  the  lachrymal  apparatus.  In  some  instances  the  orifice  of 
the  lachrymal  duct  on  the  floor  of  the  nasal  chamber  and  close  to  its 
anterior  outlet  will  be  found  blocked  by  a  portion  of  dry  muco-puru- 
lent  matter,  on  the  removal  of  which  tears  may  begin  to  escape.  This 
implies  an  inflammation  of  the  canal,  which  may  be  helped  by  occa 
sional  sponging  out  of  the  nose  with  warm  water,  and  the  application 
of  the  same  on  the  face.  Another  remedy  is  to  feed  warm  mashes  of 
wheat  bran  from  a  nosebag,  so  that  the  relaxing  effects  of  the  water 
vapor  may  be  secured. 


262  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

The  two  lachrymal  openings,  situated  at  the  inner  angle  of  the  eye, 
ma}'  fail  to  admit  the  tears  by  reason  of  their.deviation  outward  in 
connection  with  eversion  of  the  lower  lid,  or  b}'-  reason  of  their  con- 
striction in  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane.  The  lachrymal 
sac,  into  which  the  lachrymal  ducts  open,  may  fail  to  discharge  its 
contents  bj-  reason  of  constriction  or  closure  of  the  duct  leading  to  the 
nose,  and  it  then  forms  a  rounded  swelling  beneath  the  inner  angle 
of  the  eye.  The  duct  leading  from  the  sac  to  the  nose  maj^  be  com- 
pressed or  obliterated  by  fractures  of  the  bones  of  the  face,  and  in 
disease  of  these  bones  (osteosarcoma,  so-called  osteoporosis,  diseased 
teeth,  glanders  of  the  nasal  sinuses,  abscess  of  the  same  cavities). 

The  narrowed  or  obstructed  ducts  may  be  made  pervious  by  a  fine 
silver  probe  passed  down  to  the  lachrymal  sac,  and  any  existing  inflam- 
mation of  the  passages  may  be  counteracted  by  the  use  of  steaming 
mashes  of  wheat  bran,  by  fomentations  or  wet  cloths  over  the  face, 
and  even  by  the  use  of  astringent  eyewashes  and  the  injection  of 
similar  liquids  into  the  lachrymal  canal  from  its  nasal  opening.  The 
ordinary  eyewash  maj'  be  used  for  this  purpose,  or  it  may  be  injected 
after  dilution  to  half  its  strength.  The  fractures  and  diseases  of  the 
bones  and  teeth  must  be  treated  according  to  their  special  demands 
when,  if  the  canal  is  still  left  pervious,  it  may  be  again  rendered  useful. 

EXTERNAL   OPHTHALMIA,  OK   CONJUNXTIVITIS. 

In  inflammation  of  the  outer  parts  of  the  eyeball  the  exposed  vas- 
cular and  sensitive  mucous  membrane  (conjunctiva)  which  covers  the 
ball,  the  eyelids,  the  haw,  and  the  lachrym.al  apparatus,  is  usually  the 
most  deeply  involved,  yet  adjacent  parts  are  more  or  less  implicated, 
and  when  disease  is  concentrated  on  these  contiguous  parts  it  consti- 
tutes a  phase  of  external  ophthalmia  which  demands  a  special  notice. 
These  have  accordingly  been  already  treated  of. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  external  ophthalmia  are  mainly  those  that 
act  locally— blows  with  whips,  clubs,  and  twigs,  the  presence  of  for- 
eign bodies  like  hay  seed,  chaff,  dust,  lime,  sand,  snufl",  pollen  of  plants;, 
flics  attracted  by  the  brilliancy  of  the  ej* e,  wounds  of  the  bridle,  the 
migration  of  the  scabies  (mange)  insect  into  the  ej^e,  smoke,  ammonia 
rising  from  the  excretions,  irritant  emanations  from  drying  marshes, 
etc.  Iload  dust  containing  infecting  microbes  is  a  common  factor.  A 
very  dry  air  is  alleged  to  act  injuriously  by  drying  the  eye  as  well  as 
by  favoring  the  production  of  irritant  dust;  and  the  undue  exposure 
to  bright  sunshine  through  a  window  in  front  of  the  stall,  or  to  the 
reflection  from  snow  or  water,  is  undoubtedl}^  injurious.  The  unpro- 
tected exposure  of  the  eyes  to  sunshine  through  the  use  of  a  very 
short  overdraw  check  is  to  be  condemned,  and  the  keeping  of  the  horse 
in  a  very  dark  stall  from  which  it  is  habitually  led  into  the  glare  of 
full  sunlight,  intensified  by  reflection  from  snow  or  white  limestone 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  263 

dust,  must  be  set  down  among  the  local]}'  acting  causes.  But  exposure 
to  cold  and  wet,  to  rain  and  snow  storms,  to  cold  drafts  and  wet  lairs 
must  also  be  accepted  as  causes  of  conjunctivitis,  the  general  disorder 
which  the}'  produce  affecting  the  eye,  if  that  happens  to  bo  the  weak- 
est and  most  susceptible  organ  of  the  body,  or  if  it  has  been  subjected 
to  any  special  local  injury,  like  dust,  irritant  gases,  or  excess  of  light. 
Again,  external  ophthalmia  is  a  constant  concomitant  of  injElammation 
of  the  contiguous  and  continuous  mucous  membi-anes,  as  those  of  the 
nose  and  throat.  Hence  the  red,  watery  eyes  that  attend  on  nasal 
catarrh,  sore  throat,  influenza,  strangles,  nasal  glanders,  and  the  like. 
In  such  cases,  however,  the  affection  of  the  eye  is  subsidiary  and  is 
manifestly  overshadowed  by  the  primary  and  predominating  disease. 

Syrnptoim. — The  symptoms  are  watering  of  the  eye,  swollen  lids, 
redness  of  the  mucous  membrane  exposed  by  the  separation  of  the 
lids — it  may  be  a  mere  pink  blush  with  more  or  less  branching  red- 
ness, or  it  may  be  a  deep  dark  red,  as  from  effusion  of  blood- — and  a 
bluish  opacity  of  the  cornea  which  is  normally  clear  and  translucent. 
But  except  when  resulting  from  wounds  and  actual  extravasation  of 
blood,  the  redness  is  seen  to  be  superficial,  and  if  the  opacity  is  con- 
lined  to  the  edges,  and  does  not  involve  the  entire  cornea,  the  aque- 
ous humor  behind  is  seen  to  be  still  clear  and  limpid.  The  fever  is 
always  less  severe  than  in  internal  ophthalmia,  and  only  runs  high  in  the 
worst  cases.  The  eyelids  may  be  kept  closed,  the  eyeball  retracted, 
and  the  haw  protruded  over  one-third  or  one-half  of  the  ball,  but  thi>s 
is  due  to  the  pain  only  and  not  to  any  excessive  sensibility  to  light,  as 
shovvu  by  the  comparatively  Avideh^  dilated  pupil.  In  internal  oph- 
thalmia, on  the  contrary,  the  narroY/  contracted  pupil  is  the  measure 
of  the  pain  caused  by  the  falling  of  light  on  the  inflamed  and  sensitive 
optic  nerve  (retina)  and  choroid. 

If  the  affection  has  resulted  from  a  wound  of  the  cornea,  not  only 
is  tliat  the  point  of  greatest  opacity,  forming  a  white  speck  or  fleecy 
cloud,  but  too  often  blood  vessels  begin  to  extend  from  the  adjacent 
A'ascular  covering  of  the  eye  (sclerotic)  to  the  white  spot,  and  that 
portion  of  the  cornea  is  rendered  permanent]}^  opaque.  Again,  if  the 
AYOund  has  been  severe,  though  still  short  of  cutting  into  the  anterior 
layers  of  the  cornea,  the  injury  may  lead  to  ulceration  that  may  pene- 
trate more  or  less  deeply  and  leave  a  breach  in  the  tissue  which,  if 
filled  up  at  all,  is  repaired  by  opaque  fibrous  tissue  in  place  of  the 
transparent  cellular  structure.  Pus  may  form,  and  the  cornea  assumes 
a  yelloAvish  tinge  and  bursts,  giving  rise  to  a  deep  sore  which  is  liable 
to  extend  as  an  ulcer,  and  may  be  in  its  turn  followed  by  bulging  of 
the  cornea  at  that  point  (staphyloma).  This  inflammation  of  the  con- 
junctiva may  be  simpl}^  catarrhal,  with  profuse  muco-purulent  dis- 
charge; it  may  be  granular,  the  surface  being  covered  with  minute 
reddish  elevations,  or  it  may  become  the  seat  of  a  false  membrane 
(diphtheria). 


264  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Treatment. — In  treating  external  ophthalmia  the  fir.st  object  is  the 
removal  of  the  cause.     Remove  any  dust,  chaff,  thorn,  or  other  foreign 
body  from  the  conjunctiva,   purify  the  stable  from  all  sources  of 
ammoniacal  or  other  irritant  gas;  keep  the  horse  from  dusty  roads, 
and,  above  all,  from  the  proximity  of  a  leading  wagon  and  its  attend- 
ant cloud  of  dust;  remove  from  pasture  and  feed  from  a  rack  which 
is  neither  so  high  as  to  drop  seeds,  etc.,  into  the  eyes  nor  so  low  as  to 
favor  the  accumulation  of  blood  in  the  head;  avoid  equally  excess  of 
light  from  a  sunny  window  in  front  of  the  stall  and  excess  of  darkness 
from  the  absence  of  windows;  preserve  from  cold  drafts  and  rains 
and  wet  bedding,  and  apply  curative  measures  for  inflammation  of  the 
adjacent  mucous  membranes  or  skin.     If  the  irritant  has  been  of  a 
caustic  nature  remove  any  remnant  of  it  by  persistent  bathing  with 
tepid  water  and  a  soft  sponge,  or  with  water  mixed  with  white  of  ^%g, 
or  a  glass  filled  with  the  liquid  may  be  inverted  over  the  e3"e  so  that 
its  contents  may  dilute  and  remove  the  irritant.     If  the  suffering  is 
very  severe  a  lotion  with  a  few  grains  of  extract  of  belladonna  or  of 
morphia  in  an  ounce  of  water  may  be  applied,  o'r  if  it  is  available,  a 
low  drops  of  4  per  cent  solution  of  cocaine  may  be  instilled  into  the  eye. 
In  strong,  vigorous  patients  benefit  will  usually  be  obtained  from  a 
laxative,  such  as  2  tablespoonfuls  of  Glauber's  salts  daily,  and  if  the 
fever  runs  high  from  a  daily  dose  of  half  an  ounce  of  saltpeter.     As 
local   applications   astringent  solutions   are   usually  the  best,  as   30 
grains  of  borax  or  of  sulphate  of  zinc  in  a  quart  of  water,  to  be  applied 
constantly  on  a  cloth,  as  advised,  under  inflammation  of  the  eyelids. 
In  the  absence  of  anything  better  cold  water  may  serve  every  purpose. 
Above  all,  adhesive  and  oily  agents  (molasses,  sugar,  fats)  are  to  be 
avoided,  as  only  adding  to  the   irritation.     By  way  of   suggesting 
agents  that  may  l)e  used  with  good  effect,  salt  and  sulphate  of  soda 
may  be  named,  in  solutions  double  the  strength  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  or 
Y  grains  of  nitrate  of  silver  may  be  added  to  a  quart  of  distilled  water, 
and  will  be  found  especially  applicable  in  granular  conjunctivitis, 
diphtheria,  or  commencing  ulceration.     A  cantharides  blister  (1  part 
of  Spanish  fly  to  4  parts  lard)  may  be  rubbed  on  the  side  of  the  face  3 
inches  below  the  eye,  and  washed  off'  next  morning  with  soapsuds  and 
oiled  daily  till  the  scabs  are  dropped. 

WHITE    SrECKS   AND    CLOUDINESS    OF   THE    CORNEA. 

As  a  result  of  external  opthalmia,  opaque  specks,  clouds,  or  hazi- 
ness are  too  often  left  on  the  cornea  and  require  for  their  removal 
that  they  be  daily  touched  with  a  soft  feather  dipped  in  a  solution  .of 
3  grains  nitrate  of  silver  in  1  ounce  distilled  water.  This  should  be 
applied  until  all  inflammation  has  subsided,  and  until  its  contact  is 
comparatively  painless.  It  is  rarely  successful  with  an  old  thick  scar 
following  an  ulcer  nor  with  an  opacity  having  red  blood  vessels  run- 
ning across  it. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE.  265 

ULCERS  OF  THE  CORNEA. 

These  may  be  treated  with  nitrate  of  silver  lotion  of  twice  tlie 
strength  used  for  opacities.  Powdered  gentian,  one-half  ounce,  and 
sulphate  of  iron,  one-fourth  ounce  daily,  may  improve  the  general 
health  and  increase  the  reparatory  power. 

INTERNAL    OPHTHALMIA    (iRITIS,    CHOROIDITIS,    AND    RETINITIS). 

Although  inflammations  of  the  iris,  choroid,  and  retina,  the  inner, 
vascular,  and  nervous  coats  of  the  eye,  occur  to  a  certain  extent  inde- 
pendently of  each  other,  3^et  one  usuallj^  supervenes  upon  the  other, 
and,  as  the  s^^mptoms  are  thus  made  to  coincide,  it  will  be  best  for 
our  present  purposes  to  treat  the  three  as  one  disease. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  internal  ophthalmia  are  largely  those  of  the 
external  form  only,  acting  with  greater  intensity  or  on  a  more  suscep- 
tible eye.  Severe  blows,  bruises,  punctures,  etc.,  of  the  eye,  the 
penetration  of  foreign  bodies  into  the  qjq  (thorns,  splinters  of  iron, 
etc.),  sudden  transition  from  a  dark  stall  to  bright  sunshine,  to  the 
glare  of  snow  or  water,  constant  glare  from  a  sunny  window,  abuse 
of  the  overdraw  check-rein,  vivid  lightning  flashes,  drarfts  of  cold, 
damp  air;  above  all,  when  the  animal  is  perspiring,  exposure  in  cold 
rain  and  snowstoims,  swimming  cold  rivers,  also  certain  general 
diseases  like  rheumatism,  arthritis,  influenza,  and  disorders  of  the 
digestive  organs,  maj'  become  complicated  by  this  affection.  From 
the  close  relation  between  the  brain  and  eye — alike  in  the  blood  ves- 
sels and  nerves — disorders  of  the  first  lead  to  affections  of  the  second, 
and  the  same  remark  applies  to  the  persistent  irritation  to  which  the 
jaws  are  subjected  in  the  course  of  dentition.  So  potent  is  the  last 
agency  that  we  dread  a  recurrence  of  opthalmia  so  long  as  dentition  is 
incomplete,  and  hope  for  immunity  if  the  animal  completes  its 
dentition  without  any  permanent  structural  change  in  the  eye. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  will  vary  according  to  the  cause.  If  the 
attack  is  due  to  direct  ph3'sical  injury  the  inflammation  of  the  ej^elids 
and  superficial  structures  may  be  quite  as  marked  as  that  of  the  interior 
of  the  eye.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  from  general  causes,  or  as  a  compli- 
cation of  some  distant  disease,  the  affection  may  be  largely  confined 
to  the  deeper  structures,  and  the  swelling,  redness,  and  tenderness 
of  the  superficial  structures  will  be  less  marked.  When  the  external 
coats  thus  comparatively  escape  the  extreme  anterior  edge  of  the 
white,  or  sclerotic,  coat  where  it  overlaps  the  border  of  the  transparent 
cornea  is  in  a  measure  free  from  congestion,  and,  in  the  absence  of 
the  obscuring  dark  pigment,  forms  a  whitish  ring  around  the  cornea. 
This  is  parth^  due  to  the  fact  that  a  series  of  arteries  (ciliary)  passing 
to  the  inflamed  iris  penetrate  the  sclerotic  coat  a  short  distance  behind 
its  anterior  border,  and  there  is  therefore  a  marked  difference  in  color 


266  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

between  the  jreneral  sclerotic  occupied  octween  these  congested  vessels 
and  the  anterior  rim  from  which  they  are  absent.  Unfortunatel}',  the 
pigment  is  often  so  abundant  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  sclerotic  as  to 
hide  this  symptom.  In  internal  ophthalmia  the  opacity  of  the  cornea 
may  be  confined  to  a  zone  around  the  outer  margin  of  the  cornea,  and 
even  this  may  be  a  bluish  haze  rather  than  a  deep  fleecy  white.  In 
consequence  it  l)ecomes  possible  to  see  the  interior  of  the  chamber  for 
the  aqueous  humor  and  the  condition  of  the  iris  and  pupil.  The 
aqueous  humor  is  usually  turbid,  and  has  numerous  yellowish  white 
flakes  floating  on  its  substance  or  deposited  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
chamber,  so  as  to  cut  off  the  view  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  iris. 
The  still  visible  portion  of  the  iris  has  lost  its  natural,  clear  dark 
luster,  which  is  replaced  by  a  brownish  or  yellowish  sere-leaf  color. 
This  is  more  marked  in  proportion  as  the  iris  is  inflamed,  and  less  so 
as  the  inflammation  is  confined  to  the  choroid.  The  amount  of  floccu- 
lent  deposit  in  the  chamber  of  the  aqueous  humor  is  also  in  direct  ratio 
to  the  inflammation  of  the  iris.  Perhaps  the  most  marked  feature  of 
internal  ophthalmia  is  the  extreme  and  painful  sensitiveness  to  light. 
On  this  account  the  lids  are  usually  closed,  but  when  opened  the  pupil 
is  seen  to  be  narrowly  closed,  even  if  the  animal  has  been  kept  in 
an  obscured  stall.  Exceptions  to  this  are  seen  when  inflammatory 
effusion  has  overfilled  the  globe  of  the  eye,  and  by  pressure  on  the 
retina  has  paralyzed  it,  or  when  the  exudation  into  the  substance  of 
the  retina  itself  has  similarl}-  led  to  its  paralysis.  Then  the  pupil 
may  be  dilated,  and  frequently  its  margin  loses  its  regular  ovoid 
outline  and  becomes  uneven  by  reason  of  the  adhesions  which  it  has 
contracted  with  the  capsule  of  the  lens,  through  its  inflammatory 
exudations.  In  the  case  of  excessive  effusion  into  the  globe  of  the 
eye  that  is  found  to  have  become  tense  and  hard  so  that  it  can  not  be 
indented  with  the  tip  of  the  finger,  paralysis  of  the  retina  is  apt  to 
result.  With  such  paralysis  of  the  retina,  vision  is  heavil}"  clouded  or 
entirely  lost;  hence,  in  spite  of  the  open  pupil,  the  finger  may  be 
approached  to  the  eye  without  the  animal  becoming  conscious  of  it 
until  it  touches  the  surface,  and  if  the  nose  on  the"  affected  side  is 
gently  struck  and  a  feint  made  to  repeat  the  blow  the  patient  makes 
no  effort  to  evade  it.  Sometimes  the  .edges  of  the  contracted  pupil 
become  adlierent  to  each  other  by  an  intervening  plastic  exudation, 
and  the  opening  becomes  virtually  abolished.  In  severe  inflamma- 
tions pus  may  form  in  the  choroid  or  iris,  and  escaping  i)ito  the  cavity 
of  the  acpieous  humor  show  as  a  yellowish  white  stratum  below.  In 
nearly  all  cases  there  is  resulting  exudation  into  the  lens  or  its  capsule, 
constituting  a  cloudiness  or  opacity  (cataract),  which  in  severe  and 
old-standing  cases  appears  as  a  white  fleecy  mass  behind  a  widely 
dilated  pupil.  In  the  slighter  cases  cataract  is  to  bo  recognized  by 
examination  of  the  eye  in  a  dark  chamber,  with  an  oblique  side  light, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  2(37 

as  described  in  the  introduction  to  this  article.  Cataracts  that  appear 
as  a  simple  liaze  or  indefinite  fleecy  cloud  are  usually  on  the  capsule 
(capsular),  while  those  that  show  a  radiating  arrangement  are  in  the 
lens  (lenticular),  the  radiating  fibers  of  which  the  exudate  follows. 
Black  cataracts  are  formed  by  the  adhesion  of  the  pigment  on  the  back 
of  the  iris  to  the  front  of  the  lens,  and  by  the  subsequent  tearing  loose 
of  the  iris,  leaving  a  portion  of  its  pigment  adherent  to  the  capsule  of 
the  lens.  If  the  pupil  is  so  contracted  that  it  is  impossible  to  sec  the 
lens,  it  may  be  dilatc-d  hy  applying  to  the  front  of  the  eye  with  a 
feather  some  drops  of  a  solution  of  4  grains  of  atropia  in  an  ounce  of 
water. 

Treatm<mt. — The  treatment  of  internal  ophthalmia  should  embrace, 
first,  the  removal  of  all  existing  causes  or  sources  of  aggravation  of  the 
disease,  which  need  not  be  here  repeated.  Special  care  to  protect  the 
patient  against  cold,  wet,  strong  light,  and  active  exertion  must,  how- 
ever, be  insisted  on.  A  dark  stall  and  a  cloth  hung  over  the  eye  are 
important,  while  cleanliness,  warmth,  dryness,  and  rest  are  equally 
demanded.  If  the  patient  is  strong  and  vigorous,  a  dose  of  4  drams 
of  Barbados  aloes  may  be  given,  and,  if  there  is  any  reason  to  suspect 
a  rheumatic  origin,  one-half  a  dram  powdered  colchicum  and  one-half 
ounce  salicjdate  of  soda  may  be  given  daily.  Locallv,  the  astringent 
lotions  advised  for  external  ophthalmia  may  be  resorted  to,  especially 
when  the  superficial  inflamraation  is  well  m.arked.  More  important, 
however,  is  to  instill  into  the  eye,  a  few  drops  at  a  time,  a  solution  of 
tt  grains  of  atropia  in  1  ounce  distilled  Avater.  This  may  be  effected 
with  the  aid  of  a  soft  feather,  and  may  be  repeated  at  intervals  of  ten 
minutes  until  the  pupil  is  widely  dilated.  As  the  horse  is  to  be  kept 
in  a  dark  stall,  the  consequent  admission  of  light  will  be  harmless,  and 
the  dilation  of  the  pupil  prevents  adhesion  between  the  iris  and  lens, 
relieves  the  constant  tension  of  the  ej^e  in  the  effort  to  adapt  the  pupil 
to  the  light,  and  solicits  the  contraction  of  the  blood  vessels  of  the  eye 
and  the  lessening  of  congestion,  exudation,  and  intraocular  pressure. 
Should  atropia  not  agree  with  the  case,  it  may  be  replaced  b}^  morphia 
(same  strength)  or  cocaine  in  4  per  cent  solution.  Another  local  meas- 
ure is  a  blister,  which  can  usually  be  applied  to  advantage  on  the  side 
of  the  nose  or  beneath  the  ear.  Spanish  flies  may  be  used  as  for  exter- 
nal ophthalmia.  In  very  severe  cases  the  parts  beneath  the  eye  may 
be  shaved  and  three  or  four  leeches  applied.  Setons  are  sometimes 
beneficial,  and  even  puncture  of  the  eyeball,  bat  these  should  be 
reserved  for  professional  hands. 

The  diet  throughout  should  be  easily  digestible  and  moderate  in 
quantity — bran  inashes,  middlings,  grass,  steamed  hay,  etc. 

Even  after  the  active  inflammation  has  subsided  the  atropia  lotion 
-bould  be  continued  for  some  weeks  to  keep  the  eye  in  a  state  of  rest 
in  its  still  weak  and  irritable  condition,  and  during  this  period  the 


268  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

patient  sbould  bo  kept  in  semidtykiicss,  or  taken  out  only  with  a 
dark  sliade  over  the  eye.  For  the  same  reason  heav}-  drafts  and  rapid 
paces,  which  would  cause  congestion  of  the  head,  should  be  carefulh' 
avoided. 

RECURRENT    OPHTHALMIA    (PERIODIC   OPHTHALJNIIA,  OR   MOONBLIKD- 

NESS). 

This  is  an  inflammatory  affection  of  the  interior  of  the  eye,  inti- 
mately related  to  certain  soils,  climates,  and  systems,  showing  a  strong 
tendency  to  recur  again  and  again,  and  usually  ending  in  })lindness 
from  cataract  or  other  serious  injury. 

Causes. — Its  causes  may  be  fundamentally  attributed  to  soil.  On 
damp  clays  and  marshy  grounds,  on  the  frequently  overflowed  river 
bottoms  and  deltas,  on  the  coasts  of  seas  and  lakes  alternately  sub- 
merged and  exposed,  this  disease  prevails  extensively,  and  in  many 
instances  in  France  (Reynal),  Belgium,  Alsace  (Zundel,  Miltenberger), 
Germany,  and  England  it  has  very  largely  decreased  under  land  drain- 
age and  improved  methods  of  culture.  Other  influences,  more  or  less 
associated  with  such  soil,  are  potent  causative  factors.  Thus  damp 
air  and  a  cloudy,  wet  climate,  so  constantly  associated  with  wet  lands, 
are  universally  charged  with  causing  the  disease.  These  act  on  the 
animal  body  to  produce  a  lymphatic  constitution  with  an  excess  of 
connective  tissue,  bones,  and .  muscles  of  coarse  open  texture,  thick 
skins  and  gummy  legs  covered  with  a  profusion  of  long  hair.  Hence 
the  heavy  horses  of  Belgium  and  southwestern  France  have  suffered 
severely  from  the  aft'cction,  while  high  drj*  lands  adjacent,  like  Cata- 
lonia, in  Spain,  and  Dauphin}-,  Provence,  and  Languedoc,  in  France, 
have  in  the  main  escaped. 

The  rank  aqueous  fodders  grown  on  such  soils  are  other  causes,  but 
these  again  are  calculated  to  undermine  the  character  of  the  nervous 
and  sanguineous  temperament,  and  to  superinduce  the  Ij^mphatic. 
Other  foods  act  by  leading  to  constipation  and  other  disorders  of  the 
digestive  organs,  thus  impairing  the  general  health;  hence  in  an}'  ani- 
mal predisposed  to  this  disease,  heating,  starchy  foods,  such  as  maize, 
wheat,  and  buckwheat,  are  to  be  carefully  avoided.  It  has  been  widely 
charged  that  beans,  peas,  vetches,  and  other  Legumiriosie  are  dangerous, 
but  a  fuller  inquiiy  contradicts  this.  If  these  are  well  grown  they 
invigorate  and  fortify  the  system,  while,  like  any  other  fodder,  if  grown 
rank,  aqueous,  and  deiicient  in  assimilable  principles,  they  tend  to 
lower  the  health  and  open  the  way  for  the  disease. 

The  period  of  dentition  and  training  is  a  fertile  exciting  cause,  for 
though  the  malady  may  appear  at  any  time  from  birth  to  old  age,  ^^et 
the  great  majority  of  victims  are  from  two  to  six  years  old,  and  if  a 
horse  escapes  the  affection  till  after  six  there  is  a  reasonable  hope  that 
he  will  continue  to  rasist  it.     The  irritation  about  the  head  during  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  269 

eruption  of  the  teeth,  and  while  fretting  in  the  unwonted  bridle  tind 
collar,  the  stimulating  grain  diet,  and  the  close  air  of  the  stable  all 
combine  to  rouse  the  latent  tendency  to  disease  in  the  eye,  while  direct 
injuries  by  bridle,  whip,  or  hay  seeds  are  not  without  their  influence. 
In  the  same  way  local  irritants  like  dust,  severe  rain  and  snow 
storms,  smoke,  and  acrid  vapors  are  contributing  causes. 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  no  one  of  these  is  sufficient  of  itself  to 
produce  the  disease,  and  it  has  been  alleged  that  the  true  cause  is  a 
microbe,  or  the  irritant  products  of  a  microbe,  which  is  harbored  in 
the  marshy  soil.  The  prevalence  of  the  disease  on  the  same  damp 
soils  which  produce  ague  in  man  and  anthrax  in  cattle  has  been 
quoted  in  support  of  this  doctrine,  as  also  the  fact  that  the  malady  is 
always  more  prevalent  cceteris  parlhus  in  basins  surrounded  by  hills 
where  the  air  is  still  and  such  products  are  concentrated,  and  that  a 
forest  or  simple  belt  of  trees  wnll,  as  in  ague,  at  times  limit  the  area 
of  its  prevalence.  Another  argument  for  the  same  view  is  found  in 
the  fact  that  on  certain  farms  irrigated  by  town  sewage  this  malady 
has  become  extremely  prevalent,  the  sewage  being  assumed  to  form  a 
suitable  nidus  for  the  growth  of  the  germ.  But  on  these  sewage 
farms  a  fresh  crop  may  be  cut  every  fortnight,  and  the  product  is 
precisely  that  aqueous  material  which  contributes  to  a  lymphatic  struc- 
ture and  a  low  tone  of  health.  The  presence  in  the  system  of  a  definite 
germ  has  not  yet  been  proven,  and  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowl- 
edge we  are  only  warranted  in  charging  the  disease  to  the  deleterious 
emanations  from  the  marshy  soil  in  which  bacterial  ferments  are  con- 
stantly producing  them. 

Heredity  is  one  of  the  most  potent  causes.  The  lym^^hatic  constitu- 
tion is  of  course  transmitted  and  with  it  the  proclivity  to  recurring 
ophthalmia.  This  is  notorious  in  the  case  of  both  parents,  male  and 
female.  The  tendency  appears  to  be  stronger,  however,  if  either 
parent  has  already  suffered.  Thus  a  mare  may  have  borne  a  number 
of  sound  foals,  and  then  fallen  a  victim  to  this  malady,  and  all  foals 
subsequently  borne  have  likewise  suffered.  So  with  the  stallion, 
lieynal  even  quotes  the  appearance  of  the  disease  in  alternate  gen- 
erations, the  stallion  offspring  of  blind  parents  remaining  sound 
through  life  and  yet  producing  foals  which  furnish  numerous  victims 
of  recurrent  ophthalmia.  On  the  contrary,  the  offspring  of  diseased 
parents  reuioved  to  high,  dry  regions  and  furnished  with  wholesome, 
nourishing  rations  will  nearly  all  escape.  Hence  the  dealers  take 
colts  that  are  still  sound  or  have  had  but  one  attack  from  the  affected 
low  Pyrenees  (France)  to  the  unaffected  Catalonia  (Spain),  with  con- 
fidence that  they  will  escape,  and  from  the  Jura  Valley  to  Dauphiny 
with  the  same  result. 

Yet  the  hereditary  taint  is  so  strong  and  pernicious  that  intelligent 
horsemen  e^^erywhere  refuse  to  breed  from  either  horse  or  mare  that 


270  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

has  once  suffered  from  recurrent  ophthalmia,  and  the  French  Govern- 
ment studs  not  only  reject  all  unsound  stallions,  but  refuse  service  to 
an}'  mare  v/hich  has  suffered  with  her  eyes.  It  is  this  avoidance  of  the 
hereditary  predisposition  more  than  an^'thing  else  that  lias  reduced 
the  f ormerl}'  wide  prevalence  of  this  disease  in  the  European  countries 
gcncrall3^  A  consideration  for  the  future  of  our  horses  would  demand 
the  disuse  of  all  sires  that  arc  unlicensed,  and  the  refusal  of  a  license 
to  an}^  sire  which  has  suffered  from  this  cr  any  other  communicable 
constitutional  disease. 

Other  contributing  causes  deserve  passing  mention.  Unwholesome 
food  and  a  faulty  method  of  feeding  undoubtedly  i^rcdisposcs  to  the 
disease,  and  in  the  same  district  the  carefully  fed  will  escape  in  far 
larger  proportion  than  the  badl}^  fed.  But  it  is  so  with  every  other 
condition  which  -undermines  the  general  health.  The  presence  of 
worms  in  the  intestines,  overwork,  and  debilitating  diseases  and  causes 
of  every  kind  weaken  the  vitality  and  lay  the  system  more  open  to 
attack.  Thierry  long  ago  showed  that  the  improvement  of  close,  low, 
dark,  damp  stables,  where  the  disease  had  previously  prevailed,  prac- 
tically banished  this  affection.  Whatever  contributes  to  strength  and 
vigor  is  protective;  Avhatever  contributes  to  weakness  and  poor  health 
is  provocative  of  the  disease  in  the  predisposed  subject. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  vary  according  to  the  severity  of  tlie 
attack.  In  some  cases  there  is  marked  fever,  and  in  some  slighter 
cases  this  may  be  almost  altogether  wanting,  but  there  is  always  a 
lack  of  vigor  and  energy,  bespeaking  general  disorder.  The  local 
sjMnptoms  are  in  the  main  those  of  internal  ophthalmia,  with,  in  many 
cases,  an  increased  hardness  of  the  eyeball  from  effusion  into  its 
cavity.  The  contracted  pupil  does  not  expand  much  in  darkness,  nor 
even  under  the  action  of  belladonna.  Opacity  advances  from  the 
margin,  over  a  part  or  whole  of  the  cornea,  but  so  long  as  it  is  trans- 
parent there  may  be  seen  the  turbid,  aqueous  humor  with  or  without 
flocculi,  the  dingy  iris  robbed  of  its  clear  black  aspect,  the  slightly 
clouded  lens  and  a  greenish  yellow  reflection  from  the  depth  of  the 
eye.  From  the  fifth  to  the  seventh  day  the  flocculi  precipitate  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  chamber,  exposing  more  clearly  the  iris  and  lens, 
and  absorption  commences,  so  that  the  eye  maj'^  be  cleared  up  in  ten  or 
fifteen  da^'s. 

The  characteristic  of  the  disease  is,  however,  its  recurrence  again 
and  again  in  the  same  eye  until  blindness  results.  The  attaclrs  may 
follow  each  other  at  intervals  of  a  month,  more  or  less,  but  they  show 
no  relation  to  any  particular  phase  of  the  moon  as  might  be  inferred 
from  the  familiar  name,  but  arc  determined  rather  by  the  weather, 
the  health,  the  food,  or  b}^  some  periodicity  of  the  system.  From  five 
to  seven  attacks  usually  result  in  blindness,  and  then  the  second  e3'e  is 
liable  to  be  attacked  until  it  also  is  ruined. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  271 

In  the  intervals  between  the  attacks  some  remaining  symptoms 
betray  the  condition,  and  these  become  more  marked  after  each  suc- 
cessive access  of  disease.  Even  after  the  first  attack  there  is  a  bluish 
ring  round  the  margin  of  the  transparent  cornea.  The  eye  seems 
smaller  than  the  other,  at  first  because  it  is  retracted  in  its  socket,  and 
often  after  several  attacks  because  of  actual  shrinkage  (atrophy).  The 
upper  eyelid,  in  place  of  presenting  a  uniform,  continuous  arch,  has 
about  one-third  from  its  inner  angle  an  abrupt  bend,  caused  by  the 
contraction  of  the  levator  muscle.  The  front  of  the  iris  has  exchanged 
some  of  its  dark,  clear  brilliancy  for  a  lusterless  yellow,  and  the 
depth  of  the  eye  presents  more  or  less  of  the  greenish  yellow  shade. 
The  pupil  remains  a  little  contracted,  except  in  advanced  and  aggra- 
vated cases,  when,  with  opaque  lens,  it  is  widely  dilated.  If  one  e3'^e 
only  has  suffered,  as  is  common,  the  contrast  in  these  respects  with 
the  sound  eye  is  all  the  more  characteristic.  Another  feature  is  the 
erect,  attentive  carriage  of  the  ear,  to  compensate  to  some  extent  for 
the  waning  vision. 

The  attacks  vary  greatly  in  severity  in  different  cases,  but  the  recur- 
rence is  characteristic,  and  all  alike  lead  to  cataract  and  intraocular 
etTusion,  with  pressure  on  the  retina  and  abolition  of  sight. 

Prevention. — The  prevention  of  this  disease  is  the  great  object  to  be 
aimed  at,  and  this  demands  the  most  careful  breeding,  feeding,  housing, 
and  general  management  as  indicated  under  causes.  Much  can  also  be 
done  by  migration  to  a  high,  dry  location,  but  for  this  and  malarious 
affections  the  improvement  of  the  land  b}^  drainage  and  good  cultiva- 
tion should  be  the  final  aim. 

Treatment  is  not  satisfactory,  but  is  largel}^  the  same  as  for  com- 
mon internal  ophthalmia.  Some  cases,  like  rheumatism,  are  benefited 
by  scruple  doses  of  powdered  colchicum  and  2-dram  doses  of  salicylate 
of  soda  twice  a  day.  In  other  cases,  with  marked  hardness  of  the 
globe  of  the  eye  from  intraocular  effusion,  aseptic  puncture  of  the 
eye,  or  even  the  excision  of  a  portion  of  the  iris,  has  helped.  During 
recovery  a  course  of  tonics  (2  drams  oxide  of  iron,  10  grains  nux 
vomica,  and  1  ounce  sulphate  of  soda  daily)  is  desirable  to  invigorate 
the  system  and  help  to  ward  off'  another  attack.  The  vulgar  resort  to 
knocking  out  the  wolf  teeth  and  cutting  out  the  haw  can  only  be  con- 
demned. The  tetfiporar}^  recovery  would  take  place  in  one  or  two 
weeks  though  no  such  thing  had  been  done,  and  the  breaking  of  a 

!iall  tooth,  leaving  its  fang  in  the  jaw,  onl}"  increases  the  irritation. 

CATAKACT. 

The  common  result  of  internal  ophthalmia,  as  of  the  recurrent 
type,  may  be  recognized  as  described  under  the  first  of  these  diseases. 
Its  offensive  appearance  may  be  obviated  by  extraction  or  depression 
of  the  lens,  but  as  the  rays  of  liglit  would  no  longer  be  properly 


272  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

refracted,  perfect  vision  would  not  be  restored,  and  the  animal  would 
be  liable  to  prove  an  inveterate  shj^er.  If  perfect  blindness  continued 
by  reason  of  pressure  on  the  nerve  of  sight,  no  shying  would  result. 

PALSY   OF    THE    NERVE    OF   SIGHT,    OR   AMAUROSIS. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  this  affection  are  tumors  or  other  disease 
of  the  brain  implicating  the  roots  of  the  optic  nerve,  injury  to  the 
nerve  between  the  brain  and  eye,  and  inHannnation  of  the  optic  nerve 
within  the  eye  (retina),  or  undue  jn-essure  on  the  same  from  dropsical 
or  inflammatory  effusion.  It  may  also  occur  from  overloaded  stom- 
ach, from  a  profuse  bleeding,  and  even  from  the  pressure  of  the 
gravid  womb  in  gestation. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  are  wide  dilatation  of  the  pupils,  so  as 
to  expose  fully  the  interior  of  the  globe,  the  expansion  remaining  the 
same  in  light  and  darkness.  Ordinary  eyes  when  brought  to  the 
light  have  the  pupils  suddenly  contract,  and  then  dilate  and  contract 
alternately  until  they  adapt  themselves  to  the  amount  of  light.  The 
horse  does  not  swerve  when  a  feint  to  strike  is  made  unless  the  hand 
causes  a  current  of  air.  The  ears  are  held  erect  and  turn  quickly 
toward  any  noise,  and  the  horse  steps  high  to  avoid  stumbling  over 
objects  which  it  can  not  see. 

Treatment  is  only  useful  when  the  disease  is  symptomatic  of  some 
removable  cause,  like  congested  brain,  loaded  stomach,  or  gravid 
womb.  When  recoveiy  does  not  follow  the  termination  of  these  con- 
ditions, apply  a  blister  behind  the  ear  and  give  one-half  dram  doses  of 
nux  vomica  daih'. 

TUMORS    OF    THE    EYEBALL. 

A  variety  of  tumors  attack  the  eyeball — dermoid,  papillary,  fatty, 
cystic,  and  melanotic— but  perhaps  the  most  frequent  in  the  horse  is 
encephaloid  cancer.  This  may  grow  in  or  on  the  globe,  the  haw,  the 
eyelid,  or  the  bones  of  the  orbit,  and  is  only  to  be  remedied,  if  at  all, 
by  early  and  thorough  excision.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  the 
less  dangerous  tumors  by  its  softness,  friability,  and  great  vascularity, 
bleeding  on  the  slightest  touch,  as  well  as  by  its  anatomical  structure. 

STAPHYLOMA. 

This  consists  in  a  bulging  forward  of  the  cornea  at  a  given  point 
by  the  saccular  yielding  and  distension  of  its  coats,  and  it  may  be 
either  transparent  or  opaque  and  vascular.  In  the  last  form  the  iris 
has  become  adherent  to  the  back  of  the  cornea,  and  the  whole  struc- 
ture has  become  filled  with  blood  vessels.  In  the  first  form  the  bulg- 
ing cornea  is  attenuated;  >in  the  last  it  may  be  thickened.  The  best 
treatment  is  by  excision  of  a  portion  of  the  iris  so  as  to  relieve  the 
intraocvdar  pressure. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  273^ 

PARASITES    IX    THE    EYE. 

Acari  in  the  eye  have  been  incidentally  alluded  to  under  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lids. 

Filaria  ])alpehralis  is  a  white  worm,  one-half  to  1  inch  long,  whicb 
inhabits  the  lachr^^mal  duct  and  the  underside  of  the  e3'elids  and  haw 
in  the  horse,  producing  a  verminous  conjunctivitis.  The  first  step- 
in  treatment  in  such  cases  is  to  remove  the  worm  with  forceps,  theiii 
treat  as  for  external  inflammation. 

Filaria  equina  is  a  delicate,  white,  silvery-looking  worm,  which  1 
have  repeatedly  found  2  inches  in  length  (a  length  as  great  as  5  inches: 
has  been  reported).  It  invades  the  aqueous  humor,  where  its  constant 
active  movements  make  it  an  object  of  great  interest,  and  it  is  fre- 
quontl}'  exhibited  as  a  "snake  in  the  eye."  It  is  found  also  in  other- 
internal  cavities  of  the  horse,  to  which  it  undoubtedly  makes  its  way 
from  the  food,  and  especiall}"  the  water  swallowed,  and  its  prevention, 
is  therefore  to  be  sought  mainly  in  the  supply  of  pure  water  from 
closed,  deep  wells.  When  present  in  the  eye  it  causes  inflammation:, 
and  has  to  be  removed  through  an  incision  made  with  the  lancet  im 
the  upper  border  of  the  cornea  close  to  the  sclerotic,  the  point  of  the, 
instrument  being  directed  slightly  forward  to  avoid  injury  to  the  iris.. 
Then  apply  cold  water  or  astringent  antiseptic  lotions. 

Filaria  conjunctivds.,  resembling  Filaria  equina  very  much  in  size-. 
and  general  appearance,  is  another  roundworm  which  has  been  found. 
in  the  eye  of  the  horse. 

The  echinococcus^  the  cj'stic,  or  larval,  stage  of  the  echinococcus-. 
tapeworm  of  the  dog,  has  been  found  in  the  eye  of  the  horse  and  a, 
cysticercus  {Cysticercusjistularisf)  is  also  reported. 

14384—03 18 


LAMENESS:  ITS  CAUSES  AND  TREATMENT. 

By  A.  LiAUTAKD,  M.  D.,  V.  M., 

Principal  of  the  American  Veterinary  College,  Neiv  Yorlc. 

[Revised  in  1903  by  John  R.  Mohler,  A.  M.,  V.  M.  D.] 

It  is  as  living,  organized,  locomotive  machines  that  the  horse,  camel, 
ox,  and  their  burden-bearing  companions  are  of  practical  value  to 
man.  Hence  the  consideration  of  their  usefulness  and  consequent 
value  to  their  human  masters  ultimately  and  naturally  resolves  itself 
into  an  inquiry  concerning  the  condition  of  that  special  portion  of 
their  organism  which  controls  their  function  of  locomotion.  This  is 
especially  true  in  regard  to  the  members  of  the  equine  family,  the 
most  numerous  and  valual)le  of  all  the  beasts  of  burden,  and  it  nat- 
urally follows  that  with  the  horse  for  a  subject  of  discussion  the 
special  topic  and  leading  theme  of  inquiry  will,  by  an  easy  lapse, 
become  an  inquest  into  the  condition  and  efficienc}"  of  his  power  for 
usefulness  as  a  carrier  or  traveler.  There  is  a  large  amount  of 
abstract  interest  in  the  stud}^  of  that  endowment  of  the  animal  econ- 
omy which  enables  its  possessor  to  change  his  place  at  will  and  convey 
himself  whithersoever  his  needs  or  his  moods  may  incline  him;  but 
how  much  greater  the  interest  that  attaches  to  the  subject  when  it 
becomes  a  practical  and  economic  question  and  includes  within  its 
purview  the  various  related  topics  which  belong  to  the  domains  of 
physiology,  pathology,  therapeutics,  and  the  entire  round  of  scientific 
investigation  into  which  it  is  finally  merged  as  a  subject  for  medical 
and  surgical  consideration — in  a  word,  of  actual  disease  and  its  treat- 
ment! It  is  not  surprising  that  the  intricate  and  complicated  appa- 
ratus of  locoriiotion,  with  its  symmetry  and  harmony  of  movement 
and  the  perfection  and  beauty  of  its  details  and  adjuncts,  should,  by 
students  of  creative  design  and  attentive  observers  of  nature  and  her 
marvelous  contrivances  and  adaptations,  be  admiringly  denominated  a 
livioig  inacldne. 

The  horse  in  a  state  of  domesticity  is  of  all  the  animal  tribe  the 
largest  sharer  with  his  master  in  his  liability  to  the  accidents  and  dan- 
gers which  are  among  the  incidents  of  civilized  life.  From  his  expo- 
sure to  the  missiles  of  war  on  the  battlefield  to  his  chance  of  picking 
up  a  nail  from  the  city  pavement  there  is  no  hour  when  he  is  not  in 
274 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  275 

danger  of  incurring  injuries  which  for  their  repair  may  demand  the 
best  skill  of  the  veterinary  practitioner.  And  this  is  true  not  alone  of 
casualties  which  belong-  to  the  class  of  external  and  traumatic  cases, 
but  includes  as  well  those  of  a  kind  perhaps  more  numerous,  which 
may  result  in  lesions  of  internal  parts,  frequently  the  most  serious  and 
obscure  of  all  in  their  nature  and  effects. 

The  horse  is  too  important  a  factor  in  the  practical  details  of  human 
life  and  fills  too  large  a  place  in  the  business  and  pleasure  of  the  world 
to  justify  any  indifference  to  his  needs  and  physical  comfort  or  neglect 
in  respect  to  the  preservation  of  his  peculiar  powers  for  usefulness. 
In  entering  somewhat  largely,  therefore,  upon  a  review  of  the  subject, 
and  treating  in  detail  of  the  causes,  the  s^'mptoms,  the  progress,  the 
treatment,  the  results,  and  the  consequences  of  lameness  in  the  horse, 
we  are  performing  a  duty  which  needs  no  v/ord  of  apology  or  justifi- 
cation. The  subject  explains  and  justifies  itself,  and  is  its  own  vindi- 
cation and  illustration,  if  any  are  needed. 

The  function  of  locomotion  is  performed  by  the  action  of  two  prin- 
cipal systems  of  organs,  known  in  anatomical  and  phj^siological  termi- 
nology as  passive  and  active.,  the  muscles  performing  the  active  and  the 
ho7ies  the  2y<-issive  portion  of  the  movement.  The  necessary  connection 
between  the  cooperating  parts  of  the  organism  is  effected  b}^  means 
of  a  vital  contact  by  which  the  muscle  is  attached  to  ttie  bone  at  cer- 
tain determinate  points  on  the  surface  of  the  latter.  These  points  of 
attachment  appear  sometimes  as  an  eminence,  sometimes  a  depression, 
sometimes  a  border  or  an  angle,  or  again  as  a  mere  roughness,.but  each 
perfectly  fulfilling  its  purpose;  while  the  necessary  motion  is  provided 
for  by  the  formation  of  the  ends  of  the  long  bones  into  the  requisite 
articulations,  joints,  or  hinges.  Ever}^  motion  is  the  product  of  the 
contraction  of  one  or  more  of  the  muscles,  which,  as  it  acts  upon  the 
bonj'  levers,  gives  rise  to  a  movement  of  extension  or  flexion,  abduc- 
tion or  adduction,  rotation  or  circumduction.  The  movement  of 
abduction  is  that  which  passes  from  and  that  of  adduction  that  which 
passes  toward  the  median  line,  or  the  center  of  the  body.  The  move- 
ments of  flexion  and  extension  are  too  well  understood  to  need  defin- 
ing. It  is  the  combination  and  rapid  alternations  of  these  movements 
which  produce  the  different  postures  and  various  gaits  of  the  living 
animal,  and  it  is  their  interruption  and  derangement,  from  whatsoever 
cause,  which  constitutes  the  pathological  condition  of  lameness. 

A  concise  examination  of  the  general  anatom}^  of  these  organs,  how- 
ever, must  precede  the  consideration  of  the  pathological  questions  per- 
taining to  the  subject.  A  statement,  such  as  we  have  just  given,  con- 
taining only  the  briefest  hint  of  matters  which,  though  not  necessarily 
in  their  ultimate  scientific  minutiae,  must  be  clearly  comprehended  in 
order  to  acquire  a  symmetrical  and  satisfactory^  view  of  the  tlieme  as  a 
practical  collation  of  facts  to  be  remembered,  analyzed,  applied,  and 
utilized. 


276  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

It  was  the  j^rcat  Bacon  Avho  wrote:  "The  human  body  may  he  com- 
pared, from  its  complex  and  delicate  organization,  to  a  musical  instru- 
ment of  the  most  perfect  construction,  but  exceedingly  liable  to 
derangement."  In  its  degree  the  remark  is  equally  applicable  to  the 
equine  bod}',  and  if  we  would  keep  it  in  tune  and  profit  by  its  har- 
monious action  we  must  at  least  acquaint  ourselves  with  the  relations 
of  its  parts  and  the  mode  of  their  cooperation. 


The  bones,  then,  are  the  hard  organs  which  in  their  connection  and 
totality  constitute  the  skeleton  of  an  animal.  They  are  of  various 
forms,  three  of  which — the  long,  the  flat,  and  the  small — arc  recog- 
nized in  the  extremities.  These  are  more  or  less  regular  in  their  form, 
but  present  upon  their  surfaces  a  variety  of  aspects,  exhibiting  in 
turn,  according  to  the  requirement  of  each  case,  a  roughened  or  smooth 
surface,  variousl}^  marked  with  grooves,  crests,  eminences,  and  depres- 
sions, for  the  necessary  muscular  attachments,  and,  as  before  men- 
tioned, are  connected  b}^  articulations  and  joints,  of  wdiich  some  are 
immo\able  and  others  of  a  movable  kind. 

The  substance  of  the  bones  is  composed  of  a  mass  of  combined 
earthy  and  animal  matter,  surrounded  by  a  fine,  fibrous  enveloping 
membrane  (the  periosteum)  which  is  intimately  adherent  to  the  external 
surface  of  the  bone,  and  is,  in  fact,  the  secreting  membrane  of  the 
bony  structure.  The  bony  tissue  proper  is  of  two  consistencies,  the 
external,  portion  being  hard  and  "compact,"  and  called  by  the  latter 
term,  while  the  internal,  known  as  the  "spongy,"  or  "areolar  tissue," 
corresponds  with  these  descriptive  terms.  Those  of  the  bones  which 
possess  this  latter  consistency  contain  also,  in  their  spongy  portion, 
the  medullary  substance  known  as  marroio,  which  is  deposited  in  large 
quantities  in  the  interior  of  the  long  bones,  and  especially  where  a 
central  cavity  exists,  called,  for  that  reason,  the  medullary  cavity. 
The  nourishment  of  the  bones  is  eft'ected  by  means  of  what  is  known 
as  the  nutrient  foramen^  an  opening  established  for  the  passage  of  the 
blood  vessels  which  convey  the  necessary  nourishment  to  the  interior 
of  the  organ.  There  are  other  minutire  concerning  the  nourishment  of 
the  skeleton,  such  as  the  venous  arrangement  and  the  classification 
of  their  arterial  vessels  into  several  orders,  which,  though  of  interest 
as  an  abstract  stud}',  are  not  of  sufficient  practical  value  to  refer  to 
here. 

The  active  organs  of  locomotion,  the  vuiscles,  form,  speaking  gen- 
erally, the  fleshy  covering  of  the  external  part  of  the  skeleton  and 
surround  the  bones  of  the  extremities.  They  var}'  greatly  in  shape  and 
size,  being  flat,  triangular,  long,  short,  or  broad,  and  are  variously 
and  capriciously  named,  some  from  their  shape,  some  from  their  situa- 
tion, and  others  from  their  use,  and  thus  we  have  abductors  and  adduc- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  277 

tors,  the  pyramidal  and  orbicular,  the  digastricus,  the  vastus,  and  so 
on.  Those  which  are  under  the  control  of  the  will,  known  arj  the  vol- 
untary muscles,  appear  in  the  form  of  fleshy  structures,  red  in  color, 
and  with  fibers  of  various  degrees  of  fineness,  and  are  composed  of 
fascicuU.,  or  bundles  of  fibers,  united  by  connective  or  cellular  tis- 
sue, each  fasciculus  being  composed  of  smaller  ones,  less  in  size,  but 
united  in  a  similar  manner  to  compose  the  larger  formations,  each  of 
which  is  enveloped  bv  a  structure  of  similar  nature  known  as  the  mr- 
colemma.  jVIan}-  of  the  muscles  are  united  to  the  bones  b}'  the  direct 
contact  of  their  fleshy  fibers,  but,  in  other  instances,  the  bod}^  of  the 
muscle  is  more  or  less  gradually  transformed  into  a  cordy  or  mem- 
branous structure  known  as  the  tendon  or  sinew,  and  the  attachment 
is  m.ade  by  very  short  fibrous  threads  through  the  medium  of  a  long 
tendinous  band,  which,  passing  from  a  single  one  to  several  other  of 
the  bones,  effects  its  object  at  a  point  far  distant  from  its  original 
attachment.  In  thus  carrying  its  action  from  one  bone  to  another,  or 
from  one  region  of  a  limb  to  another,  these  tendons  must  necessarily 
have  smooth  surfaces  over  which  to  glide,  either  upon  the  bones  them- 
selves or  formed  at  their  articulations,  and  this  need  is  supplied  b}^ 
the  secretion  of  the  synovial  fluid,  a  yellowish,  unctuous  substance, 
furnished  by  a  peculiar  tendinous  synovial  sac,  designed  for  the 
purpose. 

Illustrations  in  point  of  the  agency  of  the  synovial  fluid  in  assisting 
the  sliding  movements  of  the  tendons  may  be  found  under  their  vari- 
ous forms  at  the  shoulder  joint,  at  the  upper  part  of  the  bone  of  the 
arm,  at  the  posterior  part  of  the  kneejoint,  and  also  at  the  fetlocks, 
on  their  posterior  part. 

As  the  tendons,  whether  singly  or  in  company  with  others,  pass 
over  these  natural  puller's  they  are  retained  in  place  b}-  strong  fibrous 
bands  or  sheaths,  which  are  by  no  means  exempt  from  danger  of 
injury,  as  will  be  readily  inferred  from  a  consideration  of  their  impor- 
tant special  use  as  supports  and  reenforcements  of  the  tendons  them- 
selves, with  which  they  must  necessarily  share  the  stress  of  whatever 
force  or  strain  is  brought  to  bear  upon  both  or  either. 

We  have  referred  to  that  special  formation  of  the  external  surface 
of  a  bone  by  which  it  is  adapted  to  form  a  joint  or  articulation,  either 
movable  or  fixed,  and  a  concise  examination  of  the  formation  and 
structure  of  the  movable  articulations  will  here  be  in  place.  These 
are  formed  generally  by  the  extremities  of  the  long,  or  ma}'  exist  on  the 
surfaces  of  the  short,  bones.  The  points  or  regions  where  the  contact 
occurs  is  denominated  the  articular  surface,  which  assumes  from  this 
circumstance  a  considerable  variety  of  aspect  and  form,  being  in  one 
case  comparative!}-  flat  and  another  elevated;  or  as  forming  a  protrud- 
ing head  or  knob,  with  a  distinct  convexity;  and  again  presenting  a 
corresponding  depression  or  cavit}',  accurately  adapted  to  complete, 


278  BUREAU    OF    AmMAL    INDUSTEY. 

hj  their  coaptation,  the  ball  and  socket  joint.  The  articulation  of  the 
arm  and  shoulder  is  an  example  of  the  first  kind,  Avhile  that  of  the  hip 
with  the  thigh  bone  is  a  perfect  exhibition  of  the  latter. 

The  structure  whose  office  is  to  retain  the  articulating  surfaces  in 
place  is  the  ligament.  This  is  usually  a  white,  llbrous,  inelastic  tissue; 
sometimes,  however,  it  is  elastic  in  character  and  3-elloM'ish.  In  some 
instances  it  is  funicular  shaped  or  corded,  serving  to  bind  more  firmlj'^ 
together  the  bones  to  which  its  extremities  are  attached;  in  others  it 
consists  of  a  broad  membrane,  wholly  or  partially  surrounding  the 
broad  articulations,  and  calculated  rather  for  the  protection  of  the 
cavity  from  intrusion  by  the  air  than  for  other  security.  This  latter 
form,  known  as  capsular^  is  usually  found  in  connection  with  joints 
which  possess  a  free  and  extended  movement.  The  capsular  and 
funicular  ligaments  are  sometimes  associated,  the  capsular  appearing 
as  a  membranous  sac  whollj^  or  partipJly  inclosing  the  joint;  the  funic- 
ular, here  known  as  an  interariicidarWgd^nianU  occup34ng  the  interior, 
and  thus  securing  the  union  of  the  several  bones  more  tirmly  and 
effectively  than  would  be  possible  for  the  capsular  ligament  unassisted. 

The  universal  need  which  pertains  to  all  mechanical  contrivances 
of  motion  has  not  been  forgotten  while  providing  for  the  perfect  work- 
ing of  the  interesting  piece  of  living  machinery  which  performs  the 
function  of  locomotion,  as  we  are  contemplating  it,  and  nature  has  con- 
sequently^ provided  for  obviating  the  evils  of  attrition  and  friction, 
and  insuring  the  eas.y  play  and  smooth  movement  of  its  parts,  by  the 
establishment  of  the  secretion  of  the  synovia^  the  vital  lubricant  of 
which  we  have  before  spoken,  as  a  yellow,  oily,  or  rather  glairy  secre- 
tion, which  performs  the  indispensable  ofHce  of  facilitating  the  play 
of  the  tendons  over  the  joints  and  certain  given  points  of  the  bones. 
This  fluid,  which  is  deposited  in  a  containing  sac,  the  lining  (serous) 
membrane  of  which  forms  the  secreting  organ,  is  of  an  excessively 
sensitive  nature,  and  while  it  lines  the  inner  face  of  the  ligaments, 
both  capsular  and  fascicular,  is  attached  only  upon  the  edges  of  the 
bones  without  extending  upon  their  length,  or  between  the  laj'ers  of 
cartilage  which  lie  between  the  bones  and  their  articular  surfaces. 

Our  object  in  thus  partially  and  conciseh'^  reviewing  the  structure 
and  condition  of  the  essential  organs  of  locomotion  has  been  rather 
to  outline  a  sketch  which  may  serve  as  a  reference  chart  of  the  gen- 
eral features  of  the  subject  than  to  offer  a  minute  description  of  the 
parts  referred  to.  Other  points  of  interest  will  receive  due  attentior 
as  we  proceed  with  the  illustration  of  our  subject  and  examine  the 
matters  which  it  most  concerns  us  to  bring  under  consideration.  The 
foundation  of  facts  which  we  have  thus  far  prepared  will  be  found 
sufficiently  broad,  we  trust,  to  include  whatever  may  be  necessar\'  to 
insure  a  read\'  comprehension  of  the  essential  matters  which  are  to 
follow  as  our   review  is  carried   forward  to  completion.     What  we 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  279 

have  said  touching  these  elementaiy  truths  will  probabh^  be  sufBcient 
to  facilitate  a  clear  understanding  of  the  requirements  essential  to 
the  perfection  and  regularity  which  characterize  the  normal  perform- 
ance of  the  various  movements  which  result  in  the  accomplishment  of' 
the  action  of  locomotion.  So  long  as  the  bones,  the  muscles  and  their 
tendons,  the  joints  with  their  cartilages,  their  ligaments  and  their 
S3'novial  structure;  the  nerves  and  the  controlling  influences  which 
the}^  exercise  over  all,  with  the  blood  vessels  which  distribute  to  every 
part,  however  minute,  the  vitalizing  fluid  which  sustains  the  whole 
fabric  in  being  and  activity — so  long  as  these  various  constituents  and 
adjuncts  of  animal  life  preserve  their  normal  exemption  from  disease, 
traumatism,  and  pathological  change,  the  function  of  locomotion  will 
continue  to  be  performed  with  perfection  and  efliciency. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  let  any  element  of  disease  become  implanted 
in  one  or  several  of  the  parts  destined  for  combined  action,  any  change 
or  irregularity  of  form,  dimensions,  location,  or  action  occur  in  any 
portion  of  the  apparatus — any  obstruction  or  misdirection  of  vital 
power  take  place,  any  interference  with  the  order  of  the  phenomena 
of  normal  nature,  any  loss  of  harmony  and  lack  of  balance  be  betraj^ed, 
and  we  have  in  the  result  the  condition  of  lameness. 

DEFINITION    OF   LAMENESS. 

Physiology. — Comprehensively  and  universally  considered,  then, 
the  term  lameness  signifies  any  irregularity  or  derangement  of  the 
function  of  locomotion  irrespective  of  the  cause  which  produced  it  or 
the  degree  of  its  manifestation.  However  slightly  or  severely  it  may 
be  exhibited,  it  is  all  the  same.  The  nicest  observation  may  be 
demanded  for  its  detection,  and  it  may  need  the  most  thoroughly 
trained  powers  of  discernment  to  identify  and  locate  it,  as  in  cases 
where  the  animal  is  said  to  be  fainting,  tend£}\  or  to  go  sore.  On  the 
contrary,  the  i^atient  may  be  so  far  afl'ected  as  to  refuse  utterly  to  use 
an  injured  leg,  and  under  compulsory  motion  keep  it  raised  from  the 
ground,  and  prefer  to  travel  on  three  legs  rather  than  to  bear  any  por- 
tion of  his  weight  upon  the  afilicted  member.  In  these  two  extremes, 
and  in  all  the  intermediate  degrees,  the  patient  is  simply  lame — 
pathognomonic  minutiae  being  considered  and  settled  in  a  place  of 
their  own. 

This  last  condition  of  disabled  function — lameness  on  three  legs — 
and  many  of  the  lower  degrees  of  simple  lameness  are  yqvj  easy  of 
detection,  but  the  first  or  mere  tenderness,  or  soreness,  may  be  very 
difiicult  to  identifj',  and  at  times  very  serious  results  have  followed 
from  the  obscurity  which  has  enveloped  the  early  stages  of  the  malad}''. 
For  it  may  easily  occur  that  in  the  absence  of  the  treatment  Avhich  an 
early  correct  diagnosis  would  have  indicated,  an  insidious  ailment  may 
so  take  advantage  of  the  lapse  of  time  as  to  root  itself  too  deeply  into 


280  EUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  economy  to  bo  subverted,  and  become  transformed  into  a  disabling 
chronic  case,  or  possibly  one  that  is  incurable  and  fatal.  Hence  the 
impolicy  of  depreciating  early  symptoms  because  they  are  unaccompa- 
nied by  distinct  and  pronounced  characteristics,  and  from  a  lack  of 
threatening  appearances  inferring  the  absence  of  danger.  The  possi- 
bilities of  an  ambush  can  never  be  safely  ignored.  An  extra  caution 
costs  nothing,  even  if  wasted.  The  fulfillment  of  the  first  duty  of  a 
practitioner,  when  introduced  to  a  case,  is  not  always  an  eas}'  task, 
though  it  is  too  frequently  expected  that  the;  diagnosis  or  "what  is  the 
matter"  verdict  will  be  reached  by  the  quickest  and  surest  kind  of  an 
"instantaneous  process,'"'  and  a  sure  prognosis,  or  "how  will  it  end,'' 
guessed  at  instanter. 

Usually  the  discovery  that  the  animal  is  becoming  lame  is  compar- 
atively an  easy  matter  to  a  careful  observer.  Such  a  person  will 
readil}-  note  the  changes  of  movements  which  will  have  taken  place 
in  the  animal  he  has  been  accustomed  to  drive  or  ride,  unless  they 
are  indeed  slight  and  limited  to  the  last  degree.  But  what  is  not 
ahvaj's  easy  is  the  detection,  after  discovering  the  fact  of  an  existing 
irregularit}',  of  the  locality  of  its  point  of  origin,  and  whether  its 
seat  be  in  the  near  or  off  leg,  or  in  the  fore  or  the  hind  part  of  the 
bod}'.  These  are  questions  too  often  wrongly  answered,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  with  a  little  careful  scrutin}-  the  point  may  be 
easily  settled.  The  error,  which  is  too  often  committed,  of  pronounc- 
iug  the  leg  upon  which  the  animal  travels  soundly  as  the  seat  of  the 
lameness,  is  the  result  of  a  misinterpretation  of  the  physiolog}^  of 
locomotion  in  the  crippled  animal.  Much  depends  upon  the  gait  with 
which  the  animal  moves  while  under  examination.  The  act  of  walk- 
ing is  unfavorable  for  accurate  observation,  though,  if  the  animal  walks 
on  three  legs,  the  decision  is  easy  to  reach.  The  action  of  gallop- 
ing will  often,  by  the  rapiditj^  of  the  muscidar  movements  and  their 
quick  succession,  interfere  with  a  nice  study  of  their  rhythm,  and  it 
is  only  under  some  peculiar  circumstances  that  the  examination  can 
be  safely  conducted  while  the  animal  is  moving  with  that  gait.  It  is 
while  the  animal  is  trotting  that  the  investigation  is  made  with  the 
best  chances  of  an  intelligent  decision,  and  it  is  while  moving  with 
that  gait,  therefore,  that  the  points  should  be  looked  for  which  must 
form  the  elements  of  the  diagnosis. 

Our  first  consideration  should  be  the  physiologj'  of  normal  or  health}^ 
locomotion,  that  from  thence  we  may  the.  more  easily  reach  our  con- 
clusions touching  lameness,  or  that  which  is  abnormal,  and  by  this 
process  we  ought  to  succeed  in  obtaining  a  clew  to  the  solution  of  the 
first  problem,  to  wit,  in  which  leg  is  the  seat  of  the  lameness? 

A  word  of  definition  is  here  necessary,  in  order  to  render  that  Avhich 
follows  more  easily  intelligible.  In  veterinary  nomenclature  each  two 
of  the  legs,  as  referred  to  in  pairs,  is  denominated  a  biped.     Of  the  four 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOUSE.  281 

points  occupied  hy  the  feet  of  the  animal  while  standing  at  rest,  form- 
ing- a  square,  the  two  fore  legs  are  known  as  the  anterior  biped;  the 
two  hinder,  the  posterior;  the  two  on  one  side,  the  lateral;  and  one 
of  either  the  front  or  hind  biped  with  the  opposite  leg  of  the  hind  or 
front  biped  will  form  the  diagonal  l>ij)ed. 

Considering,  as  it  is  proper  to  do,  that  in  a  condition  of  health  each 
separate  biped  and  each  individual  leg  is  required  to  perform  an 
equal  and  uniform  function  and  to  carry  an  even  or  equal  portion  of 
the  weight  of  the  bod}-,  it  will  be  readil}-  appreciated  that  the  result 
of  this  distribution  will  be  a  regular,  evenly  balanced,  and  smooth 
displacement  of  the  bod}'-  thus  supported  by  the  four  legs,  and  that 
therefore,  according  to  the  rapidit}^  of  the  motion  in  different  gaits, 
each  single  leg  will  be  required  at  certain  successive  moments  to  bear 
the  weight  which  had  rested  upon  its  congener  while  it  was  itself  in 
the  air,  in  the  act  of  moving;  or,  again,  two  different  legs  of  a  biped 
may  be  called  upon  to  bear  the  weight  of  the  two  legs  of  the  opposite 
biped  while  also  in  the  air  in  the  act  of  moving. 

To  simplify  the  matter  b}^  an  illustration,  the  weight  of  an  animal 
may  be  placed  at  1,000  pounds,  of  which  each  leg,  in  a  normal  and 
healthy  condition,  supports  while  at  rest  250  pounds.  "When  one  of 
the  fore  legs  is  in  action,  or  in  the  air,  and  carr3^ing  no  weight,  its  250 
pounds  share  of  the  weight  will  be  thrown  upon  its  congener,  or  part- 
ner, to  sustain.  If  the  two  legs  of  a  biped  are  both  in  action  and 
raised  from  the  ground,  their  congeners  still  resting  in  inaction,  will 
carry  the  total  weight  of  the  other  two,  or  600  pounds.  And  as  the 
succession  of  movements  continues,  and  the  change  from  one  log  to 
another  or  from  one  biped  to  another,  as  may  be  required  by  the  gait, 
proceeds,  there  will  result  a  smooth,  even,  and  equal  balancing  of 
active  movements,  shifting  the  weight  from  one  leg  or  one  biped  to 
another,  with  symmetrical  precision,  and  we  shall  be  presented  with 
an  interesting  example  of  the  play  of  vital  mechanics  in  a  healthy 
organization. 

Much  may  be  learned  from  the  accurate  stud}^  of  the  action  of  a 
single  leg.  Normally,  its  movements  will  be  without  variation  or 
failure.  When  at  rest  it  will  easil}'  sustain  the  weight  assigned  to  it, 
without  showing  hesitancy  or  betraying  pain,  and  when  it  is  raised 
from  the  ground  in  order  to  transfer  the  weight  to  its  mate,  it  will 
perform  the  act  in  such  a  manner  that  when  it  is  again  placed  upon  the 
ground  to  rest  it  will  be  with  a  firm  tread,  indicative  of  its  ability  to 
receive  again  the  burden  to  be  thrown  back  upon  it.  In  planting  it 
upon  the  ground  or  raising  it  up  again  for  the  forward  movement  while 
in  action,  and  again  replanting  it  upon  the  earth,  each  movement  will 
be  the  same  for  each  leg  and  for  each  biped,  whether  the  act  be  that  of 
walking  or  trotting,  or  even  of  galloping.  In  short,  the  regular  play 
of  every  part  of  the  apparatus  will  testify  to  the  existence  of  that  con- 
dition of  orderly  soundness  and  efficient  activity  eloquentl}-  suggestive 


282  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

of  the  condition  of  vital  integrit}',  which  is  simply  but  comprehensively 
expressed  by  the  terms  health  and  soimdness. 

But  let  some  change,  though  slight  and  obscure,  occur  among  the 
elements  of  the  case;  some  invisible  agency  of  evil  intrude  among  the 
harmonizing  processes  going  forward;  any  disorder  occur  in  the  rela- 
tions of  cooperating  parts;  anything  appear  to  neutralize  the  efficiency 
of  vitalizing  forces;  any  disability  of  a  limb  to  accept  and  to  throw 
back  upon  its  mate  the  portion  of  the  weight  which  belongs  to  it  to 
sustain — present  itself,  whether  as  the  effect  of  tra,umatic  accidents  or 
otherwise;  in  short,  let  anything  develop  which  tends  to  defeat  the 
purpose  of  nature  in  organizing  the  locomotive  apparatus,  at  once  we 
are  confronted  hy  that  which  may  be  looked  upon  as  a  cause  of  lameness. 

Not  the  least  of  the  facts  which  it  is  important  to  remember  is  that- 
it  is  not  sufficient  to  look  for  the  manifestation  of  an  existing  discord- 
ance in  the  action  of  the  affected  limb  alone,  but  that  it  is  shared  by 
the  sound  one,  and  must  be  searched  for  in  that  as  well  as  the  halting 
member,  if  the  hazard  of  an  error  is  to  be  avoided.  The  mode  of  action 
of  the  leg  which  is  the  seat  of  the  lameness  will  vary  greatl}^  from  that 
which  it  exhibited  when  in  a  health}'  condition,  and  the  sound  leg  will 
also  offer  important  modifications  in  the  same  three  particulars  before 
alluded  to,  to  wit,  that  of  resting  on  the  ground,  that  of  its  elevation 
and  forward  motion,  and  that  of  striking  the  ground  again  when  the 
full  action  of  stepping  is  accomplished.  Inability  in  the  lame  leg  to 
sustain  weight  will  imply  excessive  exertion  by  the  sound  one,  and  lack 
of  facility  or  disposition  to  rest  the  lame  member  on  the  ground  will 
necessitate  a  longer  continuance  of  that  action  on  the  sound 'side. 
Changes  in  the  act  of  elevating  the  leg,  or  of  carrj'ing  it  forward,  or 
in  both,  will  present  entirely  opposite  conditions  between  the  two. 
The  lame  member  will  be  elevated  rapidl}',  moved  carefully  forward, 
and  returned  to  the  ground  with  caution  and  hesitancy,  and  the  contact 
with  the  earth  will  be  effected  as  lightly  as  possible,  while  the  sound 
limb  will  rest  longer  on  the  ground,  move  boldly  and  rapidly  forward, 
and  strike  the  ground  promptly  and  forcibly.  All  this  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  sound  member  carries  more  than  its  normal,  health}^  share 
of  the  weight  of  the  body,  a  share  which  may  be  in  excess  from  1  to 
250  pounds,  and  thus  bring  its  burden  to  a  figure  varying  from  251  to 
500  pounds,  all  depending  upon  the  degree  of  the  existing  lameness, 
whether  it  is  simply  a  slight  tenderness  or  soreness,  or  whether  the 
trouble  has  reached  a  stage  which  compels  the  patient  to  the  awkward- 
ness of  traveling  on  three  legs. 

That  all  this  is  not  mere  theory,  but  rests  on  a  foundation  of  fact 
ma}"  be  established  by  observing  the  manifestations  attending  a  single 
alteration  in  the  balancing  of  the  body.  In  health  the  support  and 
equilibrium  of  that  mass  of  the  body  which  is  borne  by  the  fore  legs 
is  equalized,  and  passes  by  regular  alternations  from  the  right  to  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  283 

left  side,  and  vice  versa.  But  if  the  left  leg,  becoming  disabled, 
relieves  itself  by  leaning,  as  it  were,  on  the  right,  the  latter  becomes, 
consequently,  practically  heavier,  and  the  mass  of  the  body  will  incline 
or  settle  upon  that  side.  Lameness  of  the  left  side,  therefore,  means 
dropping  or  settling  on  the  right,  and  vice  versa.  We  emphasize  this 
statement  and  insist  upon  it,  the  more  from  the  frequency  of  the 
instances  of  error  which  have  come  under  our  notice,  in  which  parties 
have  insisted  upon  their  view  that  the  leg  which  is  the  seat  of  the 
lameness  is  that  upon  which  lie  drops,  and  which  the  animal  is  usually 
supposed  to  favor. 

HOW    TO    DETECT    THE    SEAT    OF    LAMENESS. 

Properl}'  appreciating  the  remarks  which  have  preceded,  and  fully 
comprehending  the  modus  operandi  and  the  true  pathology  of  lame- 
ness, but  little  remains  to  be  done  in  order  to  reach  an  answer  to  the 
question  as  to  which  side  of  the  animal  ths  lameness  is  seated,  except 
to  examine  the  patient  while  in  action.  We  have  already  stated  our 
reasons  for  preferring  the  movement  of  trotting  for  this  purpose.  In 
conducting  such  an  examination  the  animal  should  be  unblanketed, 
and  held  b}^  a  plain  halter  in  the  hands  of  a  man  who  knows  how  to 
manage  his  paces,  and  the  trial  should  always  be  made  over  a  firm, 
hard  road  whenever  such  is  available.  He  is  to  be  examined  from 
various  positions — from  before,  from  behind,  and  from  each  side. 
Watching  him  as  he  approaches,  as  he  passes  by,  and  as  he  recedes, 
the  observer  should  carefully  study  that  important  action  which  we 
have  spoken  of  as  the  dropping  of  the  tody  upon  one  extremity  or  the 
other,  and  this  can  readily  be  detected  by  attending  closely  to  the 
motions  of  the  head  and  of  the  hip.  The  head  drops  on  the  same  side 
on  which  the  mass  of  the  bodj^  will  fall,  dropping  toward  the  right 
when  the  lameness  is  in  the  left  fore  leg,  and  the  hip  dropping  in  pos- 
terior lameness,  also  on  the  sound  leg,  the  reversal  of  the  conditions, 
of  course,  producing  reversed  effects.  In  other  words,  when  the  ani- 
mal in  trotting  exhibits  signs  of  irregularity  of  action,  or  lameness, 
and  this  irregularity  is  accompanied  by  dropping  or  nodding  the  head, 
or  depressing  the  hip  on  the  right  side  of  the  body,  at  the  time  the 
feet  of  the  right  side  strike  the  ground,  the  horse  is  lame  on  the  left 
side.  If  the  dropping  and  nodding  are  on  the  near  side  the  lameness 
is  on  the  off  side. 

But  in  a  majority  of  •cases  the  answer  to  the  first  question  relating 
to  the  lameness  of  a  horse  is,  after  all,  not  a  very  difficult  task.  There 
are  two  other  problems  in  the  case  more  difficult  of  solution  and  which 
often  require  the  exercise  of  a  closer  scrutiny,  and  draw  upon  all  the 
resources  of  the  experienced  practitioner  to  settle  satisfactorily.  That 
a  horse  is  lame  in  a  given  leg  may  be  easily  determined,  but  when  it 
becomes  necessary-  to  pronounce  upon  the  query  as  to  what  part,  what 


284  BUKEAU    OI    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

region,  what  structure  is  affected,  the  easy  part  of  the  task  is  over, 
and  the  more  difficult  and  important,  because  more  obscure,  portion 
of  the  investigation  has  commenced — except,  of  course,  in  cases  of 
which  the  features  are  too  distinctly  evident  to  the  senses  to  admit  of 
error.  It  is  true  that  bj^  carefull}'  noting  the  manner  in  which  a  lame 
log  is  performing  its  functions,  and  closeh^  scrutinizing  the  motions 
of  the  whole  extremit}^,  and  especialh'  of  the  various  joints  which 
enter  into  its  structure;  by  minutely  examining  ever}^  part  of  the 
liml);  by  observing  the  outlines;  by  testing  the  change,  if  any,  in 
temperature  and  the  state  of  the  sensibility — all  these  investigations 
ma}'  guide  the  surgeon  to  a  correct  localization  of  the  seat  of  trouble, 
but  he  must  carefully  refrain  from  the  adoption  of  a  hasty  conclusion, 
and,  above  all,  assure  himself  that  he  has  not  failed  to  make  the  foot, 
of  all  the  organs  of  the  horse  the  most  liable  to  injury  and  lesion,  the 
subject  of  the  most  thorough  and  minute  examination  of  all  the  parts 
which  compose  the  suffering  extremity. 

The  greater  liability  of  the  foot  than  of  an}'  other  part  of  the 
extremities  to  injury  from  casualties,  natural  to  its  situation  and  use, 
should  always  suggest  the  beginning  of  an  inquiry,  especially  in  an 
obscure  case  of  lameness  at  that  point.  Indeed  the  lameness  may 
have  an  apparent  location  elsewhere  when  that  is  the  true  seat  of 
the  trouble,  and  the  surgeon  who,  while  examining  his  lame  patient, 
discovers  a  ringbone,  and  satisfying  himself  that  he  has  encountered 
the  cause  of  the  disordered  action  suspends  his  investigation  without 
subjecting  the  foot  to  a  close  scrutiny,  may  deeply  regret  his  neglect 
and  inadvertence  at  a  later  day,  when  regrets  will  avail  nothing 
toward  remedying  the  irreparable  injury  which  has  ensued  upon 
his  partial  method  of  exploration.  But,  as  in  human  pathological 
experience,  there  are  instances  when  inscrutable  diseases  will  deliver 
their  fatal  messages,  while  leaving  no  mark  and  making  no  sign  by 
which  they  might  be  identified  and  classified,  so  it  will  happen  that 
in  the  humbler  animals  the  onset  and  progress  of  mysterious  and 
unrecognizable  ailments  will  at  times  baffle  the  most  skilled  veteri- 
narian, and  leave  our  burden-bearing  servants  to  succumb  to  the 
inevitable,  and  suffer  and  perish  in  unrelieved  distress. 

DISEASES    OF    BONES. 

PERIOSTITIS,   OSTITIS,    AND    EXOSTOSIS. 

From  the  closeness  and  intimacy  of  the  connection  existing  between 
the  two  principal  elements  of  the  bony  structure  while  in  health,  it 
frequently  becomes  exceedingly  difficult,  when  a  state  of  disease  has 
supervened,  to  discriminate  accurately  as  to  the  part  primarily  affected, 
and  to  determine  positively  whether  the  periosteum  or  the  body  of 
the  bone  is  originally  implicated.  Yet  a  knowledge  of  the  fact  is 
often  of  the  first  importance,  in  order  to  secure  a  favorable  result 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  285 

from  the  treatment  to  bo  instituted.  It  is,  however,  quite  evident 
that  in  a  majorit}'  of  instances  the  bon}?^  growths  which  so  frequently 
appear  on  the  surface  of  their  structure,  to  which  the  general  term 
of  exostosis  is  applied,  have  had  their  origin  in  an  inflammation  of  the 
periosteum,  or  enveloping-  membrane,  and  known  as  periostitis.  How- 
ever this  maA^  be,  we  hav^c  as  a  frequent  result,  sometimes  on  the  bodj^ 
of  the  bone,  sometimes  at  the  extremities,  and  sometimes  involving 
the  articulation  itself,  certain  bony  growths,  or  exostoses,  known 
otherwise  by  the  term  splint.,  7'inghone,  and  sj?avin,  all  of  which,  in  an 
important  sense,  may  be  finally  referred  to  the  periosteum  as  their 
nutrient  source  and  support,  at  least  after  their  formation,  if  not  for 
their  incipient  existence. 

Cansc. — It  is  certain  that  inflammation  of  the  periosteum  is  fre- 
quently referable  to  wounds  and  bruises  caused  by  external  agencies, 
and  it  is  also  true  that  it  may  possibly  result  from  the  spreading 
inflammation  of  surrounding  diseased  tissues,  but  in  any  case  the 
result  is  uniforml}'  seen  in  the  deposit  of  a  bony  growth,  more  or  less 
diffuse,  sometimes  of  irregular  outline,  and  at  others  projecting  dis- 
tinctl}"  from  the  surface  from  which  it  springs, -as  so  commonly  pre- 
sented in  the  ringbone  and  the  spavin. 

Symptoms. — This  condition  of  periostitis  is  often  diflicult  to  deter- 
mine. The  signs  of*  inflammation  are  so  obscure,  the  swelling  of  the 
parts  so  insignificant,  any  increase  of  heat  so  imperceptible,  and  the 
soreness  so  slight,  that  even  the  most  acute  observer  may  fail  to  locate 
the  point  of  its  existence,  and  it  is  often  long  after  the  discovery  of 
the  disease  itself  that  its  location  is  positively  revealed  by  the  visible 
presence  of  the  exostosis.  Yet  the  first  question  had  been  resolved, 
in  discovering  the  fact  of  the  lameness,  while  the  second  and  third 
remained  unanswered,  and  the  identification  of  the  affected  limb  and 
the  point  of  origin  of  the  trouble  remained  unknown  until  their  pal- 
pable revelation  to  the  senses. 

Treatment. — When,  by  careful  scrutiny,  the  ailment  has  been 
located,  a  resort  to  treatment  must  be  had  at  once,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent, if  possible,  any  further  deposit  of  the  calcareous  structure  and 
increase  of  the  exostotic  growth.  With  this  view  the  application  of 
water,  either  warm  or  cold,  rendered  astringent  by  the  addition  of 
alum  or  sugar  of  lead,  will  be  beneficial.  The  tendency  to  the  form- 
ation of  the  bon}"  growth,  and  the  jncrease  of  its  development  after 
its  actual  formation,  may  often  be  checked  b}^  the  application  of  a 
severe  blister  of  Spanish  fl3^  The  failure  of  these  means  and  the 
establishment  of  the  diseased  process  in  the  form  of  chronic  perios- 
titis cause  various  changes  in  the  bone  covered  by  the  disordered 
membrane,  and  the  result  ma}^  be  softening,  degeneration,  or  necro- 
sis, but  more  usuall}^  it  is  followed  b}^  the  formation  of  the  bony 
growths  referred  to,  on  the  cannon  bone,  the  coronet,  the  hock,  etc. 


286  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


AVc  first  turn  our  attention  to  the  splint,  as  ce'-taiu  bony  enlarge- 
ments which  are  developed  on  the  cannon  bone,  between  the  knee  or 
the  hock  and  the  fetlock  joint,  are  called.  They  are  found  on  the 
inside  of  the  leg,  from  the  knee,  near  to  which  they  are  frequently 
found,  downward  to  about  the  lower  third  of  the  princii^al  cannon 
bone.  The}'  are  of  various  dimensions,  and  are  readily  perceptil)le 
both  to  the  03-0  and  to  the  touch.  They  vary  considerably  in  size, 
ranging  from  that  of  a  large  nut  downward  to  very  small  proportions. 
In  searching  for  them  they  ma}'  ])e  readily  detected  by  the  hand  if 
they  have  attained  sufficient  development  in  their  usual  situation,  but 
must  be  distinguished  from  a  small  bony  enlargement  which  may  be 
felt  at  the  lower  third  of  the  cannon  bone,  which  is  neither  a  splint 
nor  a  pathological  formation  of  any  kind,  but  merely  the  button-like 
enlargement  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  small  metacarpal  or  splint 
bone. 

We  have  said  that  splints  are  to  be  found  on  the  inside  of  the  leg. 
This  is  true  as  a  general  statement,  but  it  is  not  invariably  so,  and  they 
occasionally  appear  on  the  outside.  It  is  also  true  that  the}"  appear 
most  commonly  on  the  fore  legs,  but  this  is  not  exclusively  the  case, 
and  they  may  at  times  be  found  on  both  the  inside  and  outside  of  the 
hind  legs.  Usually  a  splint  forms  only  a  true  exostosis,  or  a  single 
bony  growth,  wath  a  somewhat  diffuse  base,  but  neither  is  this  invari- 
ably the  case.  In  some  instances  they  assume  more  important  dimen- 
sions, and  pass  from  the  inside  to  the  outside  of  the  bone,  on  its  pos- 
terior face,  between  that  and  the  suspensory  ligament.  This  form  is 
termed  the  pegged  sjplint^  and  constitutes  a  serious  and  permanent 
deformity,  in  consequence  of  its  interference  with  the  play  of  the 
fibrous  cord  which  passes  behind  it,  becoming  thus  a  source  of  con- 
tinual irritation  and  consequently  of  permanent  lameness. 

Sym-ptoms. — A  splint  may  thus  frequently  become  a  cause  of  lame- 
ness though  not  necessarily  in  every  instance;  but  it  is  a  lameness  pos- 
sessing features  peculiar  to  itself.  It  is  not  always  continuous,  but  at 
times  assumes  an  intermittent  character,  and  is  more  marked  when  the 
animal  is  warm  than  when  lie  is  cool.  If  the  lameness  is  near  the  knee- 
joint,  it  is  very  apt  to  become  aggravated  when  the  animal  is  put  to 
work,  and  the  gait  acquires  then  a  peculiar  character,  arising  from 
the  manner  in  which  the  limb  is  carried  outward  from  the  knees  down- 
wards, which  is  done  by  a  kind  of  abduction  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
leg.  Other  symptoms,  however,  than  the  lameness  and  the  presence 
of  the  splint,  which  is  its  cause,  may  be  looked  for  in  the  same  connec- 
tion as  those  which  have  been  mentioned  as  pertaining  to  certain  evi- 
dences of  periostitis,  in  the  increase  of  the  temperature  of  the  part, 
with  swelling  and  probably  pain  on  pressure.     This  last  symptom  is 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOBSE.  287 

of  no  little  importance,  since  its  presence  or  absence  has  in  many  cases 
formed  the  determining  point  in  deciding-  a  question  of  difficult 
diagnosis. 

Cause. — A  splint  being  one  of  the  results  of  periostitis,  and  the 
latter  one  of  the  effects  of  external  hurts,  it  naturallj^  follows  that  the 
parts  which  are  most  exposed  to  blows  and  collisions  will  be  those  on 
which  the  splint  will  most  commonlj^  be  found,  and  it  may  not  bo 
improper,  therefore,  to  refer  to  hurts  from  without  as  among  the 
common  causes  of  the  lesion.  But  other  causes  may  also  be  produc- 
tive of  the  evil,  and  among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  overstraining 
of  an  immature  organism  b}^  the  imposition  of  excessive  labor  upon  a 
young  animal  at  a  too  earlv  period  of  his  life.  The  bones  which  enter 
into  the  formation  of  the  cannon  are  three  in  number,  one  large  and 
two  smaller,  which,  during  the  j^outh  of  the  animal,  are  more  or  less 
articulated,  with  a  limited  amount  of  mobility,  but  which  become  in 
maturity  firmly  joined  by  a  rigid  uniou  and  ossification  of  their  inter- 
articular  surface.  If  the  immature  animal  is  compelled,  then,  to  per- 
form exacting  tasks  bej'ond  his  strength,  the  inevitable  result  will 
follow  in  the  muscular  straining,  and  perhaps  tearing  asunder  of  the 
fibers  which  unite  the  bones  at  their  points  of  juncture,  and  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  understand  how  inflammation  or  periostitis  can  fail  to  develop 
as  the  natural  consequence  of  such  local  irritation.  If  the  result  were 
deiibcrateh'  and  intelligently  designed,  it  could  hardly  be  more  effec- 
tuallj'  accomplished. 

The  splint  is  an  object  of  the  commonest  occurrence — so  common, 
indeed,  that  in  large  cities  a  horse  which  can  not  exhibit  one  or  more 
specimens  upon  some  portion  of  his  extremities  is  one  of  the  rarest  of 
spectacles.  Though  it  is  in  some  instances  a  cause  of  lameness,  and  its 
discoverj'^  and  cure  are  sometimes  beyond  the  ability  of  the  shrewdest 
and  most  experienced  veterinarians,  yet  as  a  source  of  vital  danger  to 
the  general  equine  organization,  or  even  of  functional  disturbance,  or 
of  practical  inconvenience,  aside  from  the  rare  exceptional  cases  which 
exist  as  mere  samples  of  possibility,  it  can  not  be  considered  to  belong 
to  the  category  of  serious  lesions.  The  worst  stigma  that  attaches  to 
it  is  that  in  general  estimation  it  is  ranked  among  ej^esores  and  contin- 
ues indeiinitel}"  to  be  that  and  nothing  different.  The  inflammation  in 
which  they  originated,  acute  at  first,  either  subsides  or  assumes  the 
chronic  form,  and  the  bony  growth  becomes  a  permanence — more  or 
less  established,  it  is  true,  but  doing  no  positive  harm  and  not  hinder- 
ing the  animal  from  continuing  his  daily  routine  of  labor.  All  this, 
however,  requires  a  proviso  against  the  occurrence  of  a  subsequent 
acute  attack,  when,  as  with  other  exostoses,  a  fresh  access  of  acute 
sjmiptoms  may  be  followed  by  a  new  pathological  activity,  which  shall 
again  develop,  as  a  natural  result,  a  reappearance  of  the  lameness. 

Treatment. — It  is,  of  course,  the  consideration  of  the  comparative 


288  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

harmlessness  of  splints  that  suggests  and  justifies  the  policy  of  non- 
interfer^mce,  except  as  they  become  a  positive  cause  of  lameness.  And 
a  more  positive  argument  for  such  noninterference  consists  in  the  fact 
tliat  any  active  and  irritating  treatment  ma}-  so  excite  the  parts  as  to 
bring  about  a  renewed  pathological  activity,  which  may  result  in  a 
roduplication  of  the  phenomena,  with  a  second  edition,  if  not  a  second 
and  enlarged  volume,  of  the  whole  story.  For  our  part,  our  faith,  is 
firm  in  the  impolicy  of  interference,  and  this  faith  is  founded  on  an 
experience  of  man}-  years,  during  which  our  practice  has  been  that  of 
abstention. 

Of  course,  there  will  be  exceptional  conditions  which  will  at  times 
indicate  a  different  course.  These  will  become  evident  when  the  occa- 
sions present  themselves,  and  extraordinary  forms  and  effects  of 
inflammation  and  growth  in  the  tumors  offer  special  indications.'  But 
our  conviction  remains  unshaken  that  surgical  treatment  of  the  oper- 
ative kind  is  usually  useless,  it  not  dangerous.  We  have  little  faith 
in  the  method  of  extirpation  except  under  very  special  conditions, 
among  which  that  of  diminutive  size  has  been  named,  which  seems  in 
itself  to  constitute  a  sufficient  negative  argument.  But  even  in  such 
a  case  a  resort  to  the  knife  or  the  gouge  could  scarcely  find  a  justifi- 
cation, since  no  operative  procedure  is  ever  without  a  degree  of  haz- 
ard, to  say  nothing  of  the  considerations  which  are  always  forcibly 
negative  in  an}^  question  of  the  infliction  of  pain  and  the  unnecessary 
use  of  the  knife. 

If  an  acute  periostitis  of  the  cannon  bone  has  been  readily  discov- 
ered, the  treatment  we  have  already  suggested  for  that  ailment  is 
at  once  indicated,  and  the  astringent  lotions  may  be  relied  upon  to 
bring  about  beneficial  results.  Sometimes,  however,  preference  may 
be  given  to  a  lotion  possessing  a  somewhat  different  qualit}',  the  alter- 
ative consisting  of  tincture  of  iodine  applied  to  the  inflamed  spot 
several  times  dail3^  If  the  lameness  persists  under  this  mild  course 
of  treatment  it  must,  of  course,  be  attacked  bj^  other  methods,  and  we 
must  resort  to  the  cantharides  ointment  or  Spanish-fly  blister,  as  we 
have  before  recommended.  Besides  this,  and  producing  an  analogous 
effect,  the  compounds  of  biniodide  of  mercury  are  favored  b}'-  some. 
It  is  prepared  in  the  form  of  an  ointment,  consisting  of  1  dram  of  the 
biniodide  to  1  ounce  of  either  lard  or  vaseline.  It  forms  an  excellent 
blistering  and  alterative  application,  and  is  of  special  advantage  in 
newly  formed  or  recentl}"  discovered  exostosis. 

It  remains  a  pertinent  quer3%  however,  and  one  Avhich  seems  to  be 
easily  answered,  whether  a  tumor  so  diminutive  in  size  that  it  can 
onl}'  be  detected  b}^  diligent  search,  and  which  is  neither  a  disfigure- 
ment nor  an  obstruction  to  the  motion  of  the  limb,  need  receive  an}^ 
recognition  whatever.  Other  modes  of  treatment  for  spliufs  are  rec- 
ommended and  practiced  which  belong  strictly  to  the  domain  of  oper- 


r-^^^^^ 


/^P    V 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  289* 

ative  veterinaiT  surg'ei\v.  Among-  these  are  to  be  reckoned  actual 
cauterization,  or  the  application  of  tlie  fire  iron  and  the  operation  of 
periosteotomy.  These  are  frequently  indicated  in  the  treatment  of 
splints  which  have  resisted  milder  means. 

The  mode  of  the  development  of  their  growth;  their  intimacjv 
greater  or  less,  with  both  the  large  and  the  small  cannon  bones;  the-- 
possibility  of  their  extending  to  the  back  of  these  bones  under  the  sus- 
pensory ligament;  the  dangerous  complications  which  ma}^  follow  the- 
rough  handling  of  the  parts,  with  also  a  possibility,  and  indeed  a, 
probability,  of  their  return  after  removal — these  are  the  consideration* 
which  have  influenced  our  judgment  in  discarding  from  our  practice? 
and  our  approval  the  method  of  removal  by  the  saw  or  the  chisel,  as- 
recommended  by  certain  European  veterinarians. 

RIXGBONES. 

This  term  forms  the  designation  of  the  exostosis  which  is  found  ore 
the  coronet  and  in  the  digital  and  phalangeal  regions.  The  name  is- 
appropriate,  because  the  growth  extends  quite  around  the  coronety 
Avhich  it  encircles  in  the  manner  of  a  ring,  or  perhaps  because  it  oftea 
forms  upon  the  back  of  that  bone  a  regular  osseous  arch,  through 
which  the  back  tendons  obtain  a  passage.  The  places  where  these 
growths  are  usual W  developed  have  caused  their  subdivision  and  classi- 
fication into  three  varieties,  with  the  designations  of  high,  middle^ 
and  lou\  though  much  can  not  be  said  as  to  the  importance  of  suck 
distinction.  It  is  true  that  the  ringbone  or  phalangeal  exostosis  may 
be  found  at  various  points  on  the  foot,  in  one  case  forming  a  large 
bunch  on  the  upper  part  and  quite  close  to  the  fetlock  joint;  in  another 
around  the  upper  border  of  the  hoof,  or  perhaps  on  the  extreme  front 
or  on  the  very  back  of  the  coronet.  The  shape  in  which  they  com- 
monly appear  is  favorable  to  their  easy  discovery,  their  form  when 
near  the  fetlock  usualh^  varying  too  much  from  the  natural  outlines  of 
the  part  when  compared  with  those  of  the  opposite  side  to  admit  of 
error  in  the  matter. 

A  ringbone  when  on  the  front  of  the  foot,  even  when  not  very 
largel}'  developed,  assumes  the  form  of  a  diffused  convex  swelling. 
If  situated  on  the  lower  part,  it  will  form  a  thick  ring,  encircling 
that  portion  of  the  foot  immediately  above  the  hoof;  when  found  oa 
the  posterior  part,  a  small,  sharp  osseous  growth  somewhat  project- 
ing, sometimes  on  the  inside  and  sometimes  on  the  outside  of  the 
coronet,  may  comprise  the  entire  manifestation. 

Came. — As  with  splints,  ringbones  may  result  from  severe  labor  in 
early  life,  before  the  process  of  ossification  has  been  full}^  perfected;, 
or  they  may  be  referred  to  bruises,' blows,  sprains,  or  other  violencei 
or  injuries  of  tendons,  ligaments,  or  joints  ma}^  be  among  the  account- 
able causes. 

14884—03 19 


290  EUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    i:>rDUSTRY. 

It  is  certain  that  they  may  commonly  be  traced  to  diseases  and 
traumatic  lesions  of  the  foot,  and  their  appearance  may  be  reasonably 
anticipated  among  the  sequelae  of  an  abscess  of  the  coronet;  or  the 
cause  ma}^  be  a  severe  contusion  resulting  from  calking,  or  a  deep- 
punctured  wound  from  picking  up  a  nail  or  stepping  upon  any  hard 
object  of  sufficient!}^  irregular  form  to  penetrate  the  sole. 

Moreover,  a  ringbone  may  originate  in  hereditA^  This  is  a  fact  of 
no  little  importance  in  its  relation  to  questions  connected  with  the 
extensive  interests  of  the  stock  breeder  and  purchaser. 

That  the  hereditary  transmission  of  constitutional  idiosyncrasies  is 
an  active  cause  with  regard  to  diseases  in  general,  it  would  be  absurd 
to  claim,  but  wc  do  claim  that  a  predisposition  to  contract  ringbone 
due  to  faulty  conformation,  such  as  long,  thin  pasterns  with  narrow 
joints  and  steep  fetlocks,  may  be  inherited  in  many  cases,  and  in  a 
smaller  proportion  of  cases  this  predisposition  may  act  as  a  secondary 
cause  in  the  formation  of  ringbone. 

The  importance  of  this  point  when  considered  in  reference  to  the 
policy  which  should  be  observed  in  the  selection  of  breeding  stock  is 
obvious,  and,  as  the  whole  matter  is  within  the  control  of  the  owners 
and  breeders,  it  will  be  their  own  fault  if  the  unchecked  transmission 
of  ringbones  from  one  equine  generation  to  another  shall  be  allowed 
to  continue.  It  is  our  belief  that  among  the  diseases  which  are  known 
for  their  tendency  to  perpetuate  and  repeat  themselves  by  individual 
succession,  those  of  the  bony  structures  stand  first,  and  the  inference 
from  such  a  fact  which  would  exclude  ever}'-  animal  of  doubtful  sound- 
ness in  its  osseous  apparatus  from  the  stud  list  and  the  Ijrood  farm  is  too 
plain  for  argument. 

Symjjtoms. — Periostitis  of  the  phalanges  is  an  ailment  requiring 
careful  exploration  and  minute  inspection  for  its  discovery,  and  is  quite 
likely  to  result  in  a  ringbone  of  which  lameness  is  the  result.  The 
mode  of  its  manifestation  varies  according  to  the  state  of  development 
of  the  diseased  growth  as  affected  by  the  circumstances  of  its  location 
and  dimensions.  It  is  commonly  of  the  kind  which,  in  consequence  of 
its  intermittent  character,  is  termed  lameness  when  cool^  having  the 
peculiarity  of  exhibiting  itself  when  the  animal  starts  from  the  stable 
and  of  diminishing,  if  not  entirely  disappearing,  after  some  distance  of 
travel,  to  return  to  its  original  degree,  if  not  indeed  a  severer  one, 
when  he  has  again  cooled  off  in  his  stable.  The  size  of  the  ringbone 
does  not  indicate  the  degree  to  which  it  cripples  the  patient,  but  the 
position  may,  especially  when  it  interferes  with  the  free  movement  of 
the  tendons  which  pass  l^ehind  and  in  front  of  the  foot.  While  a  large 
ringbone  will  often  interfere  but  little  with  the  motion  of  the  limb, 
a  smaller  growth,  if  situated  under  the  tendon,  may  become  the  cause 
of  considerable  and  continued  pain. 

A  ringbone  is  doubtless  a  worse  evil  than  a  splint.     Its  growth,  its 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  291 

location,  its  tendency  to  increased  development,  its  exposure  to  the 
influence  of  causes  of  renewed  danger,  all  tend  to  impart  an  unfavor- 
able cast  to  the  prognosis  of  a  case  and  to  emphasize  the  importance 
and  the  value  of  an  earl}^  discovery  of  its  presence  and  possible  growth. 
Even  when  the  discovery  has  been  made,  it  is  often  the  case  that  the 
truth  has  come  to  light  too  late  for  effectual  treatment.  Months  may 
have  elapsed  after  the  first  manifestation  of  the  lameness  before  a  dis- 
covery has  been  made  of  the  lesion  from  which  it  has  originated,  and 
there  is  no  recall  for  the  lapsed  time.  And  by  the  uncompromising 
seriousness  of  the  discouraging  prognosis  must  the  energy  and  severity 
of  the  treatment  and  the  promptness  of  its  administration  be  meas- 
ured. The  periostitis  has  been  overlooked;  any  chance  that  might 
have  existed  for  preventing  its  advance  to  the  chronic  stage  has  been 
lost;  the  osseous  formation  is  established;  the  ringbone  is  a  fixed  fact, 
and  the  indications  are  urgent  and  pressing. 

Treatment. — ^The  preventive  treatment  consists  in  keeping  colts 
well  nourished  and  in  trimming  the  hoof  and  shoeing  to  properly  bal- 
ance the  foot,  and  thus  prevent  an  abnormal  strain  on  the  ligaments. 
Even  after  the  ringbone  has  developed,  a  cure  may  sometimes  be  occa- 
sioned by  proper  shoeing  directed  toward  straightening  the  axis  of  the 
foot  as  viewed  from  the  side  by  making  the  wall  of  the  hoof  from  the 
coronet  to  the  toe  continuous  with  the  line  formed  by  the  front  of 
the  pastern.  As  long  as  inflammation  of  the  periosteum  and  ligaments 
remains,  a  sharp  blister  of  biniodide  of  mercury  and  cantharides  may 
do  good  if  the  animal  is  allowed  to  rest  for  four  or  five  weeks.  If  this 
fails,  some  success  may  be  accomplished  Xix  point  firing  in  two  or  three 
lines  over  the  ringbone.  It  is  necessary  to  touch  the  hot  iron  well 
into  the  bone,  as  superficial  firing  does  little  good.  When  all  these 
measures  have  failed  to  remove  the  lameness,  or  when  the  animal  is 
not  worth  a  long  and  uncertain  treatment,  a  competent  veterinarian 
should  be  engaged  to  perform  double  neurectomy,  high  or  low,  of  the 
plantar  nerves,  or  neurectomy  of  the  median  nerve  as  indicated  by  the 
seat  of  the  lesion. 

SIDEBOXES. 

On  each  side  of  the  bone  of  the  hoof — the  coffinbone — there  are 
normally  two  supplementary  organs  which  are  called  the  cartilages  of 
the  foot.  They  are  soft,  and  though  in  a  degree  elastic,  yet  somewhat 
resisting,  and  are  implanted  on  the  lateral  wings  of  the  coffinbone. 
Evidently  their  office  is  to  assist  in  the  elastic  expansion  and  contrac- 
tion of  the  posterior  part  of  the  hoof,  and  their  healthy  and  normal 
action  doubtless  contributes  in  an  important  degree  to  the  perfect  per- 
formance of  the  functions  of  that  part  of  the  leg.  These  organs  are, 
however,  liable  to  undergo  a  process' of  disease  which  results  in  an 
entire  change  in  their  properties,  if  not  in  their  shape,  by  which  they 


292  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

acquire  a  character  of  hardness  resulting-  from  the  deposit  of  earthy 
substance  in  the  intimate  structure  of  the  cartihiire,  and  it  is  this 
change,  when  its  consummation  has  been  effected,  that  l)rings  to  our 
cognizance  the  diseased  growth  which  lias  received  the  designation  of 
sidehones.  They  are  situated  on  one  or  both  sides  of  the  leg,  bulging 
above  the  superior  border  of  the  hoof  in  the  form  of  two  hard  bodies 
composed  of  ossified  cartilage,  irregularly  scpiare  in  shape  and  unyield- 
ing under  the  pressure  of  the  fingers. 

Cause. — Sidebones  maj^  be  the  result  of  a  low  inflammatory  condi- 
tion or  of  an  acute  attack  as  well,  or  may  be  caused  l^y  sprains,  bruises, 
or  blows;  or  they  may  have  their  rise  in  certain  diseases  affecting  the 
foot  proper,  such  as  corns,  quarter  cracks,  or  cjuittor.  The  deposit  of 
calcareous  matter  in  the  cartilage  is  not  always  uniform,  the  base  of  that 
organ  near  its  line  of  union  with  the  coffinbone  being  in  some  cases 
its  limit,  while  at  other  times  it  is  diffused  throughout  its  substance, 
the  size  and  prominence  of  the  grovvth  varying  much  in  consequence. 

Symptoms. — It  would  naturally  be  inferred  that  the  amount  of  inter- 
ference with  the  proper  functions  of  the  hoof  which  must  result  from 
such  a  pathological  change  would  be  proportioned  to  the  size  of  the 
tumor,  and  that  as  the  dimensions  increased,  the  resulting  lameness 
would  be  the  greater  in  degree.  This,  however,  is  not  the  fact.  A 
small  tumor,  while  in  a  condition  of  acute  inflammation  during  the 
formative  stage,  ma}^  cripple  a  patient  more  severelj^  than  a  much 
larger  one  in  a  later  stage  of  the  disease.  In  any  case  the  lameness  is 
never  wanting,  and  with  its  intermittent  character  may  usualU^  be 
detected  when  the  animal  is  cooled  off  after  labor  or  exercise.  The  class 
of  animals  in  which  this  feature  of  the  disease  is  most  frequently  wit- 
nessed is  that  of  the  heavy  draft  horse,  and  others  similarly  empIoA'cd. 
There  is  a  wide  margin  of  difference  in  respect  to  the  degrees  of 
severity  which  may  characterize  different  cases  of  sidebone.  While 
one  may  be  so  slight  as  to  cause  no  inconvenience,  another  ma}'  develop 
elements  of  danger  which  may  involve  the  necessity  of  severe  sui'gical 
interference. 

Treatment. — The  curative  treatment  should  be  similar  to  the  pro- 
ph3iactic,  and  such  means  should  l)e  used  as  would  tend  to  prevent 
the  deposit  of  bony  matters  by  checking  the  acute  inflammation  which 
causes  it.  The  means  recommended  are  the  free  use  of  the  cold  bath; 
frequent  soaking  of  the  feet,  and  at  a  later  period  treatment  with 
iodine,  either  b}-  painting  the  surface  with  the  tincture  several  tmies 
daih%  or  by  applj^ng  an  ointment  made  b}'  mixing  1  dram  of  the 
crystals  with  2  ounces  of  A^aseline,  rubbed  in  once  a  da}'  for  several 
days.  If  this  proves  to  be  ineffective,  a  Spanish -fly  blister,  to  which 
a  few  grains  of  biniodide  of  mercury  have  been  added,  will,  in  a 
majority  of  cases,  effect  the  desired  result  and  remove  the  lameness. 
If,  finally,  this  treatment  is  ineffectual,  the  case  must  be  relegated  to 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  293 

the  surgeon  for  the  operation  of  nourectom}',  or  the  free  and  deep 
application  of  the  firing-  iron. 


This  affection,  popularly  termed  hone  spavin.,  is  an  exostosis  of  the 
hock  joint.  The  general  impression  is  that  in  a  spavined  hock  the 
bon}"  growth  should  be  seated  on  the  anterior  and  internal  part  of  the 
joint,  and  this  is  partially  correct,  as  such  a  growth  will  constitute  a 
spavin  in  the  most  correct  sense  of  the  term.  But  an  enlargement 
ma}"  appear  on  the  upper  part  of  the  hock  also,  or  possibly  a  little 
below  the  inner  side  of  the  lower  extremity  of  the  shank  bone,  form- 
ing what  is  known  as  a  Idgli  spavvti;  or,  again,  the  growth  ma}^  form 
just  on  the  outside  of  the  hock  and  become  an  outside,,  or  external., 
spavin.  And,  finall}",  the  entire  under  surface  may  become  the  seat 
of  the  osseous  deposit,  and  involve  the  articular  face  of  all  the  bones 
of  the  hock,  and  this  again  is  a  Tjone  spavin.  There  would  seem,  then, 
to  be  but  little  difficulty  in  comprehending  the  nature  of  a  bone  spavin, 
and  there  would  be  none  but  for  the  fact  that  there  are  similar  affec- 
tions which  might  confuse  one  if  the  diagnosis  is  not  ver}^  carefully 
made. 

But  the  hock  ma}"  be  "spavined,"  vv'hile  to  all  outward  observation  it 
still  retains  its  perfect  form.  With  no  enlargement  perceptible  to  sight 
or  touch  the  animal  may  yet  be  disabled  by  an  occult  spavin.,  an  anchy- 
losis in  fact,  which  has  resulted  from  a  union  of  several  of  the  bones 
of  the  joint,  and  it  is  only  those  who  are  able  to  realize  the  importance 
of  its  action  to  the  perfect  fulfillment  of  the  function  of  locomotion 
by  the  hind  leg  who  can  comprehend  the  gravity  of  the  only  prognosis 
which  can  be  justified  by  the  facts  of  the  case — a  prognosis  which  is 
essentially  a  sentence  of  serious  import  in  respect  to  the  future  useful- 
ness and  value  of  the  animal.  For  no  disease,  if  we  except  those  acute 
inflammatory  attacks  upon  vital  organs  to  whi(5h  the  patient  succumbs 
at  once,  is  more  destructive  to  the  usefulness  and  value  of  a  horse  than 
a  confirmed  spavin.  Serious  in  its  inceDtion,  serious  in  its  progress, 
it  is  an  ailment  which,  when  once  established,  becomes  a  fixed  condition 
which  there  is  no  known  means  of  dislodging. 

Cause. — The  periostitis,  of  which  it  is  nearly  always  a  termination, 
is  usually  the  effect  of  a  traumatic  cause  operating'  upon  the.compli- 
cated  structure  of  the  hock,  such  as  a  sprain  which  has  torn  a  liga- 
mentous insertion  and  lacerated  some  of  its  fibers;  or  a  violent  effort 
in  jumping,  galloping,  or  trotting,  to  which  the  victim  has  been  com- 
pelled by  the  torture  of  whip  and  spur  v/hile  in  use  as  a  gambling 
implement  by  a  sporting  owner,  under  the  pretext  of  "improving  his 
breed;"  or  the  extra  exertion  of  starting  an  inordinately  heavy  load; 
or  an  effort  to  recover  his  balance  from  a  misstep;  or  slipping  upon 
an  icy  surface;  or  sliding  with  worn  shoes  upon  a  bad  pavement,  and 


204  BUHEAU    OF    ANIMAL    US^DUSTEY. 

other  kindred  causes.  And  we  can  repeat  here  what  we  have  before 
said  concerning  bones,  in  respect  to  heredity  as  a  cause.  From  our 
own  experience  we  know  of  equine  families  in  which  this  condition  has 
been  transmitted  from  generation  to  generation,  and  animals  otherwise 
of  excellent  conformation  rendered  valueless  by  the  misfortune  of  a 
congenital  spavin. 

Sym2?tams. — The  evil  is  one  of  the  most  serious  character  for  other 
reasons,  among  which  may  be  specified  the  slowness  of  its  develop- 
ment and  the  insidiousness  of  its  growth.  Certain  indefinite  phenom- 
ena and  alarming  changes  and  incidents  furnish  usually  the  only 
portents  of  approaching  trouble.  Among  these  signs  may  be  men- 
tioned a  peculiar  posture  assumed  by  the  patient  while  at  rest,  and 
becon^ng  at  length  so  habitual  that  it  can  not  fail  to  suggest  the  action 
of  some  hidden  disorder.  The  posture  is  due  to  the  action  of  the 
adductor  muscles,  the  lower  part  of  the  leg  being  carried  inward,  and 
the  heel  of  the  shoe  resting  on  the  toe  of  the  opposite  foot.  Then  an 
unwillingness  may  be  noticed  in  the  animal  to  move  from  one  side  of 
the  stall  to  the  other.  When  driven  he  will  travel,  but  stifll}^,  and 
with  a  sort  of  sidelong  gait  between  the  shafts,  and  after  finishing  his 
task  and  resting  again  in  his  stall  will  pose  with  the  toe  pointing  for- 
ward, the  heel  raised,  and  the  hock  flexed.  Some  little  heat  and  a 
considerable  amount  of  inflammation  soon  appear.  The  slight  lame- 
ness which  appears  when  backing  out  of  the  stall  ceases  to  be  notice- 
able after  a  short  distance  of  travel. 

A  minute  examination  of  the  hock  ma}^  then  reveal  the  existence  of 
a  bon}'  enlargement  which  may  be  detected  just  at  the  junction  of  the 
hock  and  the  cannon  bone,  on  the  inside  and  a  little  in  front,  and 
tangible  both  to  sight  and  touch.  This  enlargement,  or  hone  sjMvin^ 
grows  rapidly  and  persistently  and  soon  acquires  dimensions  which 
render  it  impossible  to  doubt  any  longer  its  existence  or  its  nature. 
Once  established,  its  development  continues  under  conditions  of  prog- 
ress similar  to  those  to  which  we  have  before  alluded  in  speaking  of 
other  like  affections.  The  argument  advanced  by  some  that  because 
these  bony  deposits  are  frequently  found  on  both  hocks  they  are  not 
spavins  is  fallacious.  If  they  are  discovered  on  both  hocks,  it  proves 
merely  that  they  are  not  confined  to  a  single  joint. 

The  characteristic  lameness  of  bone  spavin,  as  it  affects  the  motion 
of  the  hock  joint,  presents  two  aspects.  In  one  class  of  cases  it  is 
most  pronounced  when  the  horse  is  cool,  in  the  other  when  he  is  at 
work.  The  first  is  characterized  by  the  fact  that  when  the  animal 
travels  the  toe  first  touches  the  ground,  and  the  heel  descends  more 
slowl}',  the  motion  of  flexion  at  the  hock  taking  place  stiffly,  and 
accompanied  by  a  dropping  of  the  hip  on  the  opposite  side.  In  the 
other  case  the  peculiarit}'^  is  that  the  lameness  increases  as  the  horse 
travels;  that  when  he  stops  he  seeks  to  favor  the  lame  leg,  and  when 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOSSE.  295 

he  resumes  his  work  soon  after  he  steps  much  on  his  toe,  as  in  the 
first  variety. 

As  with  sidebones,  though  for  a  somewhat  different  reason,  the 
dimensions  of  the  spavin  and  the  degree  of  the  lameness  do  not  seem 
to  bear  any  determinate  relation,  the  most  pronounced  symptoms  at 
times  accompanying  a  very  diminutive  growth.  But  the  distinction 
between  the  two  varieties  of  cool  and  warm  may  easily  be  determined 
b}'^  remembering  the  fact  that  in  a  majorit}^  of  cases  the  first,  or  cool, 
is  due  to  a  simple  exostosis,  while  the  second  is  generally  connected 
with  disease  of  the  articulation,  such  as  ulceration  of  the  articular 
surface — a  condition  which,  as  we  proceed  further_j  will  meet  our 
attention  when  we  reach  the  subject  of  stringhalt. 

An  excellent  test  for  sj^avin  lameness,  which  raaj^  be  readily  applied, 
consists  in  lifting  the  affected  leg  off  the  ground  for  one  or  two  min- 
utes and  holding  the  foot  high  so  as  to  flex  all  the  joints.  An  assist- 
ant, with  the  halter  strap  in  his  hand,  quickl}'  starts  the  animal  off  in 
a  trot,  when,  if  the  hock  joint  is  affected,  the  lameness  will  be  so 
greatly  intensified  as  to  readily  lead  to  a  diagnosis. 

Prognosis. — Having  thus  full}'  considered  the  historj-  of  bone  spavin, 
we  are  prepared  to  give  due  weight  to  the  reasons  which  exist  for  the 
adverse  prognosis  which  we  must  usually  feel  compelled  to  pronounce 
when  encountering  it  in  practice,  as  well  as  to  realize  the  importance 
of  early  discovery.  It  is  but  seldom,  however,  that  the  necessary 
advantage  of  this  early  knowledge  can  be  secured,  and  when  the  true 
nature  of  the  trouble  has  become  apparent  it  is  usually  too  late  to 
resort  to  the  remedial  measures  which,  if  duly  forewarned,  a  skillful 
practitioner  might  have  emploj^ed.  We  are  fully  persuaded  that  but 
for  the  loss  of  the  time  wasted  in  the  treatment  of  purely  imaginary 
ailments  very  many  cases  of  bone  spavin  might  be  arrested  in  their 
incipiency  and  their  victims  preserved  for  years  of  comfort  for  them- 
selves and  valuable  labor  to  their  owners. 

Treatment. — To  consider  a  hypothetical  case:  An  earl}-  discovery  of 
lameness  has  been  made;  that  is,  the  existence  of  an  acute  inflamma- 
tion— of  periostitis— has  been  detected.  The  increased  temperature 
of  the  parts  has  been  observed,  with  the  stiffened  gait  and  the  charac- 
teristic pose  of  the  limb,  and  the  question  is  proposed  for  solution. 
What  is  to  be  done?  Even  with  only  these  comparatively  doubtful 
S5"mptoms — doubtful  with  the  nonexpert — we  should  direct  our  treat- 
ment to  the  hock  in  preference  to  any  other  joint,  since  of  all  the 
joints  of  the  hind  leg  it  is  this  which  is  most  liable  to  be  attacked,  a 
natural  result  from  its  peculiarities  of  structure  and  function.  And  in 
answer  to  the  query.  What  is  the  first  treatment  indicated?  we 
should  answer  rest — emphaticall}',  and  as  an  essential  condition,  7'est. 
Whether  only  threatened,  suspected,  or  positively  diseased,  the  ani- 
mal must  be  wholly  released  from  labor,  and  it  must  be  no  partial  or 


296  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

temporaiy  cjuict  of  a  few  days.  In  all  stages  and  conditions  of  the 
disease,  whether  the  spavin  is  nothing  more  than  a  simple  exostosis,  or 
whether  accompanied  by  the  complication  of  arthritis,  there  must  be 
a  total  suspension  of  effort  until  the  danger  is  over.  Less  than  a 
month's  quiet  ought  not  to  be  thought  of — the  longer  the  better. 

Good  results  ma^^  also  be  expected  from  local  applications.  The 
various  lotions  which  cool  the  parts,  the  astringents  which  lower  the 
tension  of  the  blood  vessels,  the  tepid  fomentations  which  accelerate 
the  circulation  in  the  engorged  capillaries,  the  liniments  of  various 
composition,  the  stimulants,  the  opiate  anodynes,  the  sedative  prepa- 
rations of  aconite,  the  alterative  frictions  of  iodine — all  these  are 
recommended  and  prescribed  by  one  or  another.  We  prefer  counter- 
irritants,  for  the  simple  reason,  among  many  others,  that  they  tend 
by  the  promptness  of  their  action  to  prevent  the  formation  of  the 
bony  deposits.  The  lameness  will  often  yield  to  the  blistering  action 
of  cantharides,  in  the  form  of  ointment  or  liniment,  and  to  the  alter- 
ative preparations  of  iodine  or  mercurj'.  And  if  the  owner  of  a 
"spavined"  horse  really  succeeds  in  removing  the  lameness,  he  has 
accomplished  all  that  he  is  justified  in  hoping  for;  beyond  this  let  him 
be  well  persuaded  that  a  "cure"  is  impossible. 

For  this  reason,  moreover,  he  will  do  well  to  be  on  his  guard 
against  the  patented  "cures  "which  the  traveling  horse  doctor  may 
urge  upon  him,  and  v>athhold  his  faith  from  the  circular  of  the  agent 
who  will  deluge  him  with  references  and  certificates.  It  is  possible 
that  nostrums  ma}"  in  some  exceptional  instances  prove  serviceable, 
but  the  greater  number  of  them  are  capable  of  producing  only  injuri- 
ous effects.  The  removal  of  the  bony  tumor  can  not  be  accomplished 
b}'  any  such  means,  and  if  a  ti'ial  of  these  unknown  compounds  should 
be  followed  by  complications  no  worse  than  the  establishment  of  one 
or  more  ugh',  hairless  cicatrices,  it  will  be  well  for  both  the  horse 
and  his  owner. 

Rest  and  counterirritation,  with  the  proper  medicaments,  consti- 
tute, then,  the  prominent  points  in  the  treatment  designed  for  the 
relief  of  bone  spavin.  Yet  there  are  cases  in  which  all  the  agencies 
and  methods  referred  to  seem  to  lack  effectiveness  and  fail  to  produce 
satisfactory  results.  Either  the  rest  has  been  prematureh'  inter- 
rupted or  the  blisters  have  failed  to  rightly  modify  the  serous  infil- 
tration, or  the  case  in  hand  has  some  undiscernible  characteristics 
which  seem  to  have  rendered  the  disease  neutral  to  the  agencies 
employed  against  it.  An  indication  of  more  energetic  means  is  then 
presented,  and  free  cauterization  with  the  firing  iron  becomes 
necessary. 

At  this  point  a  word  of  explanation  in  reference  to  this  operation 
of  firing  may  be  appropriate  for  the  satisfaction  of  any  among  our 
readers  who  may  entertain  an  exaggerated  idea  of  its  severity  and 
possible  cruelty. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  297 

The  operation  is  one  of  .simplicity,  but  is  nevertheless  one  which, 
in  order  to  secure  its  benefits,  must  be  reserved  for  times  and  occa- 
sions of  which  onh'  the  best  knowledge  and  highest  discretion  should 
be  allowed  to  judge.  It  is  not  the  mere  application  of  a  hot  iron  to  a 
given  part  of  the  bod}-  which  constitutes  the  operation  of  firing.  It 
is  the  methodical  and  scientific  introduction  of  heat  into  the  structure 
with  a  view  to  a  given  effect  upon  a  diseased  organ  or  tissue  by  an 
expert  surgeon.  The  first  is  one  of  the  degrees  of  mere  burning.  The 
other  is  scientific  cauterization,  and  is  a  surgical  manipulation  which 
should  be  committed  exclusively  to  the  practiced  hand  of  the  veter- 
inary surgeon. 

Either  firing  alone  or  stimulation  with  blisters  is  of  great  efficacy 
for  the  relief  of  lameness  from  bone  sj^avin.  Failure  to  produce  relief 
after  a  few  applications  and  after  allowing  a  sufficient  interval  of  rest 
should  be  followed  by  a  second,  or,  if  needed,  a  third  firing. 

In  case  of  further  failure  there  is  a  reserve  of  certain  special  oper- 
ations which  have  been  tried  and  recommended,  among  which  those 
of  cunean  tenotom}-,  periosteotomj^,  the  division  of  nervous  branches, 
etc.,  may  be  mentioned.  These,  however,  belong  to  the  peculiar 
domain  of  the  veterinar}^  practitioner,  and  need  not  now  engage  our 
attention. 

FRACTURES. 

In  technical  language  a  fracture  is  a  "solution  of  continuit}^  in  the 
structure  or  substance  of  a  bone."  It  ranks  among  the  most  serious 
of  the  lesions  to  which  the  horse — or  an}"  animal — can  be  subject.  It 
is  a  subject  of  special  interest  to  veterinarians  and  horse  owners  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  it  occurs  in  such  a  variet}^  of  forms  and  it  sub- 
jects the  patient  to  much  loss  of  time,  resulting  in  the  suspension  of 
his  earning  capacity.  Though  of  less  serious  consequence  in  the 
horse  than  in  man,  it  is  always  a  matter  of  grave  import.  It  is 
always  slow  and  tedious  in  healing,  and  is  frequently  of  doubtful 
and  unsatisfactory  result. 

This  solution  of  continuity  may  take  place  in  two  principal  ways. 
In  the  most  numeit)us  instances  it  includes  the  total  thickness  of  the 
bone  and  is  a  complete  fracture.  In  other  cases  it  involves  a  portion 
onl}^  of  the  thickness  of  the  bone,  and  for  that  reason  is  described  as 
tncomjdete.  If  the  bone  is  divided  into  two  separate  portions,  and  the 
soft  parts  have  received  no  injury,  the  fracture  is  a  simjyJe  one;  or  it 
becomes  compound  if  the  soft  parts  have  suffered  laceration,  and  com- 
minuted if  the  bones  have  been  crushed  or  ground  into  fragments, 
many  or  few.  The  direction  of  the  break  also  determines  its  further 
classification.  Broken  at  a  right  angle  it  is  tranftverse;  at  a  different 
angle  it  becomes  oblique^  and  it  may  be  longitudinal  or  lengthwise. 
In  a  complete  fracture,  especially  of  the  oblique  kind,  there  is  a  con- 
dition of  great  importance  in  respect  to  its  effect  upon  the  ultimate 


298  BUREAU  OF  ANLMAL  INDUSTRY. 

result  of  the  treatment  iu  the  fact  that  from  various  causes,  such  as 
muscular  contractions  or  excessive  motion,  the  bony  fragments  do 
not  maintain  their  mutual  coaptation,  but  become  separated  at  the 
ends,  which  makes  it  necessary  to  add  another  descriptive  term — icith 
dixj^Iacement.  And  these  words  again  suggest  the  negative,  and 
introduce  the  term  vntliout  dis place m-ent^  when  the  facts  justify  that 
description.  Furthermore,  a  fracture  may  be  intraartlcxdar  or  extra- 
articidar,  as  it  extends  into  a  joint  or  otlierwise,  and  once  more,  intra- 
j)e)'e'ofife(d,  when  the  periosteum  remains  intact.  Finall}",  there  is  no 
absolute  limit  to  the  xvie  of  descriptive  terminology  in  the  case. 

The  condition  of  displacement  is  largely  influential  in  determining 
the  question  of  treatment,  and  as  affecting  the  final  result  of  a  case  of 
fracture.  This,  however,  is  dependent  upon  its  location  or  whether 
its  seat  be  in  one  or  more  of  the  axes  of  the  bone,  in  its  length,  its 
breadth,  its  thickness,  or  its  circumference.  An  incomplete  fracture 
may  also  be  either  simple  or  comminuted.  In  the  latter  case  the  frag- 
ments are  held  together  by  the  periosteum  when  it  is  intact,  and  the 
fracture  in  that  case  belongs  to  the  intraperiosteal  class.  At  times, 
also,  there  is  onlj-  a  simple  fissure  or  split  in  the  bone,  making  a  con- 
dition of  much  difficulty  of  diagnosis. 

Causes. — Two  varieties  of  originating  cause  may  be  recognized  in 
cases  of  fracture.  The}^  are  the  predts'poslng  and  the  occasional.  As 
to  the  first,  different  species  of  animals  differ  in  the  degree  of  their 
liability.  That  of  the  dog  is  greater  than  tliat  of  the  horse,  and  in 
horses  the  various  questions  of  age,  the  mode  of  labor,  the  season  of 
the  year,  the  portion  of  the  body  most  exposed,  and  the  existence  of 
ailments,  local  and  general,  are  all  to  l)e  taken  into  account. 

Among  horses,  those  emploj^ed  in  heavy  draft  work  or  that  are 
driven  over  bad  roads  are  more  exposed  than  light-draft  or  saddle 
horses,  and  aniumls  of  different  ages  are  not  equally  lial)le.  Dogs 
and  young  horses,  with  those  which  have  become  sufficiently  aged  for 
their  bones  to  have  acquired  an  enhanced  degree  of  frangibility,  are 
more  liable  than  those  which  have  not  exceeded  the  time  of  their 
adult  prime.  The  season  of  the  3'ear  is  undoubtedly,  though  in  an 
incidental  v/aj',  an  important  factor  in  the  problem  of  the  ctiolog}^  of 
these  accidents,  for  though  the}'-  may  be  observed  at  all  times,  it  is 
during  the  months  when  the  slippery  condition  of  the  icy  roads  renders 
it  difficult  for  both  men  and  beasts  to  keep  their  feet  that  thej^  occur 
most  frequently'.  The  long  bones,  those  especially  which  belong  to 
the  extremities,  are  most  frequentl}'  the  seat  of  fractures,  from  the 
circumstance  of  their  superficial  position,  their  exposure  to  contact 
and  collision,  and  the  violent  muscular  efforts  involved  both  in  their 
constant  rapid  movement  and  their  labor  iu  the  shafts  or  at  the  pole 
of  heavy  and  heavily  laden  carriages. 

The  relation  between  sundrv  idiosvncrasies  and  diatheses  and  a  lia- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  209 

bility  to  fractures  is  too  constant  and  well-established  a  pathological 
fact  to  need  more  than  a  passing  reference.  The  history  of  rachitis, 
of  melanosis,  and  of  osteoporosis,  as  related  to  an  abnormal  frangi- 
bility  of  the  bones,  is  a  part  of  our  common  medical  knowledge. 
There  are  few  persons  who  have  not  known  of  cases  among  their 
friends  of  frequent  and  almost  spontaneous  fractures,  or  at  least  of 
such  as  seem  to  be  produced  by  the  slightest  and  most  inadequate  vio- 
lence, and  there  is  no  tangible  reason  for  doubting  an  analogous  con- 
dition in  individuals  of  the  equine  race.  Among  local  predisposing 
causes  mention  must  not  be  omitted  of  such  bon}^  diseases  as  caries, 
tuberculosis,  and  others  of  the  same  class. 

Exciting,  occasional,  or  "efficient"  causes  of  fracture  are  in  most 
instances  external  traumatisms,  as  violent  contacts,  collisions,  falls, 
etc.,  or  sudden  muscular  contractions.  These  external  accidents  are 
various  in  their  character,  and  are  usually  associated  with  quick  mus- 
cular exertion.  A  violent,  ineffectual  effort  to  move 'too  heav}^  a  load; 
a  semispasmodic  bracing  of  the  frame  to  avoid  a  fall  or  resist  a  pres- 
sure; a  quick  jump  to  escape  a  blow;  stopping  too  suddenly  after 
speeding;  struggling  to  liberate  a  foot  from  a  rail,  perhaps  to  be 
thrown  in  the  effort — all  these  are  familiar  and  easy  examples  of  acci- 
dents happening  hourl}^  l)y  which  our  equine  servants  become  suffer- 
ers. We  may  add  to  these  the  fracture  of  the  bones  of  the  vertebrro, 
occurring  w^hen  casting  a  patient  for  the  purpose  of  undergoing  a 
surgical  operation,  quite  as  much  the  result  of  muscular  contraction 
as  of  a  preexisting  diseased  condition  of  the  bones.  A  fracture 
occurring  under  these  circumstances  may  be  called  with  propriety 
indirect,  while  one  which  has  resulted  from  a  blow  or  a  fall  differently 
caused  is  of  the  direct  kind. 

Symptoms. — We  now  return  to  the  first  items  in  our  classification 
of  the  varieties  of  fractures  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  them  in  turn 
under  an  orderly  review,  and  our  first  examination  will  include  those 
which  belong  to  the  first  category,  or  the  complete  kind.  Irregularity 
in  the  performance  of  the  functions  of  the  apparatus  to  which  the 
fractured  bone  belongs  is  a  necessary  consequence  of  the  existing 
lesion,  and  this  is  lameness.  If  the  broken  bone  belongs  to  one  of  the 
extremities,  the  impossibilit}^  of  the  performance  of  its  natural  func- 
tion, in  sustaining  the  weight  of  the  body  and  contributing  to  the  act 
of  locomotion,  is  usually  complete,  though  the  deg-ree  of  disability  will 
vary  according  to  the  kind  of  fracture  and  the  bone  which  is  injured. 
For  example,  a  fracture  of  the  cannon  bone  without  displacement,  or 
of  one  of  the  phalanges  which  are  surrounded  and  sustained  by  a  com- 
plex fibrous  .structure,  is,  in  a  certain  degree,  not  incompatible  with 
some  amount  of  resting  on  the  foot.  But,  on  the  contrary,  if  the 
shank  bone,  or  that  of  the  forearm  be  the  implicated  member,  it  would 
be  very  difficult  for  the  leg  to  exercise  any  agency  whatever  in  the 


300  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

support  of  the  body.  And  in  a  fracture  of  the  lower  jaw  it  would  be 
obviously  unrcasonal)lc  to  expect  it  to  contribute  materially  to  the 
mastication  of  food. 

A  fracture  seldom  occurs  which  is  not  accompanied  with  a  degree 
of  deformity,  greater  or  less,  of  the  region  or  the  leg  affected.  This 
is  due  to  the  exudation  of  the  blood  into  the  meshes  of  the  surround- 
ing tissues  and  to  the  displacement  which  occurs  between  the  frag- 
ments of  the  bones,  with  subsequently  the  swelling  which  follows  the 
inflammation  of  the  surrounding  tissues.  The  character  of  the 
deformity  will  mainly  depend  upon  the  manner  in  which  the  displace- 
ment occurs. 

In  a  normal  state  of  things  the  legs  perform  their  movements  with 
the  joints  as  their  onh'  centers  or  bases  of  action,  with  no  participa- 
tion of  intermediate  points,  while  with  a  fracture  the  flexibility  and 
motion  which  will  be  observed  at  unnatural  points  are  among  the  most 
strongly  characteristic  signs  of  the  lesion.  No  one  need  be  told  that 
when  the  shaft  of  a  limb  is  seen  to  bend  midway  between  the  joints, 
with  the  lower  portion  swinging  f  reel3',  that  the  leg  is  broken.  But 
there  are  still  some  conditions  where  the  excessive  mobilitv  is  not 
eas}'  to  detect  with  certainty.  Such  are  the  cases  where  the  fracture 
exii^ts  in  a  short  bone,  near  a  movable  joint,  or  in  a  bone  of  a  region 
where  several  short  and  small  bones  are  united  in  a  group,  or  even  in 
a  long  bone  where  its  situation  is  such  that  the  muscular  covering 
prevents  the  visible  manifestation  of  the  symptom. 

If  the  situation  of  a  fracture  precludes  its  discoveiy  by  means  of 
this  abnormal  flexibility,  other  modes  of  detection  remain.  There  is 
one  method  which  is  absolute  and  positive  and  which  can  be  applied 
in  by  far  the  most,  though  not  in  all  cases.  Tins  is  crepitation.,  or  the 
peculiar  effect  which  is  produced  by  the  friction  of  the  fractured  sur- 
faces one  against  another.  Though  discerned  by  the  organs  of  hear- 
ing it  can  scarcely  be  called  a  sound,  for  the  grating  of  the  parts  as 
the  rubbing  takes  place  is  more  felt  than  heard;  however,  there  is  no 
mistaking  its  import  in  cases  favorable  for  the  application  of  the  test. 
The  conditions  in  which  it  is  not  available  are  those  of  incomplete 
fracture,  in  which  the  mobility  of  the  parts  is  lacking,  and  those  in 
which  the  whole  array  of  phenomena  are  usually  obscure.  To  obtain 
the  benefit  of  this  pathognomonic  sign  requires  deliberate,  careful, 
and  gentle  manipulation.  Sometimes  the  slightest  of  movements  will 
be  sufficient  for  its  development,  after  much  rougher  handling  has 
failed  to  discover  it.  Perhaps  the  failure  in  the  latter  case  is  due  to 
a  sort  of  defensive  spasmodic  rigidity  caused  by  the  pain  resulting 
from  the  rude  interference. 

More  or  less  reactive  fever  is  a  usual  accompaniment  of  a  fracture. 
Ecchj-moses  in  the  parts  is  but  a  natural  occurrence,  and  is  more  easily 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  301 

discovered  in  animals  possessing-  a  light  colored  and  delicate  skin  than 
in  those  of  the  opposite  character. 

There  are  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  diagnosis  of  an  incomplete 
fracture,  ev^en  sometimes  when  there  is  a  degree  of  impairment  in  the 
function  of  locomotion,  with  evidences  of  pain  and  swelling-  at  the 
seat  of  lesion.  There  should  then  be  a  careful  examination  for  evi- 
dences of  a  blow  or  other  violence  sufficient  to  account  for  the  fracture, 
though  very  often  a  suspicion  of  its  existence  can  only  be  converted 
into  a  certainty  bj^  a  minute  history  of  the  patient  if  it  can  be  obtained 
up  to  the  moment  of  the  occurrence  of  the  injury.  A  diagnosis  ought 
not  to  be  hastily  pronounced,  and  where  good  ground  for  suspicion 
exists  it  ought  not  to  be  rejected  upon  any  evidence  less  than  the  best. 
Serious  and  fatal  complications  are  too  often  recorded  of  the  results 
following-  careless  conclusions  in  similar  cases,  among-  which  we  may 
refer  to  one  instance  of  a  complete  fracture  manifesting  itself  in  an 
animal  during-  the  act  of  rising  up  in  his  stall  after  a  decision  had  been 
pronounced  that  he  had  no  fracture  at  all. 

Fractures  are  of  course  liable  to  complications,  especially  those 
which  are  of  a  traumatic  character,  such  as  extensive  lacerations,  tear- 
ing of  tissues,  punctures,  contusions,  etc.  Unless  these  are  in  com- 
munication with  the  fracture  itself  the  indication  is  to  treat  them  sim- 
pl}^  as  independent  lesions  upon  other  parts  of  the  body.  A  traumatic 
emphj^sema  will  at  times  cause  trouble,  and  abscesses,  more  or  less 
deep  and  diffused,  may  follow.  In  some  cases  small  bony  fragments 
from  a  comminuted  fracture,  becoming  loose  and  acting  as  foreign 
bodies,  give  rise  to  troublesome  fistulous  tracts.  A  frequent  compli- 
cation is  hemorrhage,  which  often  becomes  of  serious  consequence. 
A  fracture  in  close  proximity  to  a  joint  ma}^  be  accompanied  by  dan- 
gerous inflammations  of  important  organs,  and  induce  an  attack  of 
pneumonia,  pleurisy,  arthritis,  etc.,  especially  if  situated  near  the  chest; 
it  may  also  cause  luxations,  or  dislocations.  Gangrene^  as  a  conse- 
quence of  contusions  or  of  hemorrhage  or  of  an  impediment  to  the 
circulation,  caused  by  unskillfully  applied  apparatus,  must  not  be  over- 
looked among  the  occasional  incidents;  nor  must  locljaiv,  which  is  not 
an  uncommon  occurrence.  Even  founder,  or  laminitis  has  been  met 
with  as  the  result  of  forced  and  long  continued  immobility  of  the  feet 
in  the  standing  posture,  as  one  of  the  involvements  of  unavoidably 
protracted  treatment. 

When  a  simple  fracture  has  been  properly  treated  and  the  broken 
ends  of  the  bone  have  been  securely  held  in  coaptation,  one  of  two 
things  will  occur.  Either — and  this  is  the  more  common  event — there 
will  be  a  union  of  the  two  ends  b}^  a  solid  cicatrix,  the  callus,  or  the 
ends  will  continue  separated  or  become  only  partially  united  b}'  an 
intermediate  fibrous  structure.     In  the  first  instance  the  -fracture  is 


802  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

consolidated,  or  united;  in  the  second  there  is  u  false  articulation,  or 
2)scudarthrosls. 

The  time  required  for  a  firm  union  or  true  consolidation  of  a  frac- 
ture will  vary  with  the  character  of  the  bone  affected,  the  age  and 
constitution  of  the  patient,  and  the  general  conditions  of  the  case. 
The  union  will  be  perfected  earlier  in  a  3'oung  than  in  an  adult  ani- 
nnil,  and  sooner  in  the  latter  than  in  the  aged,  and  a  general  healthy 
condition  is,  of  course,  in  every  respect,  an  advantage. 

The  mode  of  cicatrization,  or  method  of  repair  in  lesions  of  the 
bones,  has  been  a  subject  of  much  study  among  investigators  in 
I)athology,  and  has  elicited  various  expressions  of  opinion  from  those 
high  in  authority.  But  the  weight  of  evidence  and  preponderance  of 
opinion  are  about  settled  in  favor  of  the  theory  that  the  law  of  repa- 
ration is  the  same  for  both  the  hard  and  the  soft  tissues.  In  one  case 
a  simple  exudation  of  material,  with  the  proper  organization  of  newly 
formed  tissue,  will  bring  about  a  union  by  the  first  intention,  and  in 
another  the  work  will  be  accompanied  by  suppuration,  or  union  by  the 
second  intention,  a  process  so  familiar  in  the  impair  of  the  soft  struc- 
tures bv^  gi'anulation. 

Considering  the  process  in  its  simplest  form,  in  a  case  in  which  it 
advances  without  interruption  or  complication  to  a  favorable  result  it 
ma}^  probabh'  be  correctly  described  in  this  wise: 

On  the  occurrence  of  the  injury  an  effusion  of  blood  takes  place  be- 
tween the  ends  of  the  bone.  The  coagulation  of  the  fluid  soon  fol- 
lows, and  this,  after  a  few  days,  undergoes  absorption.  There  is  then 
an  excess  of  inflammation  in  the  surrounding  structure,  which  soon 
spreads  to  the  bony  tissue,  when  a  true  ostitis  is  established,  and  the 
compact  tissue  of  the  bone  becomes  tlie  seat  of  a  new  vascular  organi- 
zation, and  of  a  certain  exudation  of  plastic  h^mph,  appearing  between 
the  periosteum  and  the  external  surface  of  the  bone,  as  well  as  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  medullary  cavitj'.  After  a  few  da3's  the  ends  of 
the  bono  thus  surrounded  by  this  exudate  become  involved  in  it,  and 
the  h'mph,  becoming  vascular,  is  soon  transformed  into  cartilaginous, 
and  in  due  time  into  bony  tissue. 

Thus  the  time  required  for  the  consolidation  of  the  fractured  seg- 
ments is  divisible  into  two  distinct  periods.  In  the  first  they  are  sur- 
rounded by  an  external  bony  ring,  and  the  medullary  cavity  is  closed 
by  a  bon}'  plug  or  stopper,  constituting  the  period  of  iha provisional 
callus.  This  is  followed  by  the  period  of  vermancnt  callus,  during 
which  the  process  is  going  forward  of  converting  the  cartilaginous  into 
the  osseous  form. 

The  restorative  process  is  sooner  completed  in  the  carnivorous  than 
in  the  her])ivorous  tribes.  In  the  former  the  temporary-  callus  may 
attain  sufiiwent  lineness  of  consistency^  for  the  careful  use  of  the  limb 
within  four  weeks,  but  with  the  latter  a  period  of  from  six  weeks  to 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  303 

two  months  is  not  too  long  to  allow  before  removing  the  supporting 
apparatus  from  the  limb. 

This,  in  general  terms,  represents  the  fact  when  the  resources  of 
nature  have  not  been  thwarted  l)}^  untoward  accidents,  such  as  a  want 
of  vigor  in  the  constitution  of  the  patient  or  a  lack  of  skill  on  the  part 
of  the  practitioner,  and  especially  when,  from  any  cause,  the  bony 
fragments  have  not  been  kept  in  a  state  of  perfect  immobility  and  the 
constant  friction  has  prevented  the  osseous  union  of  the  two  portions. 
Failures  and  misfortunes  are  always  more  than  possible,  and  instead 
of  a  solid  and  practicable  bony  union  the  sequel  of  the  accident  is 
sometimes  a  false  joint^  composed  of  mere  flexible  cartilage,  a  poor 
pseudarthrosis.  The  explanation  of  this  appears  to  be  that,  first,  the 
sharp  edges  of  the  ends  of  the  bone  disappear  by  becoming  rounded 
at  their  extremities  by  friction  and  polishing  against  each  other. 
Then  follows  an  exudation  of  a  plastic  nature  which  becomes  trans- 
formed into  a  cartilaginous  layer  of  a  rough  articular  aspect.  •In  this 
bony  nuclei  soon  appear,  and  the  lymph  secreted  between  the  segments 
thus  transformed,  instead  of  becoming  truly  ossified,  is  changed  into 
a  sort  of  fibro-cartilaginous  pouch,  or  capsular  sac,  in  which  a  some- 
what albuminous  secretion,  or  pseudosynovia,  permits  the  movement 
to  take  place.  Most  commonh^  however,  in  our  animals,  the  union  of 
the  bon}^  fragments  is  obtained  wholl}^  through  the  medium  of  a  la^^er 
of  fibrous  tissue,  and  it  is  because  the  union  has  been  accomplished 
b}'  a  ligamentous  formation  only  that  motion  becomes  j)racticable. 

Prognosis. — The  prognosis  in  a  case  of  facture  in  an  animal  is  one 
of  the  gravest  vital  import  to  the  patient,  and  therefore  of  serious 
pecuniary  concern  to  his  owner.  The  period  has  not  long  elapsed 
when  to  have  received  such  a  hurt  was  quite  equivalent  to  undergoing 
a  sentence  of  death  for  the  suffering  animal,  and  perhaps  to-day  a 
similar  verdict  is  pronounced  in  many  cases  in  which  the  exercise  of  a 
little  mechanical  ingenuity,  with  a  due  amount  of  careful  nursing, 
might  secure  a  contrary  result  and  insure  the  return  of  the  patient  to 
his  former  condition  of  soundness  and  usefulness. 

Treatment. — Considered,  ijer  se.^  a  fracture  in  an  animal  is  in  fact  no 
less  amenable  to  treatment  than  the  same  description  of  injury  in  any 
other  living  being.  But  the  question  of  the  propriety  and  expedienc}' 
of  treatment  is  dependent  upon  certain  specific  points  of  collateral 
consideration. 

First.  The  nature  of  the  lesion  itself  is  a  point  of  paramount 
importance.  A  simple  fracture  occurring  in  a  bone  where  the  ends 
can  be  firmly  secured  in  coaptation  presents  the  most  favorable  con- 
ditions for  successful  treatment.  If  it  be  that  of  a  long  bone  it  will 
be  the  less  serious  if  situated  at  or  near  the  middle  of  its  length  than 
if  it  were  in  close  proximity  to  a  joint,  from  the  fact  that  perfect 


304  BUEEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

iniinobility  can  rarely,  in  the  latter  case,  be  secured  without  incurring 
tl^c  risk  of  subsequent  rigidity  of  the  joint. 

A  simple  is  always  less  serious  than  a  compound  fracture.  A  com- 
minuted is  always  more  dangerous  than  a  simple,  and  a  transverse 
break  is  easier  to  treat  than  one  which  is  oblique.  The  most  serious 
are  those  which  are  situated  on  parts  of  the  body  in  which  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  secure  perfect  immobility,  and  especially  those  which  are 
accompanied  by  severe  contusions  and  lacerations  in  the  soft  parts; 
the  protrusion  of  fragments  through  the  skin;  the  division  of  blood 
vessels  by  the  broken  ends  of  the  bone;  the  existence  of  an  articula- 
tion near  the  point  to  which  inflammation  is  likely  to  extend;  the 
luxation  of  a  fragment  of  the  bone;  laceration  of  the  periosteum;  the 
■  rcftt^uce  of  a  large  number  of  bony  particles,  the  result  of  the  crush- 
ii"^'  of  tne  bo'ie — all  these  are  circumstances  which  discourage  a  favor- 
able r  ,,;.'uosis,  and  weigh  against  the  hope  of  saving  the  patient  for 
^uruvo  i^sofuliness. 

Fractures  which  may  be  accounied  curable  are  those  which  are  not 
conspicuously  visible,  as  those  of  the  ribs,  where  displacements  are 
eitlicr  ver}^  limited  or  do  not  occur,  the  parts  being  kept  In  situ  by  the 
nature  of  their  position,  the  shape  of  the  bones,  the  articulations  they 
form  with  the  vertebra,  the  sternum,  or  their  cartilages  of  prolonga- 
tion; those  of  transv^erse  processes  of  the  lumbar  vertebra;  those  of 
the  bones  of  the  face;  those  of  the  ilium;  and  that  of  the  coffinbones. 
To  continue  the  category,  the  following  are  evidently  curable  when 
their  position  and  the  character  of  the  patient  contribute  to  aid  the 
treatment:  Those  of  the  cranium,  in  the  absence  of  cerebral  lesions: 
those  of  the  jaws;  of  the  ribs,  with  displacement;  of  the  hip;  and  those 
of  the  bone  of  the  leg  in  movable  regions,  but  where  their  vertical 
position  admits  of  perfect  coaptation. 

On  the  contrary,  a  compound,  complicated,  or  comminuted  fracture, 
in  whatever  region  it  may  be  situated,  may  be  counted  incurable. 

In  treating  fractures  time  is  an  important  element  and  "delay's  are 
dangerous."  Those  of  recent  occurrence  unite  more  easilj'  and  more 
regular!}^  than  older  ones. 

Second.  As  a  general  rule,  fractures  are  less  serious  in  animals  of 
the  smaller  species  than  in  those  of  more  bulkv  dimensions.  This 
influence  of  species  will  be  readily  appreciated  when  we  realize  that 
the  difficulties  involved  in  the  treatment  of  the  latter  class  have  hardly 
any  existence  in  connection  with  the  former.  The  difference  in  weight 
and  size,  and  consequent  facility  in  handling  and  making  the  neces- 
sary applications  of  dressings  and  other  appliances  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  the  indispensable  immobility  of  the  parts,  and  usuall}'  a  less 
degree  of  uneasiness  in  the  deportment  of  the  patients  are  considera- 
tions in  this  connection  of  great  weight. 


y/. 


^1  ^ 

a  rr 


i  > 


=Q-^ 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  305 

Third.  In  respect  to  the  utilization  of  the  animal,  the  most  obvious 
point  in  estimating  the  gravity  of  the  case  in  a  fracture  accident  is  the 
certainty  of  the  total  loss  of  the  services  of  the  patient  during-  treat- 
ment— certainl}-^  for  a  considerable  period  of  time;  perhaps  perma- 
nentl3^  For  example,  the  fracture  of  the  jaw  of  a  steer  just  fattening 
for  the  shambles  will  involve  a  heavier  loss  than  a  similar  accident  to 
a  horse.  Usually  the  fracture  of  the  bones  of  the  extremities  in  a 
horse  is  a  very  serious  casualty,  the  more  so  proportionately  as  the 
higher  region  of  the  limb  is  affected.  In  working  animals  it  is  exceed- 
ingl}"  difScult  to  treat  a  fracture  in  such  a  manner  as  to  restore  a  limb 
to  its  original  perfection  of  movement.  A  fracture  of  a  single  bone 
of  an  extremity  in  a  breeding  stallion  or  mare  will  not  necessarily 
impair  their  value  as  breeders.  Other  specifications  under  this  head, 
though  pertinent  and  more  or  less  interesting,  may  be  omitted. 

Fourth.  Age  and  temper  are  important  factors  of  cure.  A  young, 
growing,  robust  patient  whose  vis  vltm  is  active  is  amenable  to  treat- 
ment which  one  with  a  waning  constitution  and  past  mature  energies 
would  be  unable  to  endure;  and  a  docile,  quiet  disposition  will  act 
cooperatively  with  remedial  measures  which  would  bo  neutralized  hy 
the  fractious  opposition  of  a  peevish  and  intractable  sufferer.  ' 

The  fulfillment  of  three  indications  is  indispensable  in  all  fractures. 
The  first  is  the  reduction,  or  the  replacement,  of  the  parts  as  nearly 
as  possible  in  their  normal  position.  The  second  is  their  letention  in 
that  position  for  a  period  sufficient  for  the-  formation  of  the  provisional 
callus,  and  the  third,  which,  in  fact,  is  but  an  incident  of  the  second, 
the  careful  avoidance  of  any  accidents  or  causes  of  miscarriage  which 
might  disturb  the  curative  process. 

In  reference  to  the  first  consideration,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  accident  may  befall  the  patient  at  a  distance  from  his  home,  and 
his  removal  becomes  the  first  duty  to  be  attended  to.  Of  course,  this 
must  be  done  as  carefully  as  possible.  If  he  can  be  treated  on  the  spot 
so  much  the  better,  though  this  is  seldom  practicable,  and  the  method 
of  removal  becomes  the  question  calling  for  settlement.  But  two 
ways  present  themselves — he  must  either  walk  or  be  carried.  If  the 
first,  it  is  needless  to  say  that  every  caution  must  be  observed  in  order 
to  obviate-  additional  pain  for  the  suffering  animal  and  to  avoid  any 
aggravation  of  the  injury.  Led  slowl}^  and  with  partial  support,  if 
practicable,  the  journey  will  not  always  involve  untoward  results.  If 
he  is  carried  it  must  be  b}^  means  of  a  wagon,  a  truck,  or  an  ambulance; 
the  latter,  being  designed  and  adapted  to  the  purpose,  would,  of  course, 
be  the  preferable  vehicle.  As  a  precaution  which  should  never  be 
overlooked,  a  temporar}^  dressing  should  first  be  applied.  This  may 
be  so  done  as  for  the  time  to  answer  all  the  purpose  of  the  permanent 
adjustment  and   Imndaging.      Without   thus  securing  the  patient,  a 

14384—03 20 


306  BUllEAU    OF    ANIilAL    INDUSTRY. 

fracture  of  an  inferior  degree  maj^  be  transformed  to  one  of  the  sever- 
est kind,  and,  indeed,  a  curable  changed  to  an  incurable  injury.  We 
recall  a  case  in  which  a  fast  trotting  horse,  after  running  away  in  a 
fright  caused  by  the  whistle  of  a  locomotive,  was  found  on  the  road 
limping  with  excessive  lameness  in  the  off  fore  leg,  and  walked  with 
comparative  case  some  2  miles  to  a  stable  before  being  seen  by  a  sur- 
geon. His  immediate  removal  in  an  ambulance  was  advised,  but  before 
that  vehicle  could  be  procured  the  horse  lay  down,  and  upon  being 
made  to  get  upon  his  feet  was  found  with  a  well-marked  comminuted 
fracture  of  the  os  suffraginis,  with  considerable  displacement.  The 
patient,  however,  after  long  treatment,  made  a  comparatively  good 
recovery  and  though  with  a  large  bony  deposit,  a  ringbone,  was  able 
to"  trot  among  the  forties. 

The  two  obvious  indications  in  cases  of  fracture  are  reduction,  or 
replacement,  and  retention. 

In  an  incomplete  fracture,  where  there  is  no  displacement,  the  neces 
sity  of  reduction  does  not  exist.  With  the  bone  kept  in  place  by  ar 
intact  periosteum,  and  the  fragments  secured  by  the  uninjured  fibrous 
and  ligamentous  structure  which  surrounds  them,  there  is  no  disloca- 
tion to  correct.  Reduction  is  also  at  times  rendered  impossible  by  the 
seat  of  the  fracture  itself,  by  its  dimensions  alone,  or  by  the  resist- 
ance arising  from  muscular  contraction.  This  is  illustrated  even  in 
small  animals,  as  in  dogs,  by  the  exceeding  difiiculty  encountered  in 
bringing  the  ends  of  a  broken  femur  or  humerus  together,  the  mus- 
cular contraction  being  even  in  these  animals  sufficiently  forcible  to 
renew  the  displacement. 

It  is  generally,  therefore,  only  fractures  of  the  long  bones,  and  then 
at  points  not  in  close  proximity  to  the  trunk,  that  may  be  considered 
to  be  amenable  to  reduction.  It  is  true  that  some  of  the  more  superfi- 
cial bones,  as  those  of  the  head,  of  the  pelvis,  and  of  the  thoracic 
walls,  may  in  some  cases  require  special  manipulations  and  appliances 
for  their  retention  in  their  normal  positions,  hence  the  treatment  of 
these  and  of  a  fractured  leg  can  not  be  the  same. 

The  methods  of  accomplishing  reduction  var}^  with  the  features  of 
each  case,  the  manipulations  being  necessaril}'  modified  to  meet  differ- 
ent circumstances.  If  the  displacement  is  in  the  thickness  of  the 
bone,  as  in  transverse  fracture,  the  manipulation  of  reduction  consists 
in  applying  constant  pressure  upon  one  of  the  fragments,  while  the 
other  is  kept  steady  in  its  place,  the  object  of  the  pressure  being  the 
reestablishment  of  the  exact  coincidence  of  the  two  bony  surfaces.  If 
the  displacement  has  taken  place  at  an  angle  it  will  be  sufficient  in 
order  to  effect  the  reduction  to  press  upon  the  summit,  or  apex,  of  the 
angle  until  its  disappearance  indicates  that  the  parts  have  been  brought 
into  coaptation.  This  method  is  often  practiced  in  the  treatment  of  a 
fractured  rib.     In  a  longitudinal  fracture,  or  when  the  fragments  are 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  307 

pressed  together  by  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  to  which  thej'  give 
insertion  until  they  so  overlap  as  to  correspond  by  certain  points  of 
their  circumference,  the  reduction  is  to  be  accomplished  by  effecting 
the  movements  of  extension,  counteQ^-extension,  and  coaptation.  Exten- 
sion is  accomplished  by  making  traction  upon  the  lower  portion  of  the 
limb.  Counter-extension  consists  in  firmly  holding  or  confining  the 
upper  or  body  portion  in  such  a  manner  that  it  shall  not  be  aft'ected 
by  the  traction  applied  to  the  lower  part.  In  other  words,  the  oper- 
ator, grasping  the  limb  below  the  fracture,  draws  it  down  or  away 
from  the  trunk,  while  he  seeks  not  to  draw  away,  but  simply  to  hold 
still  the  upper  portion  until  the  broken  ends  of  bone  are  brought  to 
their  natural  relative  positions,  when  the  coaptation,  which  is  thus 
effected,  has  only  to  be  made  permanent  by  the  proper  dressihgs  to 
perfect  the  reduction. 

In  treating  fractures  in  small  animals  the  strength  of  the  hand  is 
usually  sufficient  for  the  required  manipulations.  In  the  fracture  of 
the  forearm  of  a  dog,  for  example,  while  the  upper  segment  is  firmly 
held  by  one  hand  the  lower  may  be  grasped  by  the  other  and  the  bone 
itself  made  to  serve  the  purpose  of  a  lever  to  bring  about  the  desired 
coaptation.  In  such  a  case  that  is  sufficient  to  overcome  the  muscular 
contraction  and  correct  the  overlapping  or  other  malposition  of  the 
bones.  If,  however,  the  resistance  can  not  be  overcome  in  this  mode, 
the  upper  segment  may  be  committed  to  an  assistant  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  counter  extension,  leaving  to  the  operator  the  free  use  of 
both  hands  for  the  further  manipulation  of  the  case. 

But  if  the  reduction  of  fractures  in  small  animals  is  an  easy  task,  it 
is  far  from  being  so  when  a  large  animal  is  the  patient,  whose  mus- 
cular force  is  largely  greater  than  that  of  several  men  combined.  In 
such  a  case  resort  must  be  had  not  only  to  superior  numbers  for  the 
necessary  force,  but  in  many  cases  to  mechanical  aids.  A  reference 
to  the  mode  of  proceeding  in  a  case  of  fracture  with  displacement  of 
the  forearm  of  a  horse  will  illustrate  the  matter.  The  patient  is  first 
to  be  carefully  cast,  on  the  uninjured  side,  with  ropes,  or  a  broad 
leather  strap  about  18  feet  long,  passed  under  and  around  his  body 
and  under  the  axilla  of  the  fractured  limb  and  secured  at  a  point  oppo- 
site to  the  animal  and  toward  his  back.  This  will  form  the  mechanical 
means  of  counter-extension.  Another  rope  will  then  be  placed  around 
the  inferior  part  of  the  leg  below  the  point  of  fracture,  with  which  to 
produce  extension,  and  this  will  sometimes  be  furnished  with  a  block 
and  pulle3\s,  in  order  to  aug-ment  the  power  when  necessary;  and  there 
is,  in  fact,  alwa3'S  an  advantage  in  their  use,  on  the  side  of  steadiness 
and  uniformit}',  as  well  as  of  increased  power.  It  is  secured  around 
the  fetlock  or  the  coronet,  or,  what  is  better,  above  the  knee  and 
nearer  the  point  o±  fracture,  and  is  committed  to  assistants.  The  trac- 
tion on  this  should  be  firm,  uniform,  and  slow,  without  relaxing  or 


308  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

jerking,  while  the  operator  carefully  watches  the  process.  If  the 
])one  is  superticially  situated  he  is  able  to  judge  by  the  eye  of  an^^ 
changes  that  may  occur  in  the  form  or  length  of  the  parts  under  trac- 
tion, and  discovering,  at  the  moment  of  its  happening,  the  restoration 
of  symmetry  in  the  disturbed  region,  he  gently  but  firmly  manipulates 
the  place  until  all  appearance  of  severed  continuity  has  vanished. 
Sometimes  the  fact  and  the  instant  of  restoration  are  indicated  b}-  a 
peculiar  sound,  or  "click,"  as  the  ends  of  the  bone  slip  into  contact,  to 
await  the  next  step  of  the  restorative  procedure. 

The  process  is  the  same  when  the  bones  are  covered  with  thick 
nuiscular  masses,  excepting  that  it  is  attended  with  greater  difficulties, 
from  the  fact  that  the  tingcr  must  be  substituted  for  the  eye,  and  the 
taxis  must  take  the  place  of  the  sight. 

It  frequenth^  happens  that  perfect  coaptation  is  prevented  by  the 
interposition  between  the  bony  surfaces  of  substances,  such  as  a  small 
fragment  of  detached  bone  or  a  clot  of  bloody  and  sometimes  the 
extreme  obliquity  of  the  fracture  is  the  opposing  cause,  b}-  permitting 
the  })ones  to  slip  out  of  place.  These  arc  difficulties  which  can  not 
always  be  overcome,  even  in  small-sized  animals,  and  still  it  is  only 
when  they  are  mastered  that  a  correct  consolidation  can  be  looked  for. 
Without  it  the  continuity  between  the  fragments  will  be  by  a  deformed 
callus,  the  union  will  leave  a  shortened,  crooked,  or  angular  limb  and 
a  disabled  animal. 

If  timely  assistance  can  be  obtained,  and  the  reduction  accomplished 
immediately  after  the  occurrence  of  the  accident,  that  is  the  best  time 
for  it.  But  if  it  can  not  be  attended  to  until  inilanmiation  has  become 
established  and  the  parts  have  become  swollen  and  painful,  time  must 
be  allowed  for  the  subsidence  of  these  symptoms  before  attempting 
the  operation.  A  spasmodic  muscular  contraction  which  sometimes 
interposes  a  difficulty  may  be  easily  overcome  by  subjecting  the  patient 
to  general  anesthesia,  and  need  not,  therefore,  cause  an}^  loss  of  time. 
A  tendency  to  this  may  also  be  overcome  by  the  use  of  sedatives  and 
antiphlogistic  remedies. 

The  reduction  of  the  fracture  having  been  accomplished,  the  problem 
which  follows  is  that  of  retention.  The  parts  which  have  been  restored 
to  their  natural  position  must  be  kept  there,  without  disturbance  or 
agitation,  until  the  perfect  formation  of  a  callus,  and  it  is  here  that 
ample  latitude  exists  for  the  exercise  of  ingenuit}'  and  skill  by  the  sur- 
geon in  the  contrivance  of  the  necessary  apparatus.  One  of  the  most 
important  of  the  conditions  which  arc  available  b}^  the  surgeon  in 
treating  human  patients  is  denied  to  the  veterinarian  in  the  manage- 
ment of  those  which  belong  to  the  animal  tribes.  This  is  j)osition. 
The  intelligence  of  the  human  patient  cooperates  with  the  instructions 
of  the  surgeon,  but  with  the  animal  sufferer  there  is  a  continual  antag- 
onism between  the  parties,  and  the  forced  extension  and  fatiguing 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  309 

position  which  must  for  a  considerable  period  be  maintained  as  a  con- 
dition of  restoration  require  special  and  ctiective  appliances  to  insure 
successful  results.  To  obtain  complete  immobilit}^  is  scarceh^  possible, 
and  the  surgeon  must  be  content  to  reach  a  point  as  near  as  possible 
to  that  which  is  unattainable.  For  this  reason,  as  will  subsequently 
be  seen,  the  use  of  slings  and  the  restraint  of  patients  in  ver}^  narrow 
stalls  is  much  to  be  preferred  to  the  practice  sometimes  recommended 
of  allowing  entire  freedom  of  motion  by  turning  them  loose  in  box 
stalls.  Temporary-  and  movable  apparatus  are  not  usually  of  difficult 
use  in  veterinary  practice,  but  the  restlessness  of  the  patients  and 
their  unwillingness  to  submit  quietlj^  to  the  changing  of  the  dressings 
render  it  obligatory  to  have  recourse  to  permanent  and  immovable 
bandages,  which  should  be  retained  without  disturbance  until  the 
process  of  consolidation  is  complete. 

The  materials  composing  the  retaining  apparatus  consist  of  oakum, 
bandages,  and  splints,  wuth  an  agglutinating  compound  which  forms 
a  species  of  cement  by  which  the  different  constituents  are  blended 
into  a  consistent  mass  to  be  spread  upon  the  surface  covering  the 
locality  of  the  fracture.  Its  components  are  black  pitch,  rosin,  and 
Venice  turpentine,  blended  by  heat.  The  dressing  may  be  applied 
directly  to  the  skin,  or  a  covering  of  thin  linen  may  be  interposed. 
A  putty  made  with  powdered  chalk  and  the  white  of  egg  is  recom- 
mended for  small  animals,  though  a  mixture  of  sugar  of  lead  and 
burnt  alnm  with  the  albumen  is  preferred  by  others.  Another  formula 
is  spirits  of  camphor,  Goulard's  extract,  and  albumen.  Another  recom- 
mendation is  to  saturate  the  oakum  and  bandages  with  an  adhesive 
solution  formed  with  gum  arable,  dextrine,  flour  paste,  or  starch. 
This  is  advised  particularly  for  small  animals,  as  is  also  the  silicate  of 
soda.  Dextrine  mixed,  while  warm,  with  burnt  alum  and  alcohol  cools 
and  solidities  into  a  ston}^  consistency,  and  is  preferable  to  plaster  of 
paris,  which  is  less  friable  and  has  less  solidity,  besides  being  heavier 
and  requiring  constant  additions  as  it  becomes  older.  Starch  and 
plaster  of  Paris  form  another  good  compound. 

In  applying  the  dressing  the  leg  is  usualh^  padded  w4th  a  cushion 
of  oakum,  thick  and  soft  enough  to  equalize  the  irregularities  of  the 
surface  and  to  form  a  bedding  for  the  protection  of  the  skin  from 
chafing.  Over  this  the  splints  are  placed.  The  material  for  these  is,. 
variously,  pasteboard,  thin  v>^ood,  bark,  laths,  gutta  percha,  strips  of 
thin  metal,  as  tin  or  perhaps  sheet  iron.  These  should  be  of  sufficient 
length  not  onl^^  to  cover  the  region  of  the  fracture,  but  to  extend 
sufficiently  above  and  below  to  render  the  immobility  more  complete 
than  in  the  surrounding  joints.  The  splints,  again,  are  covered  with 
cloth  bandages,  linen  preferably,  soaked  in  a  glutinous  mixture. 
These  bandages  are  to  be  carefullv  applied,  with  a  perfect  condition 
of  lightness.     The}-  are  usually  made  to  embrace  the  entire  length  of 


310  BUREAU    OF    ANDIAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  leg,  in  order  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  interference  with  the  cir- 
culation of  the  extremity,  as  well  as  for  the  prevention  of  chafing. 
They  should  be  rolled  from  the  lower  part  of  the  leg  upward,  and 
carcfull}"  secured  against  loosening.  In  some  instances  suspensory 
bandages  are  recommended,  but  excepting  for  small  animals  our 
experience  does  not  justify  a  concurrence  in  the  recommendation. 

These  permanent  dressings  always  need  careful  watching  with  ref- 
erence to  their  immediate  effect  upon  the  region  the}"  cover,  especially 
during  the  first  days  succeeding  that  of  their  application.  Any  mani- 
festation of  pain,  or  any  appearance  of  swelling  above  or  below,  or 
any  odor  suggestive  of  sui)puration  should  excite  suspicion,  and  a 
thorough  investigation  sliould  follow  without  delaj".  The  removal  of 
the  dressing  shoidd  be  performed  with  great  care,  and  especially  so  if 
time  enough  has  elapsed  since  its  application  to  allow  of  a  probability 
of  a  commencement  of  the  healing  process  or  the  existence  of  any 
points  of  consolidation.  With  the  original  dressing  properly  applied 
in  its  entirety  in  the  first  instance,  the  entire  extremity  will  have  lost 
all  chance  of  mobility,  and  the  repairing  process  may  be  permitted  to 
proceed  without  interference.  There  will  be  no  necessity  and  there 
need  be  no  haste  for  removal  or  change  except  under  such  special  con- 
ditions as  have  just  been  mentioned,  or  when  there  is  reason  to  judge 
that  solidiiicaiion  has  become  perfect,  or  for  the  comfort  of  the  ani- 
mal, or  for  its  readaptation  in  consequence  of  the  atrophy  of  the  limb 
from  want  of  use.  Owners  of  animals  are  often  tempted  to  remove  a 
splint  or  bandage  permaturely  at  the  risk  of  producing  a  second  frac- 
ture in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  the  callus  properh"  to  consolidate. 

The  method  of  applying  the  splints  which  we  have  described  refers 
to  the  simple  variety  onh'.  In  a  compound  case  the  same  rules  must 
be  observed,  with  the  modification  of  leaving  openings  through  the 
thickness  of  the  dressing,  opposite  the  wound,  in  order  to  permit  the 
escape  of  pus  and  to  secure  access  to  the  points  requiring  the  applica- 
tion of  treatment. 

FKACTUIIE    OF    DIFFERENT    BONES. 
CRANIAL    BOXl-S. 

Causes. — Fractures  of  these  bones  in  large  animals  are  comparatively 
rare,  though  the  records  are  not  destitute  of  cases.  When  they  occur, 
it  is  as  the  result  of  external  violence,  the  sufferers  being  usuall}-  run- 
aways which  have  come  in  collision  with  a  wall  or  a  tree  or  other 
obstruction;  or  it  may  occur  in  those  which  in  pulling  upon  the  halter 
have  broken  it  with  a  jerk  and  been  thrown  backward,  as  might  occur 
in  rearing  too  violently.  Under  these  conditions  we  have  witnessed 
fractures  of  the  parietal,  of  the  frontal,  and  of  the  sphenoid  bones. 
These  fractures  may  be  of  both  the  complete  and  the  incomplete  kind, 
which  indeed  is  usually  the  case  with  those  of  the  fiat  bones,  and  they 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  311 

arc  liable  to  be  c-oinplic.atod  with  lacerations  of  the  skin,  in  consequence 
of  which  they  are  easily  brought  under  observation.  But  when  the 
fact  is  otherwise  and  tlie  skin  is  intact,  the  diaj^nosis  becomes  difficult. 

Symptoms. — The  incomplete  variety  may  be  unaccompanied  by  any 
special  symptoms,  but  in  the  complete  kind  one  of  the  bon}- plates  may 
be  so  far  detached  as  to  press  upon  the  cerebral  substance  with  suffi- 
cient force  to  produce  serious  nervous  complications.  When  the  injury 
occurs  at  the  Inise  of  the  cranium,  hemoriliage  may  be  looked  for,  with 
paralytic  symptoms,  and  when  these  are  present  the  usual  termination 
is  death.  It  may  happen,  however,  that  the  symptoms  of  an  apparently 
ver}^  severe  concussion  may  disappear,  resulting  in  an  early  and  com- 
plete recovery,  and  the  surgeon  will  therefore  do  well  to  avoid  undue 
haste  in  venturing  upon  a  prognosis.  In  fractures  of  the  orbital  or 
the  zygomatic  l^ones  the  danger  is  less  pressing  than  with  injui-ics 
otherwise  located  about  the  head. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  (ti-anial  fractures  is  simple,  though 
involving  the  best  skill  of  an  experienced  surgeon.  When  incomplete, 
hardly  any  interference  is  needed;  even  plain  bandaging  may  usually 
be  dispensed  with.  In  the  complete  variety  the  danger  to  be  combated 
is  compression  of  the  brain,  and  attention  to  this  indication  must  not 
be  delayed.  The  means  to  be  employed  are  the  trephining  of  the  skull 
over  the  seat  of  the  fracture  and  the  elevation  of  the  depressed  bone 
or  the  removal  of  the  portion  which  is  causing  the  trouble.  Fragments 
of  bone  in  comminuted  cases,  bony  exfoliations,  collections  of  fluid,  or 
even  protruding  portions  of  the  ])rain  substance  must  be  carefully 
cleansed  away,  and  a  simple  bandage  so  applied  as  to  facilitate  the 
application  of  subsequent  dressings, 

KRACrCKKH  (W   THE  BOXK.S  OF  THE  FACE. 

In  respect  to  their  origin — usually  traumatic — these  injuries  rank 
with  the  preceding,  and  are  commonly  of  the  incomplete  variety. 
They  ma}'  easily  be  overlooked  and  ma}'  ev^en  sometimes  escape  recog- 
nition until  the  reparative  process  has  been  well  established  and  the 
discovery  of  the  wound  becomes  due  to  the  prominence  caused  by  the 
presence  of  the  provisional  callus  which  marks  its  cure.  When  the 
fracture  is  complete  it  will  be  marked  by  local  deformity,  mobility  of 
the  fragments,  and  crepitation.  Nasal  hemorrhage,  roaring,  frequent 
sneezing,  loosening  or  loss  of  teeth,  difficulty  of  mastication,  and  in- 
flammation of  the  cavities  of  the  sinuses  are  varying  complications  of 
these  accidents.  The  object  of  the  treatment  should  be  the  restora- 
tion of  the  depressed  bones  as  nearly  as  possible  to  their  normal 
position,  and  their  retention  in  place  by  protecting  splints,  which 
should  cover  the  entire  facial  region.  Special  precautions  should  be 
observed  to  prevent  the  patient  from  disturbing  the  dressing  by  rub- 
bing  his   head   against  surrounding  objects,   such  as  the  stall,   the 


312  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

manger,  the  rack,  etc.  Clots  of  blood  in  the  nasal  passages  must  be 
washed  out,  collections  of  pus  must  be  removed  from  the  sinuses,  and 
if  the  teeth  are  loosened  and  likely  to  fall  out  the}'  should  be  removed. 
If  roaring  is  threatened,  tracheotomy  is  indicated. 

FRACTURES    OF    THE    PREMAXILLAKY    BONE. 

These  are  mentioned  by  continental  authors.  They  are  usually 
encountered  in  connection  with  fractures  of  the  nasal  bone,  and  ma}'- 
take  place  either  in  the  width  or  the  length  of  the  bone. 

The  deformit}'  of  the  upper  lip,  which  is  drawn  sidewise  in  this 
lesion,  renders  it  easy  of  diagnosis.  The  abnoi-mal  mobility  and  the 
crepitation,  with  the  pain  manifested  by  the  patient  when  undergoing 
examination,  are  concurrent  s^-mptoms.  Looseness  of  the  teeth, 
abundant  salivation,  and  entire  inability  to  grasp  the  food  complete 
the  symptomatology  of  these  accidents.  In  the  treatment,  splints  of 
gutta-percha  or  leather  are  sometimes  used,  but  they'  are  of  difficult 
application.  Our  own  judgment  and  practice  are  in  favor  of  the 
union  of  the  bones  b}'  means  of  metaliit".  sutures. 

FRACTVRES    OF    THE    I-<)\VEK    JAW. 

A  fracture  here  is  not  an  injur}'  of  infrequent  occurrence.  It 
involves  the  body  of  the  bone,  at  its  symphysis,  or  back  of  it,  and 
includes  one  or  both  of  its  branches,  either  more  or  less  forAvard,  or 
at  the  posterior  part  near  the  temporo-maxillary  articulation,  at  the 
coronoid  process. 

Falls,  blows,  or  other  external  violence,  or  powei-ful  muscular  con- 
tractions during  the  use  of  the  speculum,  may  be  mentioned  among 
the  causes  of  this  lesion.  The  fracture  of  the  neck,  or  that  portion 
formed  by  the  juncture  of  the  two  opposite  sides,  and  of  the  branches 
in  front  of  the  cheeks,  causes  the  lower  jaw,  the  true  dental  arch,  to 
drop,  without  the  ability  to  raise  it  again  to  the  upper,  and  the  result 
is  a  peculiar  and  characteristic  physiognomy.  The  prehension  and  mas- 
tication of  food  become  impossible;  there  is  an  abundant  escape  of 
fetid  and  sometimes  bloody  saliva,  especially  if  the  gums  have  been 
wounded;  there  is  excessive  mobility  of  the  lower  end  of  the  jawbone; 
and  there  is  crepitation,  and  frequently  paralysis  of  the  under  lip. 
Although  an  animal  suflFering  with  a  complete  and  often  compound 
and  comminuted  fracture  of  the  submaxilla  presents  at  times  a  serious 
aspect,  the  prognosis  of  the  case  is  comparatively  favorable,  and 
recovery  is  usually  only  a  question  of  time.  The  severity  of  the  lesion 
corresponds  in  degree  with  that  of  the  violence  to  which  it  is  due,  also 
with  the  resulting  complications  and  the  situation  of  the  wound.  It 
is  simple  when  at  the  symphysis,  but  becomes  more  serious  when  it 
affects  one  of  the  branches,  and  most  aggravated  when  both  are 
involved.     Fracture  of  the  coronoid  process  becomes  important  prin-' 


DISEJkSES    OF    THE    HORSE.  -^  313 

cipally  as  an  evidence  of  the  existence  of  a  morbid  diathesis,  such  as 
osteoporosis,  or  the  like. 

The  particular  seat  of  the  injur}',  with  its  special  features,  will, 
of  course,  determine  the  treatment.  For  a  simple  fracture,  without 
displacement,  provided  there  is  no  laceration  of  the  periosteum,  an 
ordinary  supporting  bandage  will  usually  be  sufficient;  but  when 
there  is  displacement  the  reduction  of  the  fracture  must  first  be  accom- 
plished, and  for  this  special  splints  are  necessary.  In  a  fracture  of 
the  sjanphysis  or  of  the  branches  the  adjustment  of  the  fragments  by 
securing  them  with  metallic  sutures  is  the  first  step  necessary,  to  be 
followed  by  the  application  of  supports,  consisting  of  splints  of 
leather  or  sheets  of  metal,  the  entire  front  of  the  head  being  then 
covered  with  bandages  prepared  with  adhesive  mixtures.  During 
the  entire  course  of  treatment  a  special  method  of  feeding  becomes 
necessary.  The  inability  of  the  patient  to  appreciate  the  situation, 
of  course,  necessitates  a  resort  to  an  artificial  mode  of  introducing  the 
necessary  food  into  his  stomach,  and  it  is  accomplished  by  forcing 
between  the  commissures  of  the  lips,  in  a  liquid  form,  by  means  of  a 
syringe,  the  milk  or  nutritive  gruels  selected  for  his  sustenance,  until 
the  consolidation  is  sufficiently  advanced  to  permit  the  ingestion  of 
food  of  a  more  solid  consistenc3^  The  callus  will  usually  be  suffi- 
ciently hardened  in  two  or  three  weeks  to  allow  of  a  change  of  diet 
to  mashes  of  cut  hay  and  scalded  grain,  until  the  removal  of  the 
dressing  restores  him  to  his  old  habit  of  mastication. 

FRACTURES    OP    VERTEBRA. 

These  are  not  very  common,  but  when  thc}^  do  occur  the  bones  most 
fi-equently  injured  are  those  of  the  back  and  loins. 

Causes. — The  ordinary  causes  of  fracture  are  responsible  here  as 
elsewhere,  such  as  heavy  blows  on  the  spinal  column,  severe  falls  while 
conveying  heav}'  loads,  and  especially  violent  efforts  in  resisting  the 
process  of  casting.  Although  occurring  more  or  less  frequently  under 
the  latter  circumstances,  the  accident  is  not  always  attributable  to 
carelessness  or  error  in  the  management.  It  may,  of  course,  some- 
times result  from  such  a  cause  as  a  badly  prepared  bed,  or  the  acci- 
dental presence  of  a  hard  body  concealed  in  the  straw,  or  to  a  heavy 
fall  when  the  movements  of  the  patient  have  not  been  sufficiently 
controlled  by  an  effective  apparatus  and  its  skillful  adaptation,  but  it 
is  quite  as  likely  to  be  caused  by  the  violent  resistance  and  the  con- 
sequent powerful  muscular  contraction  by  the  frightened  patient. 
The  simple  fact  of  the  overarching  of  the  vertebral  column,  with 
excessive  pressure  against  it  from  the  intestinal  mass,  owing  to  the 
spasmodic  action  of  the  abdominal  muscles,  may  account  for  it,  and 
so  also  may  the  struggles  of  the  animal  to  escape  from  the  restraint 
of  the  hobbles  while  frantic  under  the  pain  of  an  operation  without 


314  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

anesthesia.  In  these  cases  the  fracture  usually  occurs  in  the  body 
or  the  annular  part,  or  both,  of  the  posterior  dorsal  or  the  anterior 
lumbar  vertebra.  When ,  the  transverse  processes  of  the  last-named 
bones  are  injured,  it  is  probably  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  concus- 
sion incident  to  striking  the  ground  when  cast.  The  diagnosis  of  a 
fracture  of  the  body  of  a  vertebra  is  not  always  easy,  especially  when 
quite  recent,  and  more  especially  when  there  is  no  accompanying 
displacement. 

Sijmj)toms. — There  are  certain  peculiar  signs  accompanying  the 
occurrence  of  the  accident  while  an  operation  is  in  progress  which 
should  at  once  excite  the  suspicion  of  the  surgeon.  In  the  midst  of 
a  violent  struggle  the  patient  becomes  suddenly  quiet;  the  movement 
of  a  sharp  instrument,  which  at  first  excited  his  resistance,  fails  to  give 
rise  to  any  further  evidence  of  sensation;  perhaps  a  general  trem- 
bling, lasting  for  a  few  minutes,  w'ill  follow,  succeeded  b}'  a  cold,  pro- 
fuse perspiration,  particular!}'  between  the  hind  legs,  and  frequently 
there  will  be  micturition  and  defecation.  Careful  examination  of  the 
vertebral  column  may  then  detect  a  slight  depression  or  irregularity 
in  the  direction  of  the  spine,  and  there  may  be  a  diminution  or  loss  of 
sensation  in  the  posterior  part  of  the  trunk,  while  the  anterior  portion 
continues  to  be  as  sensitive  as  before.  In  making  an  attempt  to  get 
upon  his  feet,  however,  upon  the  removal  of  the  hobbles,  onl}^  the 
fpre  part  of  the  body  will  respond  to  the  effort,  a  degree  of  paraplegia 
being  present,  and  while  the  head,  neck,  and  fore  part  of  the  body 
will  be  raised,  the  hind  quarters  and  hind  legs  w^ill  remain  inert.  The 
animal  may  perhaps  succeed  in  rising  and  probabl}'"  may  be  removed 
to  his  stall,  but  the  displacement  of  the  bone  will  follow,  converting 
the  fracture  into  one  of  the  complete  kind,  either  through  the  exer- 
tion of  walking  or  by  a  renewed  attempt  to  rise  after  another  fall 
before  reaching  his  stall.  By  this  time  the  paralj'sis  is  complete,  and 
the  extension  of  the  meningitis,  which  has  become  established,  is  a 
consummation  soon  reached. 

To  say  that  the  prognosis  of  fracture  of  the  body  of  the  vertebra  is 
always  serious  is  to  speak  very  mildl}'.  It  would  be  better,  perhaps, 
to  sa}'^  that  occasloQially  a  case  may  recover.  Fractures  of  the  trans- 
verse processes  are  less  serious. 

Treatment. — Instead  of  stating  the  indication  in  this  class  of  cases  as 
if  assuming  them  to  be  amenable  to  treatment,  the  question  naturally 
would  be:  Can  any  treatment  be  recommended  in  a  fracture  of  the 
body  of  a  vertebra?  The  only  indication  in  such  a  case,  in  our  opin- 
ion, is  to  reach  the  true  diagnosis  in  the  shortest  possible  time  and  to 
act  accordingl3\  If  there  is  displacement,  and  the  existence  of  serious 
lesions  may  be  inferred  from  the  nervous  symptoms,  the  destruction 
of  the  suffering  animal  appears  to  suggest  itself  as  the  one  conclusion 
in  which  considerations  of  policy,  humanit}',  and  science  at  once  unite 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOilSE.  315 

If,  however,  it  is  fairh-^  evident  that  no  displacement  exists;  tliat 
pressure  upon  the  spinal  cord  is  not  j^et  present;  that  the  animal  with 
a  little  assistance  is  able  to  rise  upon  his  feet  and  to  walk  a  short  dis- 
tance— it  may  be  well  to  experiment  upon  the  case  to  the  extent  of 
placing  the  patient  in  the  most  favorable  circumstances  for  recovery 
and  allow  nature  to  operate  without  further  interference.  This  may 
be  accomplished  by  securing  immobility  of  the  whole  bod}'  as  much  as 
possible,  and  especially  of  the  suspected  region,  b}'  placing  the  patient 
in  slings,  in  a  stall  sufScienth'  narrow  to  preclude  lateral  motion,  and 
covering  the  loins  with  a  thick  coat  of  agglutinative  mixture.  Watch 
and  wait  for  developments. 

FRACTURE   OF    THE    RIBS. 

The  different  regions  of  the  chest  are  not  equally  exposed  to  the  vio- 
lence to  which  fractures  of  the  ribs  are  due,  and  they  are  therefore 
either  more  common  or  more  easily  discovered  during  life  at  some 
points  than  at  others.  The  more  exposed  regions  are  the  middle  and 
the  posterior,  while  the  front  is  largely  covered  and  defended  b}-  the 
shoulder.  A  -single  rib  may  be  the  seat  of  fracture,  or  a  number  may 
be  involved,  and  there  maj'  be  injuries  on  both  sides  of  the  chest  at  the 
same  time.  It  may  take  place  lengthwise,  in  any  part  of  the  boiie, 
though  the  middle,  being  the  most  exposed,  is  the  most  frequentl}' 
hurt.  Incomplete  fractures  are  usuall}^  lengtlnvise,  involving  a  por- 
tion onlj"  of  the  thickness  or  one  or  other  of  the  surfaces.  The  com- 
plete kind  may  be  either  transverse  or  oblique,  and  are  most  commonly 
denticulated.  The  fracture  may  be  commiriuted,  and  a  single  bone 
rca}'  show  one  of  the  complete  and  one  of  the  incomplete  kind  at  dif- 
ferent points.  The  extent  of  surface  presented  by  the  thoracic  region, 
with  its  complete  exposure  at  all  points,  explains  the  liabilit}^  of  the 
ribs  to  suffer  from  all  the  forms  of  external  Anolence. 

Symjytoins. — In  man}^  instances  fractures  of  these  bones  continue 
undiscovered,  especially  the  incomplete  variety,  without  displacement, 
though  the  evidences  of  local  pain,  a  certain  amount  of  swelling,  and 
a  degree  of  disturbance  of  the  respiration,  if  noticed  during  the  exam- 
ination of  a  patient,  may  suggest  a  suspicion  of  their  existence. 
Abnormal  mobility  and  crepitation  are  difficult  of  detection,  even 
when  present,  and  they  are  not  always  present.  When  there  is  dis- 
placement the  deformity  which  it  occasions  will  betray  the  fact,  and 
when  such  an  injury  exists  the  surgeon  will,  of  course,  become  vigilant, 
in  view  of  possible  and  probable  complications  of  thoracic  trouble, 
and  prepare  himself  for  an  encounter  with  a  case  of  traumatio-pleuritis 
or  pneumonia.  Fatal  injuries  of  the  heart  are  recorded.  Subcutane- 
ous emph3'sema  is  a  common  accompaniment  of  broken  ribs,  and  I 
recall  the  death  from  this  cause  of  a  patiefit  of  my  own  which  had 
suffered  a  fracture  of  two  ribs  in  the  region  of  the  withers,  under  the 


316  EUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

cartilages  of  the  ^^bouklc^,  and  of  which  the  diagnosis  was  only  made 
after  the  fatal  ending  of  the  case. 

These  hurts  arc  not  often  of  a  ver}-  serious  character,  though  the 
union  is  never  as  solid  and  complete  as  in  other  fractures,  the  callus 
])eing  usuallj'  imperfect  and  of  a  fibrous  character,  with  an  amphiar- 
throsis  formation.  Still,  complications  occur  which  may  impart 
gravit}'  to  the  prognosis. 

Treatment. — Fractures  with  but  a  slight  or  no  displacement  need  no 
reduction.  All  that  is  necessary  is  a  simple  application  of  a  blistering 
nature  as  a  preventive  of  inflammation  or  for  its  subjugation  when 
present,  and  in  order  to  excite  an  exudation  which  will  tend  to  aid  in 
the  support  and  innnobilization  of  the  parts.  At  times,  hoAvever,  a 
l)etter  eflect  is  obtained  by  the  application  of  a  bandage  placed  firmh' 
around  the  chest,  although,  while  this  limits  the  motion  of  the  ribs,  it 
is  apt  to  render  the  respiration  more  labored. 

If  there  is  disjjlacement,  with  much  accompanying  pain  and  evident 
irritation  of  the  lungs,  the  fracture  must  be  reduced  without  delay. 
The  means  of  effecting  this  vary  according  to  whether  the  displace- 
ment is  outward  or  inward.  In  the  first  case  the  bone  ma}'^  be 
straightened  by  pressure  from  without,  while  in  the  second  the  end  of 
the  bone  must  be  raised  b}^  a  lever,  for  the  introduction  of  which  a 
small  incision  through  the  skin  and  intercostal  spaces  will  be  necessar3\ 
When  coaptation  has  been  effected  it  must  be  retained  b}"  the  external 
application  of  adhesive  mixture,  with  splints  and  bandages  around  the 
chest. 

FRACTURES    OF    THE    BOXES    OP   THE    PELVIS. 

These  fractures  will  be  considered  under  their  separate  denomina- 
tions, as  those  of  the  mcrum  and  the  on  innominatiun^  or  hip,  which 
includes  the  subdivisions  of  the  ilium,  the  pubes,  and  the  ischium. 

The  sacrum. — Fractures  of  this  bone  are  rarely  met  with  among 
solipeds.  Among  cattle,  however,  it  is  of  common  occurrence,  l)eing 
attributed  not  onl}^  to  the  usual  varieties  of  violence,  as  blows  and 
other  external  hurts,  but  to  the  act  of  coition  and  to  violent  efforts  in 
parturition*  It  is  generally  of  the  transverse  kind  and  maj-  be  recog- 
nized bj^  the  deformity  which  it  occasions.  This  is  due  to  the  drop- 
ping of  the  bone,  with  a  change  in  its  direction  and  a  lower  attachment 
of  the  tail,  which  also  becomes  more  or  less  paralyzed.  The  natural 
and  spontaneous  relief  which  usually  interposes  in  these  cases  has 
doubtless  been  observed  by  the  extensive  cattle  breeders  of  the  West, 
and  their  practice  and  example  fully  establish  the  inutilit}^  of  inter- 
ference. Still,  cases  maA^  occur  in  which  reduction  may  be  indicirted, 
and  it  then  becomes  a  matter  of  no  difficulty.  It  is  efi'ected  by  the 
introduction  of  a  round,  smooth  piece  of  wood  into  the  rectum  as  far 
as  the  fragment  of  bone  and  using  it  as  a  lever,  resting  upon  another 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  317 

as  a  fulcrum  placed  undci"  it  outside.  The  bone,  having  been  thus 
returned,  ma}'  be  kept  in  place  b}"  the  ordinary  external  means  in  use. 

Theoi  Innomimduin. — Fractures  of  the  iliiuii  maybe  observed  either 
at  the  angle  of  the  hip  or  at  the  neck  of  the  bone;  those  of  the  pubes 
ma}'  take  place  at  the  S3'mphysis,  or  in  the  bod}'  of  the  bone;  those  of 
the  ischium  on  the  floor  of  the  bone,  or  at  its  posterior  external  angle. 
Or,  again,  the  fracture  may  involve  all  three  of  these  constituent  parts 
of  the  hip  bone  by  having  its  situation  in  the  articular  cavity — the 
acetabulum  by  which  it  joins  the  fenmr  or  thigh  bone. 

Symptoms. — Some  of  these  fractures  are  easily  recognized,  while 
others  are  difficult  to  identify.  The  ordinary  deformity  which  char- 
acterizes a  fracture  of  the  external  angle  of  the  ilium,  its  dropping 
and  the  diminution  of  that  side  of  the  hip  in  width,  unite  in  indicating- 
the  existence  of  the  condition  expressed  by  the  term  "hipped."  But 
an  incomplete  fracture,  or  one  that  is  complete  without  diplacement, 
oi  even  one  with  displacement,  often  demands  the  closest  scrutiny  for 
its  discovery.  The  lameness  may  be  well  marked,  and  an  animal  may 
show  but  little  appearance  of  it  while  walking,  but  upon  being  urged 
into  a  trot  will  manifest  it  more  and  more,  until  presently  he  will 
cease  to  use  the  crippled  limb  altogether,  and  perform  his  traveling 
entirely  on  three  legs.  The  acute  character  of  the  lameness  will  vary 
in  degree  as  the  seat  of  the  lesion  approximates  the  acetabulum.  In 
walking,  the  motion  at  the  hip  is  very  limited,  and  the  leg  is  dragged; 
while  at  rest  it  is  relieved  from  bearing  its  share  in  sustaining  the 
body.  An  intelligent  opinion  and  correct  conclusion  will  depend 
largely  upon  a  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  case,  and  while  in  some 
instances  that  will  be  but  a  report  of  the  common  etiology  of  frac- 
tures, such  as  blows,  hurts,  and  other  external  violence,  the  simple 
fact  of  a  fall  may  furnish  in  a  single  word  a  satisfactory  solution  of 
the  whole  matter. 

With  the  exception  of  the  deformity  of  the  ilium  in  a  fracture  of  its 
external  angle,  and  unless  there  has  been  a  serious  laceration  of  tis- 
sues and  infiltration  of  blood,  or  excessive  displacement,  there  are  no 
very  definite  external  symptoms  in  a  case  of  a  fracture  of  the  hip 
bone.  There  is  one,  however,  which,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  will  not 
fail — it  is  crepitation.  This  evidence  is  attainable  by  both  external 
and  internal  examination — by  manipulation  of  the  gluteal-  surface  and 
by  rectal  taxis.  Very  often  a  lateral  motion,  or  balancing  of  the  hinder 
parts  by  pressing  the  body  from  one  side  to  the  other,  will  be  sufficient 
to  render  the  crepitation  more  distinct — a  slight  sensation  of  grating, 
which  may  be  perceived  even  through  the  thick  coating  of  muscle 
which  covers  the  bone — and  the  sensation  may  not  only  be  felt,  Ijut  to 
the  ear  of  the  expert  may  even  become  audible.  This  external  mani- 
festation is,  however,  not  always  sufficient  in  itself,  and  should  always 
be  associated  with  the  rectal  taxis  for  corroboration.     It  is  true  that 


318  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

this  ma\'  fail  to  add  to  the  evidence  of  fracture,  but  till  then  the  simple 
testimony  afforded  by  the  detection  of  crepitation  from  the  surface, 
thouf»-h  a  .strong  confirmator}^  point,  is  scarceh'  sufEciently  absolute  to 
e^;tabli8ll  more  than  a  reasonable  probability  or  strong  suspicion  in  the 
case. 

In  addition  to  the  fact  that  the  rectal  examination  brings  the  explor- 
ing hand  of  the  surgeon  into  near  proximit}'  to  the  desired  point  of 
search,  and  to  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  situation  of  parts,  l)oth 
pro  and  con  as  respects  his  own  views,  there  is  another  advantage 
attendant  upon  it  which  is  well  entitled  to  appreciation.  This  is  the 
facility  with  which  he  can  avail  himself  of  the  help  of  an  assistant, 
who  can  aid  him  by  manipulating  the  implicated  limb  and  placing  it 
in  various  positions,  so  far  as  the  patient  will  permit,  while  the  sur- 
geon himself  is  making  explorations  and  studying  the  effect  from 
within.  By  this  method  he  can  hardly  fail  to  ascertain  the  character 
of  the  fracture  and  the  condition  of  the  bony  ends.  By  the  rectal  taxis, 
as  if  with  eyes  in  the  finger  ends,  he  will  "see"  what  is  the  extent  of 
the  fracture  of  the  ilium  or  of  the  neck  of  tliat  bone;  to  what  part  of 
the  central  portion  of  the  bone  (the  acetabulum)  it  reaches;  whether 
this  is  free  from  disease  or  not,  and  in  what  locationon  the  floor  of  the 
pelvis  the  lesion  is  situated.  We  have  frequentl}^  by  this  method 
been  able  to  detect  a  fracture  at  the  symphysis  which,  from  its  history 
and  symptoms  and  an  external  examination,  could  only  have  been 
guessed  at. 

Yet,  with  all  its  advantages,  the  rectal  examination  is  not  always 
necessary,  as,  for  example,  when  the  fracture  is  at  the  posterior  and 
external  angle  of  the  ischium,  when  by  friction  of  the  bonj'  ends  the 
surgeon  may  discern  the  crepitation  without  it. 

Every  variety  of  complication,  including  muscular  lacerations  with 
the  formation  of  deep  abscesses  and  injuries  to  the  organs  of  the 
pelvic  cavity,  the  bladder,  the  rectum,  and  the  uterus,  ma}^  be  associ- 
ated with  fractures  of  the  hip  bone. 

Prognosis. — The  prognosis  of  these  lesions  will  necessarily  var}-  con- 
siderably. A  fracture  of  the  most  superficial  part  of  the  bone  of  the 
ilium  or  of  the  ischium,  especially  where  there  is  little  displacement, 
will  unite  rapidly,  leaving  a  comparatively  sound  animal  often  quite 
free  from  subsequent  lameness.  But  if  there  is  much  displacement, 
oxAy  a  ligamentous  union  will  take  place,  with  much  deforraitj'-  and 
more  or  less  irregularih'  in  the  gait.  Other  fractures  may  be  fol- 
lowed by  complete  disability  of  the  patient,  as,  for  example,  when  the 
cotyloid  cavity  is  involved,  or  when  the  reparatory  process  has  left 
bony  deposits  in  the  pelvic  cavity  at  the  seat  of  the  union,  which  may, 
with  the  female,  interfere  with  the  steps  of  parturition,  or  induce 
some  local  paralysis  by  pressure  upon  the  nerves  which  govern  the 
muscles  of  the  hind  legs.     This  is  a  condition  not  infrequently  observed 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  819 

"I 
when  the  callus  has  been  formed  on  the  floor  of  the  pelvis  near  the 
obturator  foramen,  pressing  upon  the  course  or  involving  the  obtu- 
rator nerve. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  all  fractures  of  the  hip  bone  should, 
in  our  estimation,  be  of  the  simplest  kind.  Rendered  comparatively 
immovable  by  the  thickness  of  the  muscles  by  which  the  region  is 
enveloped,  one  essential  indication  suggests  itself,  and  that  is,  to  place 
the  animal  in  a  position  which,  so  far  as  possible,  will  be  fixed  and 
permanent.  For  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose  the  best  measure, 
as  we  consider  it,  is  to  place  him  in  a  stall  of  just  sufficient  width  to 
admit  him,  and  to  appl}""  a  set  of  slings,  snugly,  but  comf ortabl v.  This 
will  fulfill  the  essential  conditions  of  recover}- — rest  and  immobilit3^ 
Blistering  applications  would  be  injurious,  though  the  adhesive  mix- 
ture might  prove  in  some  degree  beneficial. 

The  minimum  period  allowable  for  solid  union  in  a  fractured  hip  is, 
in  our  judgment,  two  months,  and  we  have  known  cases  in  which  that 
was  too  short  a  time. 

As  we  have  before  said,  there  maj^  be  cases  in  Avhich  the  treatment 
for  fracture  at  the  floor  of  the  pelvis  has  been  followed  by  symptoms 
of  partial  paralysis,  the  animal,  when  l^^ing  down,  being  unable  to 
regain  his  feet,  but  moving  f reeh'  when  placed  in  an  upright  position. 
This  condition  is  due  to  the  interference  of  the  callus  with  the  func- 
tions of  the  obturator  nerve,  which  it  presses  upon  or  surrounds.  I 
feel  warranted  b}^  my  experience  in  similar  cases  in  cautioning  owners 
of  horses  in  this  condition  to  exercise  due  patience,  and  to  avoid  a 
premature  sentence  of  condemnation  against  their  invalid  servants; 
they  are  not  all  irrecoverablj-  paralytic.  With  alternations  of  moder- 
ate exercise,  rest  in  the  slings,  and  the  effect  of  time  vfhile  the  natural 
process  of  absorption  is  taking  effect  upon  the  callus,  with  other  ele- 
ments of  change  that  may  be  so  operating,  the  horse  may  in  due  time 
become  able  to  once  more  earn  his  subsistence  and  serve  his  master. 

FRACTURE  OF  THE  SCAPULA. 

This  bone  is  seldom  fractured,  its  comparative  exemption  being  due 
to  its  free  mobility  and  the  protection  it  receives  from  the  superim- 
posed soft  tissues.  Only  direct  and  powerful  causes  are  sufficient  to 
effect  the  injury,  and  when  it  occurs  the  large  rather  than  the  smaller 
animals  are  the  subjects. 

Cause. — The  causes  are  heavy  blovN^s  or  kicks  and  violent  collisions 
with  unyielding  objects.  Those  which  are  occasioned  by  falls  are  gen- 
erally at  the  neck  of  the  bone,  and  of  the  transverse  and  comminuted 
varieties. 

Symptoms. — The  diagnosis  is  not  always  easy.  The  S3'mptom3  are 
inabilitj^  to  rest  the  leg  on  the  ground  and  to  carry  weights,  and  they 
are  present  in  various  degrees  from  slight  to  severe.     The  leg  rests 


320  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

upon  the  toe  and  seem.s  shortened,  and  locomotion  is  performed  by 
jumps.  Moving  the  leg  while  examining  it  and  raising  the  foot  for 
inspection  seem  to  produce  much  pain  and  cause  the  animal  to  rear. 
Crepitation  is  readily  felt  with  the  hand  upon  the  shoulder  when  the 
log  is  moved.  If  the  fracture  occurs  in  the  upper  part  of  the  bone, 
overlapping  of  the  fragments  and  displacement  Avill  be  considerable. 

The  fracture  of  this  bone  is  usually  classed  among  the  more  serious 
accidents,  though  cases  may  occur  which  are  followed  b}-  recovery 
without  verj^  serious  ultimate  results,  especiall}^  Avhen  the  seat  of  the 
injury  is  at  some  of  the  upper  angles  of  the  bone,  or  about  the  acro- 
mion crest.  But  if  the  neck  and  the  joint  are  the  parts  involved,  com- 
plications are  apt  to  be  present  which  are  likely  to  disable  the  animal 
for  life. 

Treatment. — If  there  is  no  displacement  a  simple  adhesive  dressing, 
to  strengthen  and  immobilize  the  parts,  will  be  sufficient.  A  coat  of 
black  pitch  dissolved  with  wax  and  Venice  turpentine,  and  kept  in 
place  over  the  region  with  oakum  or  linen  bands,  will  be  all  the  treat- 
ment required,  especially  if  the  animal  is  kept  quiet  in  the  slings. 

Displacement  can  not  be  remedied,  and  reduction  is  next  to  impos- 
sible. Sometimes  an  iron  plate  is  applied  over  the  parts  and  retained 
b}^  bandages,  as  in  the  dressing  of  Bourgelat;  and  this  may  be  advan- 
tageously replaced  by  a  pad  of  thick  leather.  In  smaller  animals  the 
parts  are  retained  b}^  figure-8  bandages,  embracing  both  the  normal 
and  the  diseased  shoulders,  crossing  each  other  in  the  axilla  and  cov- 
ered with  a  coating  of  adhesive  mixture. 

FRACTURKS    OF    THE    HUMERUS. 

These  are  more  common  in  small  than  in  large  animals,  and  are 
always  the  result  of  external  traumatism,  such  as  falls,  kicks,  and  col- 
lisions. They  are  generally  very  oblique,  are  often  comminuted,  and 
though  more  usuall}'  involving  the  shaft  of  the  bone  will  in  some  cases 
extend  to  the  upper  end  and  into  the  articular  head. 

Sijmjytoms. — There  is  ordinaril}^  considerable  displacement  in  conse- 
quence of  the  overlapping  of  the  broken  ends  of  the  bone,  and  this,  of 
course,  causes  more  or  less  shortening  of  the  limb.  There  will  also  be 
swelling,  with  difficulty  of  locomotion,  and  crepitation  will  be  easy  of 
detection.  This  fracture  is  alwaj^s  a  serious  damage  to  the  patient, 
leaving  him  with  a  permanently  shortened  limb  and  an  incurable,  life- 
long lameness. 

Treatment. — If  treatment  is  determined  on  it  will  consist  in  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  fracture  by  means  of  extension  and  counter  extension,  and 
in  order  to  accomplish  this  the  animal  must  be  thrown.  If  successful 
in  the  reduction,  then  follows  the  application  and  adjustment  of  the 
apparatus  of  retention,  which  must  needs  be  of  the  most  perfect  and 
efficient  kind.  And  finally,  this,  however  skillfully  contrived  and  care- 
fully adapted,  will  often  fail  to  effect  any  good  purpose  whatever. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  321 

FRACTURE    OF   THE   FOREARM. 

A  fracture  in  this  region  may  also  involve  the  radius  or  the  ulna^ 
the  latter  being  broken  at  times  in  its  upper  portion  aboA'e  the  radio- 
ulnar arch  at  the  olecranon.  If  the  fracture  occurs  at  any  part  of  the 
forearm  from  the  radio-ulnar  arch  down  to  the  knee,  it  may  involve 
either  the  radius  alone  or  the  radius  and  the  cubitus,  which  are  there 
intimately  united. 

Cause. — Besides  having  the  same  etiology  with  most  of  the  fractures, 
those  of  the  forearm  are,  nevertheless,  more  commonly  due  to  kicks 
from  other  animals,  especially  when  crowded  together  in  large  num- 
bers in  insufficient  space.  It  is  a  matter  of  observation  that,  under 
these  circumstances,  fractures  of  the  incomplete  kind  are  those  which 
occur  on  the  inside  of  the  leg,  the  bone  being  in  that  region  almost 
entirely  subcutaneous,  while  those  of  the  complete  class  are  either 
oblique  or  transverse.  The  least  common  are  the  longitudinal,  in  the 
long  axis  of  the  bone. 

Symptoms,- — This  variety  of  fracture  is  easily  recognized  by  the 
appearance  of  the  leg  and  the  different  changes  it  undergoes.  There 
is  inability  to  use  the  limb;  impossibility  of  locomotion;  mobility 
below  the  injury;  the  ready  detection  of  crepitation — in  a  word,  the; 
assemblage  of  all  the  signs  and  symptoms  which  have  been  already 
considered  as  associated  with  the  history  of  broken  bones. 

The  fracture  of  the  ulna  alone,  principally  above  the  radio-ulnar 
arch,  may  be  ascertained  by  the  aggravated  lameness,  the  excessive 
soreness  on  pressure,  and  perhaps  a  certain  increase  of  motion,  with 
a  very  slight  crepitation  if  tested  in  the  usual  wa^^  Displacement 
is  not  likely  to  take  place  except  when  it  is  well  up  toward  the  ole- 
cranon or  its  tuberosity,  the  upper  segment  of  the  bone  being  in  that 
case  likely  to  be  drawn  upward.  For  a  simple  fracture  of  this  region 
there  exists  a  fair  chance  of  recovery,  but  in  a  case  of  the  compound 
and  comminuted  class  there  is  less  ground  for  a  favorable  prognosis, 
especiall}^  if  the  elboy>"  joint  has  suffered  injury.  A  fracture  of  the 
ulna  alone  is  not  of  serious  importance,  except  when  the  same  con- 
ditions prevail.  A  fracture  of  the  olecranon  is  less  amenable  to 
treatment,  and  promises  little  better  than  a  ligamentous  union. 

Treatraent. — Considering  all  the  various  conditions  involving  the 
nature  and  extent  of  these  lesions,  the  position  and  direction  of  the 
bones  of  the  forearm  are  such  as  to  render  the  chances  for  recovery 
from  fracture  as  among  the  best.  The  reduction,  by  extension  and- 
counter  extension;  the  maintenance  of  the  coaptation  of  the  segments; 
the  adaptation  of  the  dressing  by  splints,  oaKum,  and  agglutinative 
mixtures;  in  fact,  all  the  details  of  treatment  may  be  here  fulfilled 
with  a  degree  of  facility  and  precision  not  attainable  in  any  other  part 
of  the  organism.  An  important,  if  not  an  essential,  point,  however, 
14384—03 21 


322  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

must  be  emphasized  in  regard  to  the  splints.  Whether  these  are  of 
metal,  wood,  or  other  material,  the}- should  reach  from  the  elbow  joint 
to  the  ground,  and  should  be  placed  on  the  posterior  face  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  leg.  This  is  then  to  be  so  confined  in  a  properl}-  con- 
structed box  as  to  preclude  all  possibilit}'  of  motion,  while  yet  it  must 
sustain  a  certain  portion  of  the  weight  of  the  body.  The  iron  splint 
(represented  in  Plate  XXVII)  recommended  by  Bourgelat  is  designed 
for  fractures  of  the  forearm,  of  the  knee,  and  of  the  cannon  bone,  and 
will  prove  to  be  an  appliance  of  great  value.  For  small  animals  the 
preference  is  for  an  external  covering  of  gutta-percha,  embracing  the 
entire  leg.  A  sheet  of  this  substance  of  suitable  thickness,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  animal,  softened  in  lukewarm  water,  is,  when  suffi- 
ciently pliable,  molded  on  the  outside  of  the  leg,  and  when  suddenly 
hardened  b}^  the  application  of  cold  water  forms  a  complete  casing 
sufRcientl}'-  rigid  to  resist  all  motion.  Patients  treated  in  this  manner 
have  been  able  to  use  the  limb  freely,  without  pain,  immediately  after 
the  application  of  the  dressing.  The  removal  of  the  splint  is  easily 
effected  by  cutting  it  away,  either  wholly  or  in  sections,  after  softening 
it  by  immersing  the  leg  in  a  warm  bath. 

FRACTCRE    OF   THE    KNEE. 

This  accident,  happily,  is  of  rare  occurrence,  but  when  it  takes  place 
is  of  a  severe  character,  and  alwaj^s  accompanied  by  synovitis,  with 
disease  of  the  joint. 

Cause. — It  may  be  caused  b}^  falling  upon  a  hard  surface,  and  is 
usually  compound  and  comminuted.  Healing  seldom  occurs,  and  when 
it  does  there  is  usually  a  stiffness  of  the  joint  from  arthritis. 

Symptoms. — As  a  result  of  this  fracture  there  is  inability  to  bear 
weight  on  the  foot.  The  leg  is  flexed  as  in  complete  radial  paralysis, 
or  fracture  of  the  ulna.  There  is  abnormal  mobility  of  the  bones  of 
the  knee,  but  crepitation  is  usually  absent. 

Prognosis. — Healing  is  hard  to  obtain,  as  one  part  of  the  knee  is 
drawn  upward  by  the  two  flexor  muscles  which  separate  it  from  the 
lower  part.  Tbe  callus  which  forms  is  largely  fibrous,  and  if  the 
animal  is  put  to  work  too  quickl}^  this  callus  is  apt  to  rupture.  In 
favorable  cases  healing  takes  place  in  two  or  three  months.  Many 
horses  during  the  treatment  develop  founder,  with  consequent  drop 
sole  in  the  sound  leg,  as  a  result  of  pressure  due  to  continuous  standing, 

Treatment. — Place  the  animal  in  the  slings,  bring  the  pieces  of  bone 
together  if  possible,  and  try  to  keep  them  in  place  by  a  tight  plaster  of 
Paris  dressing  about  the  leg,  extending  down  to  the  fetlock.  Place 
the  animal  in  a  roomy  box  stall  v:ell  provided  with  bedding  so  that  he 
can  lie  down,  to  prevent  founder. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  323 


FRACTURE   OF   THE    FEMUR. 


The  protection  which  this  bone  receives  from  the  large  mass  of 
muscles  in  which  it  is  enveloped  does  not  suffice  to  invest  it  with 
immunity  in  regard  to  fractures. 

Cause. — It  contributes  its  share  to  the  list  of  accidents  of  this 
description,  sometimes  in  consequence  of  external  violence  and  some- 
times as  the  result  of  muscular  contraction;  sometimes  it  takes  place 
at  the  upper  extremity  of  the  bone;  sometimes  at  the  lower;  some- 
times at  the  head,  when  the  condyles  become  implicated;  but  it  is 
principally  found  in  the  body  or  diaphysis.  The  fracture  maj^  be  of 
any  of  the  ordinarj^  forms,  simple  or  compound,  complete  or  incom- 
plete, transverse  or  oblique,  etc.  A  case  of  the  comminuted  variety 
is  recorded  in  which  eighty-five  fragments  of  bone  were  counted  and 
removed. 

The  thickness  of  the  muscular  covering  sometimes  renders  the 
diagnosis  difficult  by  interfering  with  the  manipulation,  but  the  crepi- 
tation test  is  readih'  available,  even  when  the  swelling  is  considerable, 
and  which  is  likely  to  be  the  case  as  the  result  of  the  interstitial  hem- 
orrhage which  naturally  follows  the  laceration  of  the  blood  vessels  of 
the  region  involved. 

Symptoms. — If  the  fracture  is  at  the  neck  of  the  bone  the  muscles 
of  that  region  (the  gluteal)  are  firmly  contracted  and  the  leg  seems  to 
be  shortened  in  consequence.  Locomotion  is  impossible.  There  is 
intense  pain  and  violent  sweating  at  first.  Crepitation  may  in  some 
cases  be  discerned  b}'^  rectal  examination,  with  one  hand  resting  over 
the  coxo-femoral  (hip)  articulation.  Fractures  of  the  tuberosities  of 
the  upper  end  of  the  bone,  the  great  trochanter,  ma}'  be  identified  by 
the  deformity,  the  swelling,  the  impossibility  of  rotation,  and  the 
dragging  of  the  leg  in  walking.  Fracture  of  the  body  is  always 
accompanied  by  displacement,  and  as  a  consequence  a  shortening  of 
the  leg,  which  is  carried  forward.  The  lameness  is  excessive,  the  foot 
being  moved,  both  when  raising  it  from  the  ground  and  when  setting- 
it  down,  very  timidly  and  cautiously.  The  manipulations  for  the  dis- 
covery of  crepitation  always  cause  much  pain.  Lesions  of  the  lower 
end  of  the  bone  are  more  difficult  to  diagnosticate  with  certainty, 
though  the  manifestation  of  pain  while  making  heavy  pressure  upon 
the  condyles  will  be  so  marked  that  only  crepitation  will  be  needed  to 
turn  a  suspicion  into  a  certainty. 

Treatment. — The  question  as  to  treatment  in  fractures  of  this  descrip- 
tion resolves  itself  into  the  query  whether  anj^  treatment  can  be  sug- 
gested that  will  avail  anything  practically  as  a  curative  measure; 
whether,  upon  the  hypothesis  of  reduction  as  an  accomplished  fact, 
any  permanent  or  efficient  device  as  a  means  of  retention  is  within  the 


324  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

scope  of  human  ingenuity.  If  the  reduction  were  successfully  per- 
formed, would  it  be  possible  to  keep  the  parts  in  place  by  any  known 
means  at  our  disposal?  At  the  best  the  most  favorable  result  that 
could  be  anticipated  would  be  a  reunion  of  the  fragments,  with  a  con- 
siderable shortening  of  the  bone,  and  a  helpless,  limping,  crippled 
animal  to  remind  us  that  for  human  achievement  there  is  a  "thus  far 
and  no  farther." 

In  small  animals,  however,  attempts  at  treatment  are  justifiable,  and 
Ave  are  convinced  that  in  many  cases  of  difficulty  in  the  application  of 
splints  and  bandages  a  patient  may  be  placed  in  a  condition  of  undis- 
turbed quiet  and  left  to  the  processes  of  nature  for  "treatment"  as 
safely  and  with  as  good  an  assurance  of  a  favorable  result  as  if  he  had 
been  subjected  to  the  most  heroic  secundu?n  artem  doctoring  known  to 
science.  As  a  case  in  point,  mention  may  be  made  of  the  case  of  a 
pregnant  bitch  which  suffered  a  fracture  of  the  upper  end  of  the  femur 
by  being  run  over  by  a  light  wagon.  Her  "treatment"  consisted  in 
being  tied  up  in  a  large  box  and  let  alone.  In  due  time  she  was 
delivered  of  a  family  of  puppies,  and  in  three  weeks  she  was  running 
in  the  streets,  limping  very  slight!}^,  and  nothing  the  worse  for  her 
accident. 

FRACTURE  OF  THE  PATELLA. 

This,  fortunatel}",  is  a  rare  accident  and  can  onh"  result  from  direct 
violence,  as  a  kick  or  other  blow.  The  lameness  which  follows  it  is 
accompanied  with  enormous  tumefaction  of  the  joint,  pain,  inabilitj'^  to 
bear  weight  upon  the  foot,  and,  finally,  disease  of  the  articulation. 
Crepitation  is  absent,  because  the  hip  muscles  draw  away  the  upper 
part  of  the  bone.  The  prognosis  is  unavoidably  adverse,  destruction 
being  the  only  termination  of  this  incurable  and  very  painfid  injury. 
Most  of  the  reported  cases  of  cures  are  based  upon  a  wrong  diagnosis. 

FRACTURES    OF   THE    TIHIA. 

Of  all  fractures  these  are  probably  more  f requenth^  encountered  than 
any  others  among  the  class  of  accidents  we  are  considering.  As  with 
injuries  of  the  forearm  of  a  like  character,  they  may  be  complete  or 
incomplete;  the  former  when  the  bone  is  broken  in  the  middle  or  at 
the  extremities,  and  transverse,  oblique,  or  longitudinal.  The  incom- 
plete kind  are  more  common  in  this  bone  than  in  any  other. 

.Sym-ptoms. — Complete  fractures  are  easy  to  recognize,  either  with 
or  without  displacement.  The  animal  is  verj^  lame,  and  the  leg  is 
either  dragged  or  held  up  clear  from  the  ground  by  flexion  at  the 
stifle,  while  the  lower  part  hangs  down.  Carrying  weight  or  moving 
backward  is  impossible.  There  is  excessive  mobilit}"  below  the  frac- 
ture, and  well-marked  crepitation.  If  there  is  much  displacement,  as 
in  an  oblique  fracture,  there  will  be  considerable  shortening  of  the  leg. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  325 

While  incomplete  fractures  can  not  be  recojynized  in  the  tibia  with 
any  greater  degree  of  certainty  than  in  any  other  bone,  there  are  some 
facts  associated  with  them  by  which  a  diagnosis  may  be  justified.  The 
hypothetical  history  of  a  case  may  serve  as  an  illustration: 

An  animal  has  received  an  injury  by  a  blow  or  a  kick  on  the  inside 
of  the  bone,  perhaps  without  showing  any  mark.  Becoming  very 
lame  immediately  afterwards,  he  is  allowed  a  few  days'  rest.  Being 
then  taken  out  again,  he  seems  to  have  recovered  his  soundness,  but 
within  a  day  or  two  he  betrays  a  little  soreness,  and  this  increasing 
he  becomes  very  lame  again,  to  be  furloughed  once  more,  with  the 
result  of  a  temporary  improvement,  and  again  a  return  to  labor  and 
again  a  relapse  of  the  lameness;  and  this  alternation  seems  to  be  the 
rule.  The  leg  being  now  carefull}^  examined,  a  local  periostitis  is 
readily  discovered  at  the  point  of  the  injur}^,  the  part  being  warm, 
swollen,  and  painful.  What  further  proof  is  necessary?  Is  it  not 
evident  that  a  fracture  has  occurred,  first  superficial — a  mere  split  in 
the  bonj"  structure,  which,  fortunately,  has  been  discovered  before  some 
extra  exertion  or  a  casual  misstep  had  developed  it  into  one  of  the 
complete  kind,  possiblj^  with  complications?  What  other  inference 
can  such  a  series  of  symptoms  thus  repeated  establish? 

The  prognosis  of  fracture  of  the  tibia  must,  as  a  rule,  be  unfavorable. 

Treatment. — The  difiiculty  of  obtaining  a  union  without  shortening, 
and  consequently  without  lameness,  is  proof  of  the  futility  of  ordinary 
attempts  at  treatment.  But  though  this  may  be  true  in  respect  to 
fractures  of  the  complete  kind,  it  is  not  necessaril}^  so  with  the  incom- 
plete variety,  and  with  this  class  the  simple  treatment  of  the  slings 
is  all  that  is  necessary  to  secure  consolidation.  A  few  weeks  of  this 
confinement  will  be  sufiicient. 

Witli  dogs  and  other  small  animals  there  are  cases  which  may  be 
successfully  treated.  If  the  necessary  dressings  can  be  successfully 
applied  and  retained,  a  cure  will  follow. 

FRACTURES   OF   THE   HOCK. 

Injuries  of  the  astragalus  have  been  recorded  which  had  a  fatal  ter- 
mination. Fractures  of  the  os  calcis  have  also  been  observed,  but  never 
with  a  favorable  prognosis,  and  attempts  to  induce  recovery  have,  as 
miglit  have  been  anticipated,  proved  futile. 

FRACTURES  OF  THE  CANNON  BONES. 

Whether  those  occur  in  the  fore  or  hind  legs,  they  appear  either  in 
the  body  or  near  their  extremities.  If  in  the  bodj^,  as  a  rule  the  three 
metacarpal  or  metatarsal  bones  are  affected,  and  the  fracture  is  gen- 
erally transverse  and  oblique.  On  account  of  the  absence  of  soft  tis- 
sue and  tightness  of  the  skin,  the  broken  bones  pierce  the  skin  and 
render  the  fracture'a  complicated  one.     The  diagnosis  is  easy  when  all 


326  IJUilEAL'    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

the  bones  are  completely  broken,  but  the  incomplete  fracture  can  onlj'- 
be  suspected. 

Symptoms. — There  is  no  displacement,  but  excessive  molality,  crep- 
itation, inability  to  sustain  weight,  and  the  leg-  is  kept  off  the  ground 
by  the  flexion  of  the  upper  joint. 

No  region  of  the  body  affords  better  facilities  for  the  application  of 
treatment,  and  the  prognosis  is,  on  this  account,  usually  favorable. 
We  recall  a  case,  however,  which  proved  fatal,  though  under  excep- 
tional circumstances.  The  patient  was  a  valuable  stallion  of  highly 
nervous  organization,  with  a  compound  fracture  of  one  of  the  cannon 
bones,  and  his  unconquerable  resistance  to  treatment,  excited  by  the 
intense  pain  of  the  wound,  precluded  all  chance  of  recovery,  and  ulti- 
mately caused  his  death. 

Treatment. — The  general  form  of  treatment  for  these  lesions  will 
not  differ  from  that  which  has  been  already  indicated  for  other  frac- 
tures. Reduction,  sometimes  necessitating  the  casting  of  the  patient; 
coaptation,  comparatively  easy  hy  reason  of  the  subcutaneous  situation 
of  the  bone;  retention,  by  means  of  splints  and  bandages — applied  on 
both  sides  of  the  region,  and  reaching  to  the  ground  as  in  fractures  of 
the  forearm — these  are  always  indicated.  We  have  obtained  excellent 
results  by  the  use  of  a  mold  of  thick  gutta-percha,  composed  of  two 
sections  and  made  to  surround  the  entire  lower  part  of  the  leg  as  in 
an  inflexible  case. 

FRACTURE   OF    THE    FIRST   PHALANX. 

The  hind  extremity  is  more  liable  than  the  fore  to  this  injury.  It 
is  usually  the  result  of  a  violent  effort,  or  of  a  sudden  misstep  or  twist- 
ing of  the  leg,  and  may  be  transverse,  or,  as  has  usually  been  the  case 
in  our  experience,  longitudinal,  extending  from  the  upper  articular 
surface  down  to  the  center  of  the  bone,  and  generally  oblique  and  often 
comminuted.  The  sjmptoms  are  the  swelling  and  tenderness  of  the 
region,  possibly  crepitation ;  a  certain  abnormal  mobility;  an  excessive 
degree  of  lameness,  and  in  some  instances  a  dropping  back  of  the  fet- 
lock, with  perhaps  a  straightened  or  upright  condition  of  the  pastern. 

The  diflicidty  of  reduction  and  coaptation  in  this  accident,  and  the 
probability  of  bony  deposits,  as  of  ringbones,  resulting  in  lameness, 
are  circumstances  which  tend  to  discourage  a  favorable  prognosis. 

The  treatment  is  that  which  has  been  recommended  for  all  frac- 
tures, so  far  as  it  can  be  applied.  The  iron  splint  which  has  been 
mentioned  gives  excellent  results  in  many  instances,  but  if  the  frac- 
ture is  incomplete  and  without  displacement,  a  form  of  treatment  less 
energetic  and  severe  should  be  attempted.  One  case  is  within  our 
knowledge  in  which  the  owner  lost  his  horse  by  his  refusal  to  subject 
the  animal  to  treatment,  the  postmortem  revealing  only  a  simple  frac- 
ture with  very  slight  displacement. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  327 

FRACTURES    OF   THE   SECOND    PHALANX   (CORONETJ. 

Though  these  are  generally  of  the  comminuted  kind,  there  are  often 
conditions  associated  with  them  which  justify  the  surgeon  in  attempt- 
ing their  treatment.  Though  crepitation  is  not  always  easy  to  detect, 
the  excessive  lameness,  the  soreness  on  pressure,  the  inability  to  carry 
weight,  the  difficulty  experienced  in  raising  the  foot,  all  these  suggest, 
as  the  solution  of  the  question  of  diagnosis,  the  fracture  of  the  coronet, 
with  the  accompanying  realization  of  the  fact  that  there  is  j^et,  hj  rea- 
son of  the  situation  of  the  member,  immobilized  as  it  is  b}''  its  structure 
and  its  surroundings,  room  left  for  a  not  unfavorable  prognosis.  Only 
a  slight  manipulation  will  be  needed  in  the  treatment  of  this  lesion. 
To  render  the  immobilit}''  of  the  region  more  fixed,  to  support  the 
bones  in  their  position  by  bandaging,  and  to  establish  forced  immo- 
bility of  the  entire  body  with  the  slings  is  usuall}'-  all  that  is  required. 
Ringbone,  being  a  common  sequela  of  the  reparative  process,  must 
receive  due  attention  subsequenth'.  One  of  the  severest  complications 
likely  to  be  encountered  is  an  immobile  joint  (anch3^1osis).  Neurectomy 
of  the  median  nerve  ma}^  relieve  lameness  after  a  fracture  of  the 
phalanges. 

FRACTURES    OF   THE   THIRD    PHALANX   (oS    PEDIS.) 

These  lesions  maj^  result  from  a  penetrating  street  nail,  or  follow 
plantar  or  median  neurectom3^  In  the  latter  instance  it  is  caused  by 
the  animal  setting  the  foot  down  carelesslj^  and  too  violently,  and 
partly  due  to  degeneration  of  bone  tissue  which  follows  nerving. 

Though  these  fractures  are  not  of  very  rare  occurrence,  their  recog- 
nition is  not  easy,  and  there  is  more  of  speculation  than  of  cer- 
tainty pertaining  to  their  diagnosis.  The  animal  is  verj'^  lame  and 
spares  the  injured  foot  as  much  as  possible,  sometimes  resting  it  upon 
the  toe  alone  and  sometimes  holding  it  suspended  in  the  air.  The  foot 
is  verj'"  tender,  and  the  exploring  pinchers  of  the  examining  surgeon 
causes  much  pain.  During  the  first  twenty-four  hours  there  is  no 
increased  pulsation  in  the  digital  and  plantar  arteries,  but  on  the 
second  day  this  symptom  is  apparent. 

There  is  nothing  to  encourage  a  favorable  prognosis,  and  a  not 
unusual  termination  is  an  anchylosis  with  either  the  navicular  bone  or 
the  coronet. 

No  method  of  treatment  needs  to  be  suggested  here,  the  hoof  per- 
forming the  office  of  retention  unaided.  Local  treatment  by  baths,  and 
fomentations  will  do  the  rest.  It  ma}-  be  months  before  there  is  any 
mitigation  of  the  lameness. 

An  ultimate  recovery  depends  to  a  great  extent  upon  whether  the 
other  foot  can  support  the  weight  during  the  healing  process  without 
causing  a  drop  sole  in  the  supporting  foot. 


328  13UKEAU    OF    A>:iMAL    IXDUSIRY. 

FRACTURE   OF   THE    SESAMOID    BOXES. 

This  lesion  hits  been  considered  by  veterinarians,  erroneoasl}',  we 
think,  one  of  rare  occurrence.  We  believe  it  to  be  more  frequent 
than  has  been  supposed.  Many  observations  and  careful  dissections 
have  convinced  us  that  fractures  of  these  little  bones  have  often  been 
mistaken  for  specific  lesions  of  the  numerous  ligaments  that  are 
implanted  upon  their  superior  and  inferior  parts,  and  which  have 
been  described  as  a  "giving  way"  or  "breaking  down  "of  these 
lio-aments.  In  my  post-mortem  examinations  I  have  always  noted  the 
fact  that  when  the  attachments  of  the  ligaments  were  torn  from  their 
bony  connections  minute  fragments  of  bony  structure  were  also  sepa- 
rated, though  we  have  failed  to  detect  any  diseased  process  of  the 
fibrous  tissue  composing  the  ligamentous  substance. 

Cause. — From  whatever  cause  this  lesion  may  arise,  it  can  hardly 
be  considered  as  of  a  traumatic  nature,  no  external  violence  having 
any  apparent  agency  in  producing  it,  and  it  is  our  belief  that  it  is  due 
to  a  peculiar  degeneration  or  softening  of  the  bones  themselves,  a 
theory  which  acquires  plausibility  from  the  consideration  of  the 
spongy  consistencj^  of  the  sesamoids.  The  disease  is  a  peculiar  one, 
and  the  suddenness  with  which  different  feet  are  successively  attacked, 
at  short  intervals  and  without  any  obvious  cause,  seems  to  prove  the 
existence  of  some  latent,  morbid  cause  which  has  been  unsuspectedly 
incubating.  It  is  not  peculiar  to  any  particular  class  of  horses,  nor 
to  any  special  season  of  the  year,  having  fallen  under  our  observation 
in  each  of  the  four  seasons. 

Symptoms. — The  general  fact  is  reported  in  the  history  of  a  majority 
of  cases  that  it  makes  its  appearance  without  premonition  in  animals 
wdiich,  after  enjoying  a  considerable  period  of  rest,  are  first  exercised 
or  put  to  work,  though  in  point  of  fact  it  may  manifest  itself  while 
the  horse  is  still  idle  in  his  stable.  A  hypothetical  case,  in  illustra- 
tion, will  explain  our  theory:  An  animal  which  has  been  at  rest  in  his 
stable  is  taken  out  to  work,  and  it  will  be  presently  noticed  that  there 
is  something  unusual  in  his  movement.  His  gait  is  changed,  and  he 
travels  with  short,  mincing  steps,  without  any  of  his  accustomed  ease 
and  freedom.  This  may  continue  until  his  return  to  the  stable,  and 
then,  after  being  placed  in  his  stall,  he  will  be  noticed  shifting  his 
weight  from  side  to  side  and  from  one  leg  to  another,  continuing  the 
movement  until  rupture  of  the  bony  structure  takes  place.  But  it 
may  happen  that  the  lameness  in  one  or  more  of  the  extremities, 
anterior  or  posterior,  suddenly  increases,  and  it  becomes  evident  that 
the  rupture  has  taken  place  in  consequence  of  a  misstep  or  a  stumble 
while  the  horse  is  at  work.  Then,  upon  coming  to  a  standstill,  he  will 
be  found  with  one  or  more  of  his  toes  turned  up;  he  is  unable  to  place 
the  affected  foot  flat  on  the  ground.  The  fetlock  has  dropped  and  the 
leg  rests  upon  this  part,  the  skin  of  which  may  have  remained  intact 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  329 

or  may  have  been  more  or  less  extensively  lacerated.  It  seldom  hap- 
pens that  more  than  one  toe  at  a  time  will  turn  up,  yet  still  the  lesion 
in  one  will  be  followed  by  its  occurrence  in  another.  Commonl}^  two 
feet,  either  the  anterior  or  posterior,  are  affected,  and  we  recall 
one  case  in  which  the  two  fore  and  one  of  the  hind  legs  were  included 
at  the  same  time.  The  accident,  however,  is  quite  as  likel}^  to  happen 
while  the  horse  is  at  rest  in  his  stall,  and  he  may  be  found  in  the 
morning  standing  on  his  fetlocks.  One  of  the  earliest  of  the  cases 
occurring  in  my  own  experience  had  been  under  care  for  several 
weeks  for  suspected  disease  of  the  fetlocks,  the  nature  of  which  had 
not  been  made  out,  when,  apparently,  improved  by  the  treatment 
which  he  had  undergone,  the  patient  was  taken  out  of  the  stable  to  be 
walked  a  short  distance  into  the  country,  but  had  little  more  than 
started  when  he  was  called  to  a  halt  by  the  fracture  of  the  sesamoids 
of  both  fore  legs. 

While  there  are  no  positive  premonitor}^  symptoms  known  of  these 
fractures,  we  believe  that  there  are  signs  and  symptoms  which  come 
but  little. short  of  being  ho,  and  the  appearance  of  which  will  always 
justify  a  strong  suspicion  of  the  truth  of  the  case.  These  have  been 
indicated  when  referring  to  the  soreness  in  standing,  the  short  mincing 
gait,  and  the  tenderness  betrayed  when  pressure  is  made  over  the 
sesamoids  on  the  sides  of  the  fetlock,  with  others  less  tangible  and 
definable. 

Prognosis. — These  injuries  can  never  be  accounted  less  than  seri- 
ous, and  in  our  judgment  will  never  be  other  than  fatal.  If  our  the- 
or}^  of  their  pathology  is  the  correct  one,  and  the  cause  of  the  lesions 
is  trul}^  the  softening  of  the  sesamoidal  bony  structure  and  independent 
of  any  changes  in  the  ligamentous  fibers,  the  possibility  of  a  solid 
osseous  union  can  hardly  be  considered  admissible. 

Treatment. — In  respect  to  the  treatment  to  be  recommended  and 
instituted  it  can  only  be  emplo3^ed  with  any  rational  hope  of  benefit 
during  the  incubation,  and  with  the  anticipator}^  purpose  of  preven- 
tion. It  must  be  suggested  hj  a  suspicion  of  the  verities  of  the  case, 
and  applied  before  any  rupture  has  taken  place.  To  prevent  this  and 
to  antagonize  the  causes  which  might  precipitate  the  final  catastrophe — 
the  elevfition  of  the  toes — resort  must  be  had  to  the  slings  and  to  the 
application  of  firm  bandages  or  splints,  perhaps  of  plaster  of  Paris, 
with  a  high  shoe,  as  about  the  only  indications  which  science  and 
nature  are  able  to  ofier.  When  the  fracture  is  an  occurred  event,  and 
the  toes,  one  or  more,  are  turned  up,  any  further  resort  to  treatment 
will  be  futile. 

DISEASES    OF   JOINTS, 

Three  classes  of  injury  will  be  considered  under  this  head.  These 
are,  affections  of  the  .synovial  sacs;  those  of  the  joint  structures,  or  of 


330  BUREAU    OF    AUniAh    II^DUSTlii. 

the  bones  and  their  articukr  surfaces,  and  those  forms  of  solution  of 
continuity  known  as  dislocations  or  luxations. 

DISEASES    OF   THE    SYKOVIAL   R.VCS. 

Two  forms  of  affection  here  present  themselves,  one  being  the  result 
of  an  abnormal  secretion  which  induces  a  dropsical  condition  of  the 
sac  without  an}"  acute  inflammatory  action,  while  the  other  is  charac- 
terized by  excessive  inflammatory  symptoms,  with  their  modilications, 
constituting  s^^novitis. 

SY^•OVIAL    DROPSIES. 

AVe  have  already  considered  in  a  general  way  the  presence  of  these 
peculiar  oil  bags  in  the  joints,  and  in  some  regions  of  the  legs  wdiere 
the  passage  of  the  tendons  takes  place,  and  have  noticed  the  similarity 
of  structure  and  function  of  both  the  articular  and  the  tendinous 
bursiB,  as  well  as  the  etiology  of  their  injuries  and  their  pathological 
history,  and  we  now  propose  to  treat  of  the  affections  of  both. 

WINDGALL9. 

This  name  is  given  to  the  dilated  bursw  found  at  the  posterior  part 
of  the  fetlock  joint.  They  have  their  origin  in  a  dropsical  condition 
of  the  bursse  of  the  joint  itself,  and  also  of  the  tendon  which  slides 
behind  it,  and  are  therefore  further  known  l\v  the  designations  of 
articular  and  tendinovis  windgalls,  or  puffs. 

They  appear  in  the  form  of  soft  and  somewhat  symmetrical  tumors, 
of  varying  dimensions,  and  generallj'^  well  defined  in  their  circumfer- 
ence. They  are  more  or  less  tense,  according  to  the  amount  of  secre- 
tion the}"  contain,  apparently  becoming  softer  as  the  foot  is  raised  and 
the  fetlock  flexed.  Usually  they  are  painless  and  only  cause  lameness 
under  certain  conditions,  as  when  they  begin  to  develop  themselves 
under  the  stimulus  of  inflammatory  action,  or  when  large  enough  to 
interfere  with  the  functions  of  the  tendons,  or  again  when  they  have 
undergone  certain  pathological  changes,  such  as  calcification,  which  is 
among  their  tendencies. 

Cause. — Windgalls  may  be  attributed  to  external  causes,  such  as 
severe  labor  or  strains  resulting  from  heavy  pulling,  fast  driving,  or 
jumping,  or  they  may  be  among  the  sequelce  of  internal  disorders, 
such  as  strangles  or  the  resultants  of  a  pleuritic  or  pneumonic  attack. 

An  unnecessary  amount  of  anxiety  is  sometimes  experienced  respect- 
ing these  growths,  w-ith  much  questioning  touching  the  expediency  of 
their  removal,  all  of  which  might  bo  spared,  for  while  they  constitute 
a  blemish,  their  unsightliness  will  not  hinder  the  usefulness  of  the  ani- 
mal, and  in  any  case  they  rarely  fail  to  show  themselves  easily  amena- 
ble to  treatment. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  331 

T'vpatment. — When  in  their  acute  stage,  and  when  the  dropsical 
condition  is  not  excessive,  the  inflammatiom  may  be  checked  during 
the  day  ]>y  continuous  cold  water  irngation  b}'  means  of  a  hose  or 
soaking  tub  and  at  night  b}-  applying  a  moderately  tight  roller  bandage. 
Later  absorption  may  l^e  promoted  by  a  Priossnitz  bandage,"  pressure 
by  roller  bandages,  sweating,  the  use  of  liniments,  or  if  necessary  by 
a  sharp  blister  of  biniodide  of  mercury.  This  treatment  should  sub- 
due the  inflammation,  abort  the  soreness,  absorb  the  excess  of  secre- 
tion, strengthen  the  walls  of  the  sac,  and  finally  cause  the  vvdndgalls  to 
disappear,  provided  the  animal  is  not  too  quicklv  returned  to  labor 
and  exposed  to  the  same  factors  that  occasioned  them  at  fi.rst. 

But  if  the  inflammation  has  become  chronic,  and  the  enlargement  has 
been  of  considerable  duration,  the  negative  course  will  be  the  wiser 
one.  If  any  benefit  results  from  treatment  it  will  be  of  onlj^  a  tran- 
sient kind,  the  dilatation  returning  when  the  patient  is  again  subjected 
to  labor,  and  it  will  boa  fortunate  circumstance  if  inflammation  has  not 
supervened. 

But  notwithstanding  the  generally  benignant  nature  of  the  swelling 
there  are  exceptional  cases,  usually  when  it  is  probably  undergoing 
certain  pathological  changes,  which  may  result  in  lameness  and  disable 
the  animal,  in  which  case  surgical  treatment  will  be  indicated,  especially'" 
if  repeated  blisters  have  failed  to  improve  the  symptoms.  Line  firing 
is  then  a  preeminent  suggestion,  and  many  a  useful  life  has  received  a 
new  lease  as  the  result  of  this  operation  timeh^  performed.  Another 
method  of  firing,  which  consists  in  emptying  the  sac  by  means  of  punc- 
tures through  and  through,  made  with  a  red-hot  needle  or  wire,  and 
the  subsequent  injection  into  the  cavity  of  certain  irritating  and  alter- 
ative compounds,  designed  to  efl:ect  its  closure  by  exciting  adhesive 
inflammation,  such  as  tincture  of  iodine,  may  be  commended.  But  they 
are  all  too  active  and  energetic  in  their  effects  and  require  too  much 
special  attention  and  intelligent  management  to  be  trusted  to  an}'- 
hands  other  than  those  of  an  expert  veterinarian. 

BLOOD    SPAVIN,   BOG    SPAVIX,    AND   THOROUGHPIN. 

The  blood  sjjavin  is  situated  in  front  and  to  the  inside  of  the  hock 
and  is  merely  a  varicose  or  dilated  condition  of  the  saphena  vein.  It 
occurs  directl}'^  over  the  point  where  the  bog*  spavin  is  found,  and  has 
thus  been  frequently  confused  with  the  latter. 

The  complicated  arrangement  of  the  hock  joint,  and  the  powerful 
tendons  which  pass  on  the  posterior  part,  are  lubricated  with  the 

«  This  bandage  consists  of  a  cloth  drenched  in  -warm  -water  or  a  dripping  bandage 
laid  around  the  diseased  jiart,  then  covered  by  several  layers  of  woolen  blanket  or 
cloth,  which  is  in  turn  covered  by  parchment  paper,  rubber  cloth,  or  other  imper- 
vious material.  Heat,  moisture,  and  pressure  is  obtained  by  such  a  bandage  if  -water 
is  poured  upon  it  several  times  daily. 


332  EUllEAU    VF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

product  of  secretion  from  one  tendinous  synovial  and  several  articular 
synovial  sacs.  A  large  articular  sac  contributes  to  the  lubrication  of 
the  shank  bone  (the  tibia)  and  one  of  the  bones  of  the  hock  (the  astra- 
galus). The  tendinous  sac  lies  back  of  the  articulation  itself  and 
extends  upward  and  downward  in  the  groove  of  that  joint  through 
which  the  flexor  tendons  slide.  The  dilatation  of  this  articular  S3"no- 
vial  sac  is  what  is  denominated  bog  spavin,  the  term  thoroughpin  being 
applied  to  the  dilatation  of  the  tendinous  capsule. 

The  bog  spavin  is  a  round,  smooth,  well-defined,  fluctuating  tumor 
situated  in  front  and  a  little  inward  of  the  hock.  On  pressure  it 
disappears  at  this  point  to  reappear  on  the  outside  and  just  behind  the 
hock.  If  pressed  to  the  front  from  the  outside  it  will  then  appear 
on  the  inside  of  the  hock.  On  its  outer  surface  it  presents  a  vein 
which  is  quite  prominent,  running  from  below  upward,  and  it  is  to 
the  preternatural  dilatation  of  this  blood  vessel  that  tlic  term  blood 
spavin  is  applied. 

The  thoroughpin  is  found  at  the  back  and  on  the  top  of  the  hock 
in  that  part  known  as  the  "hollows,"  immediately  behind  the  shank 
bone.  It  is  round  and  smooth,  but  not  so  regularly  formed  as  the 
bog  spavin,  and  is  most  apparent  when  viewed  from  behind.  The 
swelling  is  usually  on  both  sides  and  a  little  in  front  of  the  so-called 
hamstring,  but  may  be  more  noticeable  on  the  inside  or  on  the  outside. 

In  their  general  characteristics  bog  spavins  and  thoroughpins  are 
similar  to  windgalls,  and  one  description  of  the  origin,  symptoms, 
pathological  changes,  and  treatment  will  serve  for  all  equally,  except 
that  it  is  possible  for  a  bog  spavin  to  cause  lameness,  and  thus  to 
involve  a  verdict  of  unsoundness  in  the  patient,  a  circumstance  which 
will,  of  course,  justify  its  classification  b}'  itself  as  a  severer  fornfof  a 
single  type  of  disease. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  subject  of  treatment  and  the  means 
employed — 7'est,  of  course — with  liniments,  blisters,  etc,  and  what  we 
esteem  as  the  most  active  and  beneficial  of  any,  earlij,  deep^  and  well- 
jperforined  cauterhat'wn.  There  are,  besides,  commendatory  reports 
of  a  form  of  treatment  by  the  application  of  pressure  pads  and  pecul- 
iar bandages  upon  the  hocks,  and  it  is  claimed  that  the  removal  of  the 
tumors  has  been  effected  b}-  their  use.  But  our  experience  with  this 
apparatus  has  not  been  accompanied  by  such  favorable  results  as  would 
justify  our  indorsement  of  the  flattering  representations  which  have 
sometimes  appeared  in  its  behalf. 

OPEN   JOINTS,   BROKEN    KNEES,    SYNOVITIS,   AND   ARTHRITIS. 

The  close  relationship  which  exists  among  these  several  afi'cctions, 
their  apparcntlj''  possible  connection  as  successive  developments  of  a 
similar,  if  not  an  essentially  identical,  origin,  together  with  the  advan- 
tage gained  by  avoiding  frequent  repetitions  in  the  details  of  symp- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  333 

toms,  treatment,  etc.,  are  our  reasons  for  treating  under  a  single  head 
the  ailments  we  have  grouped  together  in  the  present  section. 

Cause.- — The  great,  comprehensive,  common  cause  of,  sometimes 
permanent,  sometimes  only  transient,  disability  of  the  horse  is 
external  traumatism. 

Blows,  bruises,  hurts  by  nearly  every  known  form  of  violence,  falls, 
kicks,  lacerations,  punctures — we  may  add  compulsorj^  speed  in  racing 
and  cruel  overloading  of  draft  animals — cover  the  entire  ground  of 
causation  of  the  diseases  and  injuries  of  the  joints  now  receiving  our 
consideration. 

In  one  case,  a  working  horse  making  a  misstep  stumbles,  and  full- 
ing on  his  knees  receives  a  hurt,  variously  severe,  from  a  mere  abra- 
sion of  the  skin  to  a  laceration,  a  division  of  the  tegument,  a  slough, 
mortification,  and  the  escape  of  the  synovial  fluid,  with  or  without 
exposure  of  the  bones  and  their  articular  cartilages. 

In  another  case,  an  animal,  from  one  cause  or  another,  perhaps  an 
impatient  temper,  has  formed  the  habit  of  striking  or  pawing  his 
manger  with  his  fore  feet  until  inflammation  of  the  kneejoint  is 
induced,  first  as  a  little  swelling,  diffused,  painless;  then  as  a  perios- 
titis of  the  bones  of  the  knee;  later  as  bon}^  deposits,  then  lameness, 
and  finally  the  implication  of  the  joint,  with  all  the  various  sequels  of 
chronic  inflammation  of  the  kneejoint. 

In  another  case,  a  horse  has  received  a  blow  with  a  fork  from  a 
careless  hostler  on  or  near  a  joint,  or  has  been  kicked  by  a  stable 
companion,  with  the  result  of  a  punctured  wound,  at  first  mild-look- 
ing, painless,  apparently  without  inflammation,  and  not  yet  causing 
lameness,  but  which,  in  a  few  hours,  or  it  maj^  be  only  after  a  few  days, 
becomes  excessively  painful,  grows  worse,  the  entirQ  joint  swells, 
presently  discharges,  and  at  last  a  case  of  suppurative  synovitis  is 
presented,  with  perhaps  disease  of  the  joint  proper,  and  arthritis  as 
a  climax.  The  S3'mptoms  of  articular  injuries  vary  not  only  in  the 
degrees  of  the  hurt,  but  in  the  nature  of  the  lesion. 

Or  the  condition  of  oroken  hnees^  resulting  as  we  have  said,  ma}^ 
have  for  its  starting  point  a  mere  abrasion  of  the  skin — a  scratch, 
apparently,  which  disappears  without  a  gesulting  scar.  The  injury 
ma}^,  however,  have  been  more  severe,  the  blow  heavier,  the  fall  aggra- 
vated by  occurring  upon  an  irregular  surface,  or  sharp  or  rough  object, 
with  tearing  or  cutting  of  the  skin,  and  this  laceration  may  remain. 
A  more  serious  case  than  the  first  is  now  brought  to  our  notice. 

Another  time,  immediately  following  the  accident,  or  possibl}-  as 
a  sequel  of  the  traumatism,  the  tendinous  sacs"  may  be  opened,  with 
the  escape  of  the  synovia;  or  worse,  the  tendons  which  pass  in  front 
of  the  knee  are  torn,  the  inflammation  spreads,  the  joint  and  leg 
are  swollen,  the  animal  is  becoming  ver}^  lame;  synovitis  has  set  in. 
With  this  the  danger  becomes  ver^^  great,  for  soon  suppuration  v;ill  be 


384  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

established,  then  the  external  coat  of  the  articulation  proper  becomes 
ulcerated,  if  it  is  not  already  in  that  state,  and  we  find  ourselves  in 
the  presence  of  an  ojfenjomt  with  suppurative  synovitis — that  is,  witli 
the  worst  among  the  conditions  of  diseased' processes,  because  of  the 
liabilit}'  of  the  suppuration  to  become  infiltrated  into  every  part  of  the 
joint,  macerating  the  ligaments  and  irritating  the  cartilages,  soon  to 
be  succeeded  by  their  ulceration,  with  the  destruction  of  the  articular 
surface — or  the  lesion  of  vlcerative  cuiJiritis^  one  of  the  gravest  among 
all  the  disorders  known  to  the  animal  econom}-. 

But  ulcerative  arthritis  and  suppurative  synovitis  may  be  developed 
otherwise  than  in  connection  with  open  joints;  the  simplest  and 
apparentlj^  most  harmless  punctures  may  prove  to  be  cause  sufficient. 
For  example,  a  horse  may  be  kicked,  perhaps,  on  the  inside  of  the 
hock;  there  is  a  mark  and  a  few  drops  of  blood  to  indicate  the  spot; 
he  is  put  to  work,  apparently  free  from  pain  or  lameness,  and  per- 
forms his  task  with  his  usual  ease  and  facility.  But  on  the  following 
morning  the  hock  is  found  to  be  a  little  swollen  and  there  i«j  some  stiff- 
ness. A  little  later  on  he  betrays  a  degree  of  uneasiness  in  the  leg, 
and  shrinks  from  resting  his  weight  upon  it,  moving  it  up  and  down 
for  relief.  The  swelling  has  increased  and  is  increasing,  the  pain  is 
severe,  and,  finally,  there  is  an  oozing,  at  the  spot  where  the  kick 
impinged,  of  an  oily  liquid  mixed  with  whitish  drops  of  suppuration. 
The  miscliief  is  done;  a  simple,  harmless,  punctured  wound  has 
expanded. into  a  case  of  ulcerative  arthritis  and  suppurative  synovitis. 

Prognosis. — From  ever  so  brief  and  succinct  description  of  this  trau- 
matism of  the  articulations,  the  serious  and  important  chai'acter  of 
these  lesions,  irrespective  of  which  particular  joint  is  aft'ected,  will  be 
readily  understood.  Yet  there  will  be  modifications  in  the  prognosis 
in  different  cases,  in  accordance  Avith  the  peculiarities  of  structure  in 
the  joint  specially  involved,  as  for  example,  it  is  obvious  that  a  better 
result  may  be  expected  from  treatment  when  but  a  single  joint,  with 
only  its  plain  articular  surfaces,  is  the  place  of  injury,  than  in  one 
which  is  composed  of  several  bones,  united  in  a  complex  formation,  as 
in  the  knee  or  hock.  As  severe  a  lesion  as  suppurative  synovitis  always 
is,  and  as  frequently  fatal  as  it  proves  to  be,  still  cases  arise  in  which, 
the  inflammation  assuming  a  modified  character  and  at  length  subsid- 
ing, the  lesion  terminates  favorably  and  leaves  the  animal  with  a  com- 
paratively sound  and  useful  joint.  There  are  cases,  however,  which 
terminate  in  no  more  favorable  a  result  than  the  union  of  the  bones 
and  occlusion  of  the  joint,  to  form  an  anchylosis,  which  is  scarcely  a 
condition  to  justif}^  a  high  degree  of  satisfaction,  since  it  insures  a  per- 
manent lameness  with  very  little  capacity  for  usefulness. 

Appreciating  now  the  dangers  associated  with  all  wounds  of  articu- 
lations, however  simple  and  apparently  slight,  and  how  serious  and 
troublesome  are  the  complications  which  are  likely  to  arise  during 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  335 

their  progress  and  treatment,  we  are  prepared  to  understand  and 
realize  the  necessity  and  the  value  of  early  and  prompt  attention  upon 
their  discovery  and  diagnosis. 

Treatment.— ^ov  simple  bruises,  like  those  which  appear  in  the  form 
of  broken  knees  or  of  carpitis,  simple  remedies,  such  as  warm  fomen- 
tations or  cold  water  applications  and  compresses  of  astringent  mix- 
tures, suggest  themselves  at  once.  Injuries  of  a  more  complicated 
character,  as  lacerations  of  the  skin  or  tearing  of  soft  structures,  will 
also  be  benefited  by  simple  dressings  with  antiseptic  mixtures,  as  those 
of  the  carbolic  acid  order.  The  escape  of  synovia  should  suggest  the 
prompt  use  of  collodion  dressings  to  check  the  flow  and  prevent  the 
further  escape  of  the  fluid.  But  if  the  discharge  is  abundant  and 
heavily  suppurative,  little  can  be  done  more  than  to  put  in  practice 
the  "expectant"  method  with  warm  fomentations,  repeatedly  applied, 
and  soothing  mucilaginous  poultices.  Improvement,  if  any  is  possible, 
will  be  but  slow  to  manifest  itself.  The  most  difficult  of  all  things  to 
do,  in  view  of  varying  interests  and  opinions — that  is,  in  a  practical 
sense — is  to  abstain  from  "doing"  entirely,  and  yet  we  are  firmly  con- 
vinced that  noninterference  in  the  cases  we  are  considering  is  the  best 
and  wisest  polic}^. 

In  cases  which  are  carried  to  a  successful  result  the  discharge  will 
by  degrees  diminish,  the  extreme  pain  will  gradually  subside,  and  the 
convalescent  will  begin  timidly  to  rest  his  foot  upon  the  ground,  and 
presentl}^  to  bear  weight  upon  it,  and  perhaps,  after  a  long  and  tedi- 
ous process  of  recuperation,  he  may  be  returned  to  his  former  and 
normal  condition  of  usefulness.  When  the  discharge  has  wholly 
ceased  and  the  wounds  are  entirely  healed,  a  blister  covering  the 
whole  of  the  joint  for  the  purpose  of  stimulating  (he  absorption  of  the 
exudation  will  be  of  great  service.  But  if,  on  the  contrarj',  there  is 
no  amelioration  of  s^^mptoms  and  the  progress  of  the  disease  resists 
every  attempt  to  check  it;  if  the  discharge  continues  to  flow,  not  onh^ 
without  abatement,  but  in  an  increased  volume,  and  not  alone  by  a 
single  opening,  but  b}^  a  number  of  fistulous  tracts  which  have  succes- 
sively formed;  if  it  seems  evident  that  this  drainage  is  rapidlj-  and 
painfull}^  sapping  the  suffering  animal's  vitalit}^  and  a  deficient  vh 
vltse  fails  to  cooperate  with  the  means  of  cure — all  rational  hope  of 
recovery  ma}^  be  finally  abandoned.  Anj^  further  waiting  for  chances, 
or  time  lost  in  experimenting,  will  be  mere  cruelt}"  and  there  need  be 
no  hesitation  concerning  the  next  step.  The  poor  beast  is  under  sen- 
tence of  death,  and  every  consideration  of  interest  and  of  humanity 
demands  an  anticipation  of  nature's  evident  intent  in  the  quick  and 
easy  execution  of  the  sentence. 

One  of  the  essentials  of  treatment,  and  probably  an  indispensable 
condition  when  recover}^  is  in  any  wise  attainable,  is  the  suspension 
of  the  patient  in  slings.  He  should  be  continued  in  them  as  long  as 
he  can  be  made  to  submit  quietly  to  their  restraint. 


336  BUllEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTP.Y, 


DISLOCATIONS. 


Dislocations  and  luxations  are  interchangeable  terms,  meaning  the 
separation  and  disphicemcnt  of  the  articulating  surfaces  of  the  bones 
entering  into  the  formation  of  a  joint.  This  injury  is  rarely  encount- 
ered in  our  large  animals  on  account  of  the  combination  of  strength 
and  solidity  in  the  formation  of  their  joints.  It  is  met  with  but  seldom 
in  cattle  and  less  so  in  horses,  while  dogs  and  smaller  animals  are  more 
often  the  sufferers. 

Cause. — The  accident  of  a  luxation  is  less  often  encountered  in  the 
animal  races  than  in  man.  This  is  not  because  the  former  are  less  sub- 
ject to  occasional  violence  involving  powerful  muscular  contractions, 
or  are  less  often  exposed  to  casualties  similar  to  those  which  result  in 
luxations  in  the  human  skeleton,  but  because  it  requires  the  coopera- 
tion of  conditions — anatomical,  phj^siological,  and  perhaps  mechani- 
cal—present in  the  human  race  and  lacking  in  the  others,  which, 
however,  can  not  in  every  case  be  clcarlj'  defined.  Perhaps  the  greater 
relative  length  of  the  bony  levers  in  the  human  formation  may  con- 
stitute a  cause  of  the  difference. 

Among  the  predisposing  causes  in  aiiimals  ma}'  be  enumerated  caries 
of  articular  surfaces,  articular  abscesses,  excessive  dropsical  conditions, 
degenerative  softening  of  the  ligaments,  and  any  excessive  laxity  of 
the  soft  structures. 

Symptotns  and  diagnosis. — Three  signs  of  dislocation  must  usually 
be  taken  into  consideration.  The}^  are:  (1)  An  alteration  in  the  shape 
of  the  joint  and  in  the  normal  relationship  of  the  articulating  surfaces; 
(2)  an  alteration  in  the  length  of  the  limb,  either  shortening  or 
lengthening;  (3)  an  alteration  in  the  movableness  of  the  joint,  usually 
an  unnatural  immobility.  Only  the  first,  however,  can  be  relied  upon 
as  essential.  Luxations  are  not  alwaj's  complete;  the}'  may  ho, partial^ 
that  is,  the  articulating  surfaces  may  be  displaced  but  not  separated. 
In  such  cases  several  sym.ptoms  might  not  be  present.  And  not  only 
may  the  third  sign  be  absent,  but  the  mobility  of  the  first  be  greatly 
increased  when  the  character  of  the  injury-  has  been  such  as  to  produce 
extensive  lacerations  of  the  articular  ligaments. 

In  addition  to  the  above  signs,  a  luxation  is  usually  characterized  by 
pain,  swelling,  hemorrhage  beneath  the  skin  from  damaged  or  rup- 
tured blood  vessels,  and  even  paralysis,  when  important  nerves  are 
pressed  on  by  the  displaced  bones. 

Sometimes  a  bone  is  fractured  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  a  joint. 
The  knowledge  of  this  fact  requires  that  we  shall  be  able  to  diagnose 
between  a  dislocation  and  such  a  fracture.  In  this  we  generall}^  have 
three  points  to  assist  us:  (1)  The  immobility  of  a  dislocated  joint  as 
against  the  apparently  remarkable  freedom  of  movement  in  fracture; 
(2)  in  a  dislocation  there  is  no  true  aypitus — that  peculiar  grating  sen- 
sation heard  as  well  as  felt  on  rubbing  together  the  rough  ends  of 


--i    \ 


r- 


.\  i- 1-   \x\- 


^'  — , 


m\  -^ 


!  ^s 


.S/>/7 1  'in 


Haines,  dpi  Xos  1, 2  ami  3, On^inal.No.  4,  after  PercKTil . 

BONE      SPAVIN 


I  '  1  .  .\I     1-       X  .\\ 


J  Brace /hr  dcsfocaMon  oTUie  e.lboM  appitc.d  to  the  lujf.se. 
la.  The  sttme  brace  seen  alone.  2,  Brrtce  for  disJocation. 
of  fetlock    2u,   The  name   brace-    applied  f/y  tlw,  h,>i\sr. 


'/^^ 


^A 


^   i 


•i,Brax:e  for'  sprained  or  d isfx>eated  .v/ion  lde/\ 
■  'J a, The  .fame  brajie  applied  to  Ihje    shoulder. 


Huuifs.del.adptl'ciickajicl  iousscuiil 


DISLOCATION  OF  SIIOtTLDKR  AND  I'-LlUnV 

Bovirg'elaf's  ay)pi.u-aiUH 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  337 

fractured  bones;  however,  it  must  be  remeuibered  that  in  a  dislocation- 
two  or  three  days  old  the  inflanimator}-  changes  around  the  joint  may 
give  rise  to  a  crackling  sensation  similar  to  that  in  fracture;  (3)  as  a 
rule,  in  luxations,  if  the  ligamenous  and  muscular  tissues  about  the 
joint  are  not  badly  torn,  the  displacement,  when  reduced^  does  not  recitr. 

Prognosis. — The  prognosis  of  a  luxation  is  comparatively  less  serious 
than  that  of  a  fracture,  though  at  times  the  indications  of  treatment 
maj^  prove  to  be  so  difficult  to  apply  that  complications  may  arise  of 
a  very  severe  character. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  luxations  must,  of  course,  be  similar 
to  that  of  fractuj-cs.  Keduction,  naturally,  will  be  the  first  indicatiort 
in  both  cases,  and  the  retention  of  the  replaced  parts  must  follow. 
The  reduction  involves  the  same  steps  of  extension  and  counter  exten- 
sion, performed  in  the  same  manner,  with  the  patient  subdued  by 
anesthetics. 

The  difference  between  the  reduction  of  a  dislocation  and  that  of  a 
fracture  consists  in  the  fact  that  in  the  former  the  object  is  simply  to 
restore  the  bones  to  their  true  normal  position,  with  each  articular 
surface  in  exact  contact  with  its  companion  surface,  the  apparatus 
necessary  afterwards  to  keep  them  In.  situ  being  similar  to  that  which 
is  employed  in  fracture  cases,  and  which  will  usually  require  to  h& 
retained  for  a  period  of  from  forty  to  fifty  days,  if  not  longer,  before 
the  ruptured  retaining  ligaments  are  sufficiently  firm  to  be  trusted  to- 
perform  their  office  unassisted.  A  variety  of  manipulations  are  to  be 
employed  bj^  the  surgeon,  consisting  in  pushing,  pulling,  pressing-, 
rotating,  and  indeed  whatever  movement  may  be  necessar}^,  until  the 
bones  are  forced  into  such  relative  positions  that  the  muscular  con- 
traction, operating  in  just  the  right  directions,  pulls  the  opposite 
matched  ends  together  in  true  coaptation — a  head  into  a  cavity,  an 
articular  eminence  into  a  trochlea,  as  the  case  ma}^  be.  The  "setting"" 
is  accompanied  by  a  peculiar  snapping  sound,  audible  and  significant,, 
as  well  as  a  visible  return  of  the  surface  to  its  normal  S3'mmetr3\ 

Special  dislocations. — While  all  the  articulations  of  the  body  are 
liable  to  this  form  of  injury,  there  are  three  in  the  large  animals  which 
may  claim  a  special  consideration,  viz: 

THE    SHOULDER    JOINT. 

We  mention  this  displacement  without  intending  to  imply  the  prac- 
ticability of  any  ordinary  attempt  at  treatment,  which  is  usually 
unsuccessful,  the  animal  whose  mishap  it  has  been  to  become  a  victim 
to  it  being  disabled  for  life.  The  superior  head  of  the  arm  bone  as  it 
is  received  into  the  lower  cavity  of  the  shoulder  blade  is  so  situated  as 
to  be  liable  to  be  forced  out  of  place  in  four  directions.  It  nvdj  escape 
from  its  socket,  according  to  the  manner  in  which  the  violence  affects- 
it— outward,  inward,  backward,  or  forward — and  the  deformity  which 
14384—03 22 


338  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

results  and  the  effects  which  follow  will  corrcspondinolv  differ.  We 
have  said  that  treatment  is  generally  unsuccessful.  It  may  l)e  added 
that  the  difficulties  which  interpose  in  the  wa^-  of  reduction  are  nearly 
insurmountable,  and  that  the  application  of  means  for  the  retention  of 
the  parts  after  reduction  would  be  next  to  impossible.  The  i:)rognosis 
is  sufficiently  grave  from  any  point  of  view  for  the  luckless  animal 
with  a  dislocated  shoulder. 

TnE  nip  JOINT. 

This  joint  partakes  ver}^  much  of  the  characteristics  of  the  humero- 
scapular  articulation,  but  is  more  strongly  built.  The  head  of  the 
thigh  ])one  is  more  separated,  or  prominent  and  rounder  in  form,  and 
the  cup-like  cavit}^,  or  socket,  into  which  it  tits  is  much  deeper,  form- 
ing together  a  deep,  true  ball-and-socket  joint,  which  is,  moreover, 
reenforced  b}^  two  strong  cords  of  funicular  ligaments,  which  unite 
them  together.  It  will  be  easily  comprehended,  from  this  hint  of  the 
anatomy  of  the  region,  that  a  luxation  of  the  hip  joint  must  be  an 
accident  of  comparatively  rare  occurrence.  And  yet  cases  are  recorded 
in  which  the  head  of  the  bone  has  been  affirmed  to  slip  out  of  its 
cavity  and  assume  various  positions — inward,  outward,  forward,  or 
backward. 

The  indications  of  treatment  are  those  of  all  cases  of  dislocation. 
When  the  reduction  is  accomplished  the  surgeon  will  be  apprised 
of  the  fact  b}-  the  peculiar  snapping  sound  usualh'  heard  on  such 
occasions. 

PSEUDOLt'XATIONS    OF    THE    PATELLA. 

This  is  not  a  true  dislocation.  The  stifle  bone  is  so  peculiarly 
articulated  with  the  thigh  bone  that  the  means  of  union  are  of  suffi- 
cient strength  to  resist  the  causes  which  usuall}-  give  rise  to  luxations. 
Yet  there  is  sometimes  discovered  a  peculiar  pathological  state  in  the 
hind  legs  of  animals,  the  effect  of  which  is  closely  to  simulate  the 
manifestation  of  many  of  the  general  symptoms  of  dislocations.  This 
peculiar  pathological  condition  originates  in  muscular  cramps,  the 
action  of  which  is  seen  in  a  certain  change  in  the  coaptation  of  the 
articular  surfaces  of  the  stifle  and  thigh  bone,  resulting  in  the  exhibi- 
tion of  a  sudden  and  alarming  series  of  s3'mptoms  which  have  sug- 
gested the  phrase  of  "stifle  out"  as  a  descriptive  term. 

Symjytows. — The  animal  so  affected  stands  quietly  and  flrmly  in  his 
stall,  or  perhaps  with  one  of  his  hind  legs  extended  backward,  and 
resists  every  attempt  to  move  him  backward.  If  urged  to  move 
forward  he  will  either  refuse  or  compl}-  with  a  jump,  with  the  toe  of 
the  disabled  leg  dragging  on  the  ground  and  brought  forward  by  a 
second  effort.  There  is  no  flexion  at  the  hock  and  no  motion  at  the 
stifle,  while  the  circular  motion  of  the  hip  is  quite  free.     The  leg 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  339 

appears  to  be  much  longer  than  the  other,  owing  to  the  straightened 
position  of  the  thigh  bone,  which  forms  ahiiost  a  straight  line  with 
the  tibia  from  the  hip  joint  down.  The  stifle  joint  is  motionless,  and 
the  motions  of  all  the  joints  below  it  are  more  or  less  interfered  with. 
External  examination  of  the  muscles  of  the  hip  and  thigh  reveals  a 
certain  amount  of  rigidity,  with  perhaps  some  soreness,  and  the  stifle 
bone  may  be  seen  projecting  more  or  less  on  the  outside  and  upper 
part  of  the  joint. 

This  state  of  things  ma}^  continue  for  some  length  of  time  and  until 
treatment  is  applied,  or  it  may  spontaneousl}'  and  suddenly  terminate, 
leaving  everj-thing  in  its  normal  condition,  but  perhaps  to  return 
again. 

Cause. — Pseudodislocation  of  the  patella  is  likel}^  to  occur  under 
many  of  the  conditions  which  cause  actual  dislocation,  and  j-et  it  ma)^ 
often  occur  in  animals  which  have  not  been  exposed  to  the  ordinary 
causes,  but  which  have  remained  at  rest  in  their  stables.  Sometimes 
these  cases  are  assignable  to  falls  in  a  slippery  stall,  or  perhaps  slip- 
ping when  endeavoring  to  rise;  sometimes  to  weakness  in  convalescing 
patien  ts ;  sometimes  to  lack  of  to!iicity  of  structure  and  general  debility ; 
sometimes  to  relaxation  of  tissues  from  want  of  exercise  or  use.  A 
straight  leg,  sloping  croup,  and  the  3^oung  are  predisposed  to  this 
dislocation. 

Treatment. — The  reduction  of  these  displacements  of  the  patella  is 
not  usually  attended  with  diflicult}-.  A  sudden  jerk  or  spasmodic 
action  will  often  be  all  that  is  required  to  spring  the  patella  into 
place,  w^hen  the  flexion  of  the  leg  at  the  hock  ends  the  trouble  for  the 
time.  But  this  is  not  always  sufiicient,  and  a  true  reduction  may  still 
be  indicated.  To  effect  this  the  leg  niust  be  drawn  well  forward  by  a 
rope  attached  to  the  lower  end,  and  the  patella,  grasped  with  the  hand, 
forcibly  pushed  forward  and  inward  and  made  to  slip  over  the  outside 
border  of  the  trochlea  of  the  femur.  The  bone  sudden]}^  slips  into 
position,  the  excessive  rigor  of  the  leg  ceases  with  a  spasmodic  jerk, 
and  the  animal  may  walk  or  trot  away  without  suspicion  of  lameness. 
But  though  this  may  end  the  trouble  for  the  time,  and  the  restoration 
seem  to  be  perfect  and  permanent,  a  repetition  of  the  entire  transaction 
may  subsequently  take  place,  and  perhaps  from  the  loss  of  some  pro- 
portion of  tensile  power  which  would  naturall}^  follow  the  original 
attack  in  the  muscles  involved  the  lesion  might  become  a  habitual 
weakness. 

Warm  fomentations  and  douches  with  cold  water  will  often  promote 
permanent  recovery,  and  liberty  in  a  box  stall  or  in  the  field  will  in 
man}"  cases  insure  constant  relief.  The  use  of  a  high-heeled  shoe  is 
recommended  b}"  European  veterinarians.  The  use  of  stimulating 
liniments,  with  frictions,  charges,  or  even  severe  blisters,  ma}"  be 
resorted  to  in  order  to  prevent  the  repetition  of  the  difficulty  by 
strengthening  and  toning  up  the  parts. 


340  BLTREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

DISEASES    OF   MUSCLES   AND   TENDONS. 


This  term  expresses  a  more  or  less  complete  laceration  or  yielding 
of  the  fibers  of  the  muscles,  tendons,  or  the  sheaths  surrounding  and 
supporting  them.  The  usual  cause  of  a  sprain  is  external  violence, 
such  as  a  fall  or  a  powerful  exertion  of  strength,  with  following  s^'uip- 
toms  of  soreness,  heat,  swelling,  and  a  suspension  of  function.  Their 
termination  varies  from  simple  resolution  to  suppuration,  and  com- 
monly fibrinous  exudation  difiicult  to  remove.  None  of  tlie  muscles 
or  tendons  of  the  body  are  exempt  from  liability  to  this  lesion,  though 
naturally  from  their  uses  and  the  exposure  of  their  situation  the 
extremities  are  more  liable  than  other  regions  to  l)ecome  their  seat. 
The  nature  of  the  prognosis  will  be  determined  b}'  a  consideration  of 
the  seat  of  the  injury  and  the  complications  likely  to  arise. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  will  resolve  itself  into  the  routine  of 
local  applications,  including  warm  fomentations,  stimulating  lini- 
ments, counter  irrita.tion  by  blistering,  and  in  some  cases  even  firing. 
Rest,  in  the  stable  or  in  a  box  stall,  y>'ill  be  of  advantage  bv  promoting 
the  absorption  of  whatever  fibrinous  exudation  may  have  formed,  or 
absorption  may  be  stimulated  by  the  careful  and  persevering  applica- 
tion of  iodine  in  the  form  of  ointments  of  various  degrees  of  strength. 

There  are  many  conditions  in  which  not  only  the  muscular  and  ten- 
dinous structures  proper  are  affected  by  a  strain,  but,  by  contiguity  of 
parts,  the  periosteum  of  neighboring  bones  may  become  involved,  with 
a  complication  of  periostitis  and  its  sequehe. 

LAMENESS    OF    THE    SIIOULDEK. 

The  frequency  of  the  occurrence  of  lameness  in  the  shoulder  from 
sprains  entitles  it  to  precedence  of  mention  in  the  present  category. 
For,  though  so  well  covered  with  its  muscular  envelope,  it  is  often  the 
seat  of  injuries  which,  from  the  complex  structure  of  the  region, 
become  difficult  to  diagnosticate  with  satisfactor}'  precision  and  facility. 
The  flat  bone  which  forms  the  skeleton  of  that  region  is  articulated  in 
a  comparatively  loose  manner  with  the  bone  of  the  arm,  but  the  joint 
is,  notwithstanding,  rather  solid,  and  is  powerf ulh'  strengthened  by 
tendons  passing  outside,  inside,  and  in  front  of  it.  Still,  shoulder 
lameness  or  sprain  may  exist,  originating  in  lacerations  of  the  muscles, 
the  tendons  or  the  ligaments  of  the  joint,  or  perhaps  in  diseases  of  the 
bones  themselves.  "Slip  of  the  shoulder-'  is  a  phrase  frequently 
applied  to  such  lesions. 

The  identification  of  the  particular  structures  involved  in  these 
lesions  is  of  much  importance,  in  view  of  its  bearing  upon  the  question 
of  prognosis.  For  example,  while  a  simple  superficial  injury  of  the 
spinatus  muscles,  or  of  the  muscles  by  which  the  leg  is  attached  to  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  341 

trunk,  may  not  be  of  serious  import  and  may  readily  yield  to  treat- 
ment, or  even  recover  spontaneously  and  without  interference,  the 
condition  is  quite  changed  when  a  case  of  tearing  of  the  flexor  brachii, 
or  of  its  tendons  as  they  pass  in  front  of  the  articulation,  occurs,  or, 
what  is  still  more  serious,  if  there  is  inflammation  or  ulceration  in  the 
groove  over  which  this  tendon  slides,  or  upon  the  articular  surfaces  or 
their  surroundings,  or  periostitis  at  any  point  adjacent. 

Causes. — The  frequency  of  attacks  of  shoulder  lameness  is  not  diffi- 
cult to  account  for.  The  superficial  and  unprotected  position  of  the 
part,  and  the  numerous  movements  of  which  it  is  capable,  and  which 
in  fact  it  performs,  render  it  both  subjectively  and  objectively  preemi- 
nently liable  to  accident  or  injury.  It  would  be  difficult,  nor  would 
it  materiall}'  avail,  to  enumerate  all  the  forms  of  violence  by  which 
the  shoulder  may  be  crippled.  A  fall,  accompanied  by  powerful  con- 
cussion; a  violent  muscular  contraction  in  starting  a  heavily  loaded 
vehicle  from  a  standstill;  a  misstep  following  a  quick  muscular  effort; 
a  jump  accompanied  b}'  miscalculated  results  in  alighting;  a  slip  on  a 
smooth,  icy  road;  balling  the  feet  with  snow;  colliding  with  another 
horse  or  other  object — indeed,  the  list  might  be  indefinitely  extended, 
but  it  would  be  without  profit  or  utility. 

Symptoms. — Some  of  the  S3miptoms  of  shoulder  lameness  are  pecu- 
liar to  themselves,  and  yet  the  trouble  is  frequently  mistaken  for 
other  affections — navicular  disease  more  often  than  any  other.  The 
fact  that  in  both  affections  there  are  instances  when  the  external 
symptoms  are  but  imperfectly  defined,  and  that  one  of  them  especially 
is  very  similar  in  both,  is  sufficient  to  mislead  careless  or  inexperi- 
enced observers,  and  to  occasion  the  error  which  is  sometimes  com- 
mitted of  applying  to  one  disease  the  name  of  the  other,  erring  both 
ways  in  the  interchange.  The  true  designation  of  pathological  lesions 
is  very  far,  at  times,  from  being  of  certain  and  easy  accomplishment, 
and,  owing  to  the  massive  structure  of  the  parts  we  are  considering,  this 
is  especially  true  in  the  present  connection.  And  still  there  are  many 
cases  in  which  there  is  really  no  reasonable  excuse  for  an  error  in 
diagnosis  by  an  average  practitioner. 

Shoulder  lameness  Vv^ill  of  course  manifest  itself  b}^  signs  and 
appearances  more  or  less  distinct  and  pronounced,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  degree  and  the  extent  of  the  originating  cause.  We 
summarize  some  of  these  signs  and  appearances: 

The  lameness  is  not  intermittent  but  continued,  the  disturbance  of 
motion  gauging  the  severity  of  the  lesion  and  its  extent.  It  is  more 
marked  when  the  bones  are  diseased  than  when  the  muscles  alone  are 
affected.  When  in  motion  the  two  upper  bony  levers — the  shoulder 
blade  and  the  bone  of  the  upper  arm— are  reduced  to  nearly  complete 
immobility  and  the  walking  is  performed  by  the  complete  displace- 
ment of  the  entire  mass,  which  is  dragged  forward  without  either 


342  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

flexion  or  extension.  The  action  of  the  joint  below,  as  a  natural  con- 
sequence, is  limited  in  its  flexion.  In  many  instances  there  is  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  swelling  at  the  point  of  injur}- — at  the  joint,  or  more 
commonly  in  front  of  it,  or  on  the  surface  of  the  spinatus  muscle. 
Again,  instead  of  swelling  there  will  be  muscular  atroph}',  though 
while  this  condition  of  loss  of  muscular  power  may  interfere  with  per- 
fect locomotion,  it  is  not  in  itself  usually  a  cause  of  shoulder  lameness. 
"Sweenied"  shoulders  are  more  often  due  to  disease  below^  the  fetlock 
than  to  affections  above  the  elbow. 

During  rest  the  animal  often  carries  his  leg  forward,  somewhat 
analogous  to  the  "pointing"  position  of  navicular  disease,  though  in 
some  cases  the  painful  member  drops  at  the  elbow  in  a  semiflexed 
position.  The  backing  is  sometimes  tj'pical,  the  animal  when  per- 
forming it,  instead  of  flexing  his  shoulder,  dragging  "the  whole  leg 
without  motion  .in  the  upper  segment  of  the  extremit}-. 

The  peculiar  manner  in  which  the  leg  is  brought  forward  in  the  air 
for  another  step  in  the  act  of  walking  or  trotting  is  in  some  instances 
characteristic  of  injuries  of  the  shoulder.  The  lameness  also  mani- 
fests itself  in  bringing  the  leg  forward  with  a  circumflex  swinging 
motion  and  a  shortening  in  the  extension  of  the  step.  The  foot  is  car- 
ried close  to  the  ground  and  stumbling  is  frequent,  especially  on  an 
uneven  road. 

With  the  'utmost  scrutiny  and  care  the  vagueness  and  uncertainty 
of  the  sjmiptoms  will  contribute  to  perplex  and  discredit  the  diagnosis 
and  embarrass  the  surgeon,  and  sometimes  the  expedient  is  tried  of 
aggravating  the  symptoms  b}-  way  of  intensifying  their  significance, 
and  thus  rendering  them  more  intelligible.  This  has  been  sought  by 
requiring  the  patient  to  travel  on  a  hard  or  verj-  soft  ground  and  com- 
pelling him  to  turn  on  the  sound  leg  as  a  pivot,  with  other  motions 
calculated  to  betray  the  locality  of  the  pain. 

Treatment. — It  is  our  conviction  that  lameness  of  the  shoulder  will 
in  many  cases  disappear  with  no  other  prescription  than  that  of  rest. 
Provided  the  lesions  occasioning  it  are  not  too  severe,  time  is  all  that 
is  required.  But  the  negation  of  letting  alone  is  seldom  accepted  as  a 
means  of  doing  good,  in  the  place  of  the  active  and  the  positive  forms 
of  treatment.  This  is  in  accordance  with  a  trait  of  human  nature 
which  is  universal,  and  is  unlimited  in  its  applications.  Hence  there 
must  be  something  done.  In  mild  cases  of  shoulder  lameness,  then, 
the  indications  are  water,  either  in  the  cold  douche  or  by  showering, 
or  by  warm  fomentations.  Warm  wet  blankets  are  of  great  service; 
and  in  addition,  or  as  alternative,  anod3'ne  liniments,  camphor,  bella- 
donna, either  in  the  form  of  tincture  or  the  oils,  are  of  benefit,  and  at 
a  later  period  stimulating  friction  with  suitable  mixtures,  sweating 
liniments,  blistering  compounds,  subcutaneous  injections  over  the 
region  of  the  muscle  of  1^  grains  of  veratrin  (the  variety  insoluble  in 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  343 

water)  mixed  in  2  drams  of  water,  etc.,  will   find   their  place,  and 
finally,  when  necessity  demands  it,  the  firing  iron  and  the  seton. 

The  duration  of  the  treatment  must  be  determined  by  its;  eflfects  and 
the  evidence  that  may  be  offered  of  the  results  following  the  action  of 
the  reparative  process.  But  the  great  essential  condition  of  cure,  and 
the  one  without  which  the  possibility  of  relap.se  will  always  remain  as 
•a  menace,  is,  as  we  have  often  reiterated  in  analogous  cases,  rest, 
imperativel}'-  rest,  irrespective  of  any  other  prescriptions  with  which 
it  may  be  associated. 

SPRAIN    OF   THE  ELBOW    MUSCLES. 

Causes. — This  injury,  which  fortunately  is  not  very  common,  is 
mostly  encountered  in  cities,  among  heavy  draft  horses  or  rapidly 
driven  animals  which  are  obliged  to  travel,  often  smooth  shod,  upon 
slippery,  ic}",  or  greasy  pavements,  where  they  are  easily  liable  to  lose 
their  foothold.  .  The  region  of  the  strain  is  the  posterior  part  of  the 
shoulder,  and  the  muscles  which  are  affected  are  those  which  occupy 
the  space  between  the  posterior  Vjorder  of  the  scapula  and  the  posterior 
face  of  the  arm.     It  is  the  muscles  of  the  olecranon  which  give  way. 

Symptoins. — The  symptoms  are  easily  recognized,  especially  when 
the  animal  is  in  action.  While  at  rest  the  attitude  may  be  normal,  or 
by  close  scrutin}'  a  peculiarity  may  perhaps  be  detected.  The  leg  may 
seem  to  drop;  the  elbow  may  appear  to  be  lower  than  its  fellow,  with 
the  knee  and  lower  part  of  the  leg  flexed  and  the  foot  resting  on 
the  toe,  with  the  heel  raised.  Su(*h  an  attitude,  however,  may  be 
occasionally  assumed  by  an  animal  without  having  anj'  special  signifi- 
cance. But  when  it  becomes  more  pronounced  on  putting  him  in 
motion  the  fact  acquires  a  symptomatic  value,  and  this  is  the  case  in 
the  present  instance.  A  rapid  gait  becomes  quite  impossible,  and  the 
walk,  as  in  some  few  other  diseases,  becomes  sufficiently  characteristic 
to  warrant  a  diagnosis  even  when  observed  from  a  distance.  An  entire 
dropping  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  trunk  becomes  manifest,  and  no 
weight  is  carried  on  the  disabled  side,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of 
action  in  the  suspensor}^  muscles.  There  are  often  heat,  pain,  and 
swelling  in  the  muscular  mass  at  the  elbow,  though  at  times  a  hollow, 
or  depression,  may  be  observed  near  the  posterior  border  of  the  scapula, 
which  is  probabl}^  the  seat  of  injur3^ 

These  hurts  are  of  various  degrees  of  importance,  varjdng  from 
mere  minor  casualties  of  quick  recover}^  to  lesions  which  are  of  suffi- 
cient severity  to  render  an  animal  useless  and  valueless  for  life. 

Treatment. — The  prime  elements  of  treatment,  which  should  be 
strictly  observed,  are  rest  and  quiet.  Prescriptions  of  all  kinds,  of 
course,  have  their  advocates.  Among  them  are  ether,  chloroform, 
camphor,  alcoholic  frictions,  warm  fomentations,  .blisters,  setons,  etc. 
But  unless  the  conclusions  of  experience  are  to  be  ignored,  my  own 


344  BUREAU    OF    A:?iIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

judgment  is  decisive  in  favor  of  rest,  judiciously  applied;  and  my  view 
of  what  constitutes  a  judicious  application  of  rest  has  been  more  than 
once  presented  in  these  pages.  There  are  degrees  of  this  rest.  One 
contemplates  simple  immobility  in  a  narrow  stall.  Another  means  the 
enforced  mobility  of  the  slings  and  a  narrow  stall  as  well.  Another  a 
box  stall,  with  ample  latitude  as  to  posture  and  space,  and  option  to 
stand  up  or  lie  down.  As  wide  as  this  range  maj-  appear  to  be,  radical 
recovery  has  occurred  under  all  of  these  modified  forms  of  letting  our 
patients  alone. 


The  etiolog}"  of  injuries  and  diseases  of  the  hip  is  one  and  the  same 
with  that  of  the  shoulder.  The  same  causes  operate  and  the  same 
results  follow.  The  onh'  essential  change,  with  an  important  excep- 
tion, which  would  be  necessary  in  passing  from  one  region  to  the  other 
in  a  description  of  its  anatomy,  its  phvsiolog}',  and  its  pathology, 
would  be  a  substitution  of  anatomical  names  in  reference  to  certain 
bones,  articulations,  muscles,  ligaments,  and  membranes  concerned  in 
thQ  injuries  and  diseases  described.  It  would  be  only  a  useless  repeti- 
tion to  cover  again  the  ground  over  which  we  have  so  recently  passed 
in  recital  of  the  manner  in  which  certain  forms  of  external  violence 
(falls,  blows,  kicks,  etc.)  result  in  other  certain  forms  of  lesion  (luxa- 
tion, fracture,  periostitis,  ostitis,  etc.),  and  to  recapitulate  the  items 
of  treatment  and  the  names  of  the  medicaments  proper  to  use.  The 
sames  rules  of  diagnosis  and  the  same  indications  and  prognosis  are 
applicable  equallj'  to  every  portion  of  the  organism,  with  only  such 
modifications  in  applying  dressings  and  apparatus  as  may  be  required 
by  differences  of  conformation  and  other  minor  circumstances,  which 
must  suggest  themselves  to  the  judgment  of  every  experienced  observer 
when  the  occasion  arrives  for  its  exercise. 

There  is  an  exception  to  be  made,  while  considering  the  subject  in 
connection  with  the  region  now  under  advisement,  in  respect  to  the 
formidable  affection  known  as  morbus  coxarius,  or  hip-joint  disease; 
and  leaving  the  detail  of  other  lesions  to  take  their  place  under  other 
heads,  that  relating  to  the  shoulder,  for  instance,  we  turn  to  the  hip 
joint  and  its  ailments  as  the  chief  subject  of  our  present  consideration. 

fS'i/mj)fo)/is. — In  investigating  for  morbus  coxarius,  let  the  observer 
firsts  examine  the  lame  animal  b}^  scanning  critically  the  outlines  of  the 
joint  and  the  region  adjacent  for  any  difference  of  size  or  disturbance 
of  sj-mmetry  in  the  parts,  any  prominence  or  rotundity,  and  on  both 
sides.  The  lame  side  will  probably  be  warmer,  more  developed  and 
fuller,  both  to  the  touch  and  to  the  eye.  Let  him  then  grasp  the 
lower  part  of  the  leg  (as  he  would  in  examining  a  case  of  shoulder 
lameness)  and  endeavor  to  produce  excessive  passive  motion.  This 
will  probably  cause  pain  when  the  leg  is  made  to  assume  a  given 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  345 

position.  Let  him  push  the  thigh  forcibly  against  the  hip  bone,  and 
the  contact  will  again  probably  cause  a  manifestation  of  pain.  If 
the  horse  is  trotted,  the  limited  action  of  the  hip  joint  proper  and  the 
excessive  dropping  and  rising  of  the  hip  of  the  opposite  side  will  be 
easily  recognized.  Usuall}^  the  animal  does  not  extend  the  foot  as  far 
as  customarily  and  picks  it  up  much  sooner. 

The  abducdve  or  circumflex  motion  observed  in  shoulder  lameness 
is  also  present  in  hip  lameness,  but  under  special  conditions,  and  the 
test  of  the  difficult}-,  either  by  traveling  on  soft  ground  or  in  turning 
the  horse  in  a  circle,  nia}'  here  also  contribute  to  the  diagnosis,  as  in 
testing  for  lameness  in  the  anterior  extremit3^ 

PrognoHia. — The  prognosis  of  hip  lameness  is  at  times  quite  serious, 
not  only  on  account  of  the  long  duration  of  treatment  required  to 
effect  good  results,  and  because  of  the  character  which  ma}^  be 
assumed  by  the  disease,  but  of  the  permanence  of  the  disability  result- 
ing from  it.  Exostosis  and  ulcerative  arthritis  are  sequelae  which 
often  resist  every  form  of  treatment. 

Treatment. — As  before  intimated,  this  is  little  more  than  a  repetition 
of  the  remarks  upon  the  lameness  of  the  shoulder,  with  slight  modifi- 
cations occasioned  by  the  muscular  structure  of  the  hip,  and  we  are 
limited  to  the  same  recommendations  of  treatment.  The  advantages 
of  rest  must  be  reaffirmed,  with  local  applications,  of  which,  however, 
it  may  be  said  that  they  are  more  distinctly  indicated  and  likely  to  be 
more  effective  in  their  results  than  in  shoulder  lameness,  and  may  be 
more  freely  emplo}' ed,  whether  in  the  form  of  liniments,  blisters  (singly 
or  repeated),  tiring,  or  setoning. 

SPRAINS    OF   SUSPENSORY    LIGAMENTS    AND    OF   THE    FLEXOR    TENDONS   OR   THEIR    SHEATH. 

The  fibrous  structure  situated  behind  the  cannon  bones,  both  in  the 
fore  and  hind  legs,  is  often  the  seat  of  lacerations  or  sprains  resulting 
from  violent  efforts  or  sudden  jerks. 

Cause. — The  injury'ma}'^  be  considered  serious  or  trifling,  according 
to  the  circumstances  of  each  case  as  judged  by  its  own  histor3^  Among 
the  predisposing  causes  are  a  long  thin  fetlock  and  a  narrow  knee  or 
hock  as  viewed  from  the  side,  with  the  flexor  muscles  tied  in  just  below 
the  joint.  The  longer  and  more  oblique  the  pastern  the  greater  is  the 
strain  on  the  flexor  tendons  and  suspensory  ligaments,  hence  a  low 
quarter,  a  toe  calk,  and  no  heel  calks,  or  a  thin  calk  placed  at  the  tip 
under  the  toe,  and  leaving  the  quarters  long  abnormally  stretches  the 
back  tendons  and  causes  a  great  strain  upon  them  just  before  the 
weight  is  shifted  from  the  foot  in  locomotion.  In  runners  and  hunters 
the  disease  is  apt  to  be  periodic.  In  driving  horses  it  is  most  common 
in  well-bred  animals  of  nervous  temperament.  Draft  horses  suffer 
most  frequently  in  the  hind  legs. 

Symptoms. — The  injur}-  is  readil}-  recognized  b}^  the  changed  aspect 


346  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDU8TKY. 

of  the  region  and  the  aceompanying  local  s^'mptoms.  The  parts, 
which  in  health  are  well  defined,  with  the  outlines  of  the  tendons  and 
ligaments  well  marked,  become  the  seat  of  a  swelling,  more  or  less 
developed,  from  a  small  spot  on  the  middle  of  the  back  of  the  tendon 
to  a  tumefaction  reaching  from  the  knee  down  to  and  even  invohing 
the  fetlock  itself.  It  is  always  'characterized  b}'  heat,  and  it  is  vari- 
ousl}'  sensitive,  ranging  from  a  mere  tenderness  to  a  degree  of  soreness 
which  shrinks  from  the  lightest  touch.  The  degree  of  the  lameness 
varies,  and  it  has  a  corresponding  range  with  the  soreness,  sometimes 
showing  only  a  slight  halting  and  at  others  the  extreme  of  lameness 
on  three  legs,  with  intermediate  degrees. 

The  lameness  is  always  worse  when  the  weight  is  thrown  on  the  foot, 
and  is  most  marked  toward  the  end  of  the  phase  of  contact  with  the 
ground.  Either  passive  irritation  of  the  leg  or  turning  the  animal 
in  a  circle  causes  pain  as  in  diseases  of  the  joints.  Sometimes  the  horse 
likes  to  get  the  heels  on  a  stone  or  some  elevation  so  as  to  relieve  the 
weight  from  the  flexor  tendons.  Finally,  in  cases  of  long  standing,  a 
shortening  of  the  tendons  occurs,  resulting  in  the  abnormal  flexion  of 
the  foot  known  by  horsemen  as  ''broken  down,"'  or  a  more  upright 
position  of  the  foot  may  follow,  producing  perhaps  knuckling  or  the 
so-called  club  foot. 

Prognosis. — It  may  be  safeh'  assumed  on  general  principles  that  a 
leg  which  has  received  such  injuries  very  seldom  returns  to  a  perfect 
condition  of  efficiency  and  soundness,  and  that  as  a  fact  a  certain  abso- 
lute amount  of  thickening  and  deformity  will  remain  permanent,  even 
when  the  lameness  has  entirely  disappeared. 

Treatment. — The  injured  member  should  receive  the  earliest  attention 
possible,  not  only  when  the  inflammatory  condition  is  present,  but 
when  it  is  subsiding  and  there  is  onlv  the  thickening  of  the  ligaments, 
the  tendons,  or  the  sheath. 

The  most  important  remedy  is  rest,  and  the  shoes  should  always  be 
removed.  During  the  first  three  days  cold  in  the  form  of  immersion 
or  continuous  irrigation  is  indicated.  Then  warm  moisture  and  con- 
tinuous pressure  are  advised.  The  latter  is  best  applied  by  placing  two 
padded  splints  about  the  thickness  of  the  thumb  along  the  two  .sides  of 
the  tendon  and  binding  them  in  place  with  even  pressure  by  bandage. 
Frequent  bathing  with  warm  soap  suds  is  also  l)eneficial.  The  absorp- 
tion of  the  exudate  may  be  promoted  and  the  work  of  restoration 
effected  by  frictions  with  alcohol,  tincture  of  soap,  spirits  of  camphor, 
mild  liniments,  strong  sweating  liniments,  and  blisters.  An  excellent 
ointment  to  apply  with  massage  consists  of  equal  parts  of  blue  oint- 
ment and  green  soap,  with  double  the  quantity  of  vaseline.  The  action 
of  blisters  in  these  cases  depends  chiefly  upon  the  massage  used  in 
applying  them  and  upon  the  continuous  pressure  of  the  swollen  skin 
on  the  inflamed  tendons.     In  old  cases  more  beneficial  results  will  fol- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  347 

low  line  firing'.  In  these  cases  shoeing-  is  veiy  important.  Leave  the 
quarters  long,  shorten  the  toe,  give  the  shoe  rolling  motion,  and  either 
put  short  heel  calks  on  the  branches  or  thicken  the  branches.  Although 
this  line  of  treatment  is  efficacious  in  many  cases,  there  are  others  in 
which  the  thickening  of  the  tendons  refuses  to  yield  and  the  changed 
tissues  remain  firml}^  organized,  leaving  them  in  the  form  of  a  thick 
mass  resting  upon  the  back  part  of  the  cannon  bone. 

KXrCKLIXG    OF    FETLOCK. 

As  a  consequence  of  the  last-mentioned  lesion  of  the  tendons  a  new 
condition  presents  itself  in  the  articular  disposition,  constituting  the 
deformity  known  as  the  hnucMing  fetlocl-. 

By  this  is  meant  a  deformity  of  the  fetlock  joint  by  which  the  nat- 
ural angle  is  changed  from  that  which  pertains  to  the  healthy  articu- 
lation. The  lirst  pastern  or  suffraginis  loses  its  oblique  direction  and 
assumes  another,  which  varies  from  the  upright  to  the  oblique,  from 
before  backwards,  and  from  above  downwards;  in  other  words,  form- 
ing an  angle  with  its  apex  in  front. 

Causes. — This  condition,  as  we  have  seen,  may  1)6  the  result  of 
chronic  disease  producing  structural  changes  in  the  tendons,  and  it 
maj"  also  occur  as  the  result  of  other  affections  or  some  peculiarity 
independent  of  this  and  situated  below  the  fetlock,  such  as  ringbones, 
sidebones,  or  traumatic  disease  of  the  foot  proper.  Animals  are 
sometimes  predisposed  to  knuckling,  such,  for  example,  as  are  natur- 
ally straight  in  their  pasterns,  or  animals  which  are  compelled  to  labor 
when  too  j^oung.  The  hind  legs  are  more  predisposed  than  the  fore 
to  this  deformitv,  in  consequence  of  the  greater  amount  of  labor  they 
are  required  to  perform  as  the  propelling  levers  of  the  body. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  of  knuckling  are  easily  recognized. 
The  changes  in  the  direction  of  the  bones  vary  more  or  less  with  the 
degree  of  the  lesion,  sometimes  assuming  such  a  direction  that  it 
almost  becomes  a  true  dislocation  of  the  pastern. 

The  effect  of  knuckling  upon  the  gait  also  varies  according-  to  the 
degree  of  the  deformity.  As  the  different  degrees  of  the  shortening 
of  the  leg  affect  the  motion  of  the  fetlock  the  lameness  may  be  very 
slight  or  quite  extreme.  Another  consequence  of  this  shortening  is 
such  a  change  in  the  position  of  the  foot  that  the  heels  cease  to  come 
in  contact  with  the  ground  and  assume  a  greater  elevation,  and  the 
final  result  of  this  is  soon  witnessed  in  the  development  of  a  ciuhfoot. 

Treatment. — To  whatever  cause  the  knuckling  ma}^  be  ascribed  it  is 
always  a  severe  infirmity,  and  there  is  but  little  room  for  hoping  to 
overcome  it  unless  it  be  during  the  very  first  stages  of  the  trouble, 
and  the  hope  dwindles  to  still  smaller  dimensions  when  it  is  secondary 
to  other  diseases  below  the  fetlock.  If  it  is  caused  b}^  overworking 
the  animal,  the  first  indication  will,  of  course,  be  rest.     Line  firing  has 


348  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

proved  vcr}-  efficacious  in  these  cases.  The  animal  must  be  turned 
loose  and  left  unemployed.  Careful  attention  should  be  given  to  the 
condition  of  his  feet  and  to  the  manner  of  shoeing,  while  time  is 
allowed  for  the  tendons  to  become  restored  to  their  normal  state  and 
the  irritation  caused  by  excessive  stretching  has  subsided.  A  shoe 
with  a  thick  heel  will  contribute  to  this.  But  if  no  improvement  can 
be  obtained  and  the  tendons  though  retracted  have  yet  been  relieved 
of  much  of  their  thickening,  the  case  is  not  a  desperate  one,  and  may 
yet  be  benefited  by  the  operation  of  tenotomy,  single  or  double — an 
operative  expedient  which  must  be  committed  to  the  experienced  sur- 
geon for  its  performance. 

SPRUN'G    KNEES. 

Though  not  positively  the  result  of  diseases  of  the  tendons  acting 
upon  the  knees,  we  venture  to  consider  tliis  deformity  in  connection 
with  that  which  we  have  just  described.  It  consists  in  such  an  alter- 
ation in  the' direction  and  articulation  of  the  bones  which  form  the 
various  carpal  joints  that  instead  of  forming  a  vertical  line  from  the 
lower  end  of  the  forearm  to  the  cannon  bone  thej^  are  so  united  that 
the  knee  is  more  or  less  bent  forward,  presenting  a  condition  due  to 
the  retraction  of  two  of  the  principal  muscles  by  which  the  cannon 
bone  is  flexed. 

Cause. — This  flexion  of  the  knee  may  be  a  congenital  deformity  and 
have  continued  from  the  foaling  of  the  animal;  or,  like  clubfoot,  it 
may  be  the  result  of  heavy  labor  which  the  animal  has  been  compelled 
to  perform  at  too  early  an  age.  It  may  also  be  due  to  other  diseases 
existing  in  parts  below  the  kneejoint. 

SyiJiptonis. — This  change  of  direction  largely  influences  the  move- 
ment of  the  animal  by  detracting  from  its  firmness  and  practically 
weakening  the  entire  frame,  even  to  the  extent  of  rendering  him  inse- 
cure on  his  feet  and  liable  to  fall.  This  condition  of  weakness  is  some- 
times so  pronounced  that  he  is  exposed  to  fall  even  when  standing  at 
rest  and  unmolested,  the  knees  being  unable  even  to  bear  the  portion 
of  the  aiere  weight  of  the  frame  which  belongs  to  them.  This  results 
in  another  trouble — that  of  being  unable  to  keep  permanently  upright. 
He  is  apt  to  fall  on  his  knees,  and  by  this  act  becomes  presently  a 
sufferer  from  the  lesion  known  by  the  term  of  hrol'en  knees. 

Treatment. — Whatever  may  be  the  originating  cause  of  this  imper- 
fection, it  detracts  very  largely  from  the  usefulness  and  value  of  a 
horse,  disqualifying  him  for  ordinary  labor  and  wholly  unfitting  him 
for  service  under  the  saddle  without  jeopardizing  the  safety  of  his 
rider.  If,  however,  the  trouble  is  known  from  the  start,  and  is  not 
the  result  of  congenital  deformity  or  weakness  of  the  kneejoint,  or 
secondary  to  other  diseases,  rest,  with  fortifying  frictions,  may  some- 
times aid  in  strengthening  the  joints;   and  the  application  of  blisters 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  349 

on  the  posterior  part  of  the  knee,  from  a  short  distance  above  to  a 
point  a  little  below  the  joint,  may  be  followed  by  some  satisfactory 
results;  but  with  this  trouble,  as  with  knuckling  fetlocks,  the  danger  of 
relapse  must  be  kept  in  mind  as  a  contingency  always  liable  to  occur. 


This  lesion  is  the  bulging  backward  of  the  posterior  part  of  the 
hock,  where  in  the  normal  state  there  should  be  a  straight  line,  extend- 
ing from  the  upper  end  of  the  point  of  the  hock  down  to  the  fetlock. 

Cause. — The  cause  may  be  a  sprain  of  the  tendon  which  passes  on 
the  posterior  part  of  the  hock,  or  of  one  of  its  sheaths,  or  of  the  strong 
ligament  situated  on  the  posterior  border  of  the  os  caJcis. 

Hocks  of  a  certain  conformation  seem  to  possess  a  greater  liability 
to  curb  than  others.  They  are  overbent,  coarse,  and  thick  in  appear- 
ance, or  ma}'^  be  too  narrow  from  front  to  back  across  the  lower  por- 
tion. This  condition  may  therefore  result  as  a  sequence  to  congeni- 
tal malformation,  as  in  the  case  of  horses  that  are  saber-legged.  It 
often  occurs,  also,  as  the  result  of  violent  etforts,  of  heavy  pulling,  of 
high  jumping,  or  of  slipping;  in  a  word,  it  may  result  from  any  of  the 
causes  heretofore  considered  as  instrumental  in  producing  lacerations 
of  muscular,  tendinous,  or  ligamentous  structure. 

Symjytoms. — A.  hock  afi'ected  with  curb  will,  at  the  outset,  present  a 
swelling  more  or  less  diffuse  on  its  posterior  portion,  with  varying 
degrees  of  heat  and  soreness,  and  these  will  be  accompanied  by  lame- 
ness of  a  permanent  character.  At  a  later  period,  however,  the  swell- 
ing will  become  better  defined,  the  deformity  more  characteristic,  the 
prominent  curved  line  readil}'^  detected,  and  the  thickness  of  the  infil- 
trated tissue  easilj^  determined  by  the  fingers.  At  this  time,  also, 
there  ma}^  be  a  condition  of  lameness,  varying  in  degree,  while  at 
others,  again,  the  irregularity  of  action  at  the  hock  will  be  so  slight  as 
to  escape  detection,  the  animal  betraying  no  appearance  of  its  existence. 

A  curb  constitutes,  by  a  strict  construction  of  the  term,  an  "unsound- 
ness," since  the  hock  thus  affected  is  less  able  to  endure  severe  labor, 
and  is  more  liable  to  give  way  with  the  slightest  effort.  And  3^et  the 
prognosis  of  a  curb  can  not  be  considered  to  be  serious,  since  it  gen- 
erall}"  yields  to  treatment,  or  at  least  the  lameness  it  may  occasion  is 
generally  easily  relieved,  though  the  loss  of  contour  caused  by  the 
bulging  will  always  constitute  a  blemish. 

Treatment. — On  the  first  appearance  of  a  curb,  when  it  exhibits 
the  signs  of  an  acute  inflammation,  the  first  indication  is  to  subdue  this 
by  the  use  of  cold  applications  as  intermittent  or  constant  irrigation 
or  an  ice  poultice;  but  when  these  have  exhausted  their  effect  and  the 
swelling  has  assumed  better  defined  boundaries,  and  the  infiltration  of 
the  tendons  or  of  the  ligaments  is  all  that  remains  of  a  morbid  state, 
then  every  effort  must  be  directed  to  the  object  of  effecting  its  absorption 


350  liUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

and  reducing  its  dimensions  l)y  pressure  and  other  methods.  The 
medieaments  most  to  be  trusted  are  blisters  of  canthurides  and  frictions 
with  ointments  of  iodine,  or,  preferably.  })iniodide  of  mercury.  Mer- 
curial agents  alone,  by  their  therapeutic  properties  or  b}'  means  of  the 
artificial  bandages  which  they  furnish  ))}-  tlicir  incrustations  when  their 
vesicator}'  effects  are  exhausted,  will  give  good  results  in  some  instances 
b}'  a  single  application,  and  often  bj'  repeated  applications.  The  use 
of  the  firing  iron  must,  however,  be  frequently  resorted  to,  either  to 
remove  the  lameness  or  to  stimulate  the  absorption.  We  believe  that 
its  early  a|)plication  ought  to  be  resorted  to  in  preference  to  waiting 
until  the  exudation  is  firmly  organized.  Firing  in  dull  points  or  in 
lines  will  prove  as  beneficial  in  curb  as  in  an}'  other  disease  of  a  similar 
nature 

LACEIt.VTEB    TENDONS. 

This  form  of  injurv,  whether  of  a  simple  or  of  a  compound  character, 
mux  become  a  lesion  of  a  very  serious  nature,  and  will  usually  require 
long  and  careful  treatment,  which  may  yet  prove  unavailing  in  conse- 
quence either  of  the  intrinsically  fatal  character  of  the  wound  itself  or 
the  complications  which  have  rendered  it  incurable. 

Cause. — Like  all  similar  injuries,  these  are  the  result  of  traumatic 
violence,  such  as  contact  with  objects  both  blunt  and  sharp;  a  curb- 
stone in  the  city;  in  the  countr}-,  a  tree  stump  or  a  fence,  especially 
one  of  wire.  It  may  easilj"  occur  to  a  runawaj'  horse  when  he  is 
"whipped"-  with  fragments  of  harness  or  "flogged"  by  fragments  of 
splintered  shafts  ''thrashing"  his  legs,  or  bj^  the  contact  of  his  legs 
with  the  wagon  he  has  overturned  and  shattered  with  his  heels  while 
disengaging  himself  from  its  wreck. 

Symptoms. — It  is  not  always  necessary  that  the  skin  should  be 
involved  in  this  form  of  injury.  On  the  contrary,  the  tegument  is 
frequently  left  entirely  intact,  especially  when  the  injury  follows  infec- 
tious diseases  or  occurs  during  light  exercise  after  long  periods  of  rest 
in  the  stable.  Yet,  again,  the  skin  may  be  cut  through  and  the  ten- 
dons nearl}^  severed.  A  point  a  little  above  the  fetlock  is  usually  the 
seat  of  the  injury.  But  irrespective  of  this,  and  whether  the  skin  is 
or  is  not  implicated,  the  symptoms  ver}^  much  resemble  those  of  a 
fracture.  There  is  excessive  mobility,  at  least  more  than  in  a  normal 
state,  with  more  or  less  inability  to  carry  weight.  There  ma}'  be 
swelling  of  the  parts,  and  on  passing  the  hands  carefull}^  along  the 
tendon  to  the  point  of  division  the  stumps  of  the  divided  structure  will 
be  felt  more  or  less  separated,  perhaps  wholly  divided.  The  position 
of  the  animal  while  at  rest  and  standing  is  peculiar  and  characteristic. 
While  the  heels  are  well  placed  on  the  ground,  the  toe  is  correspond- 
ingly elevated,  with  a  tendency  to  turn  up — a  form  of  breaking  down 
which  was  described  when  speaking  of  the  fracture  of  the  sesa- 
moids.    Carrying  weight  is  done  onh'  with  considerable  difficulty,  but 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  851 

with  comparative!}^  little  pain,  and  the  animal  will  unconsciously  con- 
tinue to  move  the  leg  as  if  in  great  suffering,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  hi§  general  condition  may  be  very  good  and  his  appetite 
unimpaired. 

The  effect  upon  the  general  organism  of  compound  lacerated  wounds 
of  tendinous  structures,  or  those  which  are  associated  with  injuries  of 
the  skin,  are  different.  The  wound  becomes  in  a  short  time  the  seat 
of  a  high  degree  of  inflammation  with  abundant  suppuration,  filling  it 
from  the  bottom;  and  the  tendon,  whether  as  the  result  of  the  bruise 
or  of  the  laceration,  or  of  maceration  in  the  accumulated  pus,  under- 
goes a  process  of  softening,  and  necrosis  and  sloughing  ensue.  This 
complicates  the  case,  and  probably  some  form  of  tendinous  synovitis 
follows,  running  into  suppurative  arthritis,  to  end,  if  close  to  a  joint, 
with  a  fatal  result. 

Prognosis. — The  prognosis  of  lacerated  tendons  should  be  ver}^  con- 
servative. Under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  a  period  of  from 
six  weeks  to  two  months  will  be  necessary  for  the  treatment,  before 
the  formation  of  the  cicatricial  callus  and  the  establishment  of  a  firm 
union  between  the  tendinous  stumps. 

Treatment. — As  with  fractures,  and  even  in  a  greater  degree,  the 
necessity  is  imperative,  in  the  treatment  of  lacerated  tendons,  to  secure 
as  perfect  a  state  of  immobilitj^  as  can  be  obtained  compatibly  with  the 
disposition  of  the  patient;  the  natural  opposition  of  the  animal,  some- 
times ill-tempered  and  fractious  at  best,  under  the  necessarj^  restraint, 
causing  at  times  much  embarrassment  to  the  practitioner  in  applving 
the  necessarj"  treatment.  Without  the  necessary  immobility  no  close 
connection  of  the  ends  of  the  tendons  can  be  secured.  To  fulfill  this 
necessary  condition  the  posterior  part  of  the  foot  and  the  fetlock  must 
be  supported  and  the  traction  performed  b}^  them  relieved,  an  object 
which  can  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  the  high-heeled  and  bar  shoe,  or 
possibly  better  accomplished  with  a  shoe  of  the  same  kind  extending 
about  2  or  2i  inches  back  of  the  heels.  The  perfect  immobilit}^  of  the 
legs  is  obtained  in  the  same  wa}^  as  in  the  treatment  of  fracture,  with 
splints,  bandages,  iron  apparatus,  plasters  of  adhesive  mixtures,  and 
similar  means.  So  long  as  the  dressings  remain  in  place  undisturbed, 
and  no  chafing  or  other  evidence  of  pain  is  present,  the  dressings  ma}^ 
be  continued  without  changing,  the  patient  being  kept  in  the  slings 
for  a  period  sufficient  to  insure  the  perfect  union  of  the  tendons.  But 
for  a  compound  lesion,  when  there  is  laceration  of  the  skin,  some  spe- 
cial care  is  necessary.  The  wound  must  be  carefulh'  watched  and  the 
dressings  removed  at  intervals  of  a  few  daj^s,  or  as  often  as  may  be 
needful,  all  of  which  additional  manipulation  and  extra  nursing,  how- 
ever indispensable,  still  adds  to  the  gravity  of  the  case  and  renders  the 
prognosis  more  and  more  serious.  When  the  tendons  have  sloughed 
in  threads  of  various  dimensions,  or  if  in  the  absence  of  this  process  of 


352  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

mortification  health}'  gfi'^nulations  .should  form  and  fill  up  the  wound, 
still  ver}'  careful  attention  will  be  required,  the  g-ranulating  ends  of 
the  tendons  having  a  tendenc}-  to  bulge  between  the  edges  of  the  skin 
and  to  assume  large  dimensions,  forming  bulky  excrescences  or  growths 
of  a  wart}'  or  cauliflower  appearance,  the  removal  of  which  becomes  a 
troublesome  matter. 

The  union  of  the  tendons  will  at  times  leave  a  thickening  of  varying 
degree  near  the  point  of  cicatrization,  the  absorption  of  which  becomes 
an  object  of  difficult  and  doubtful  accomplishment,  but  which  may  be 
promoted  by  moderate  blistering  and  the  use  of  alterative  and  absorb- 
ent mixtures  or  perhaps  the  fire  iron.  A  shoe  with  heels  somewhat 
higher  than  usual  will  prove  a  comfort  to  the  animal  and  aid  in  mod- 
erating and  relieving  the  tension  of  the  tendons. 

KCPTURE  OF  THE  FLEXOR  METATARSI. 

This  is  a  muscle  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  shank.  It  is  situated  in 
front  of  the  tibia,  and  is  of  peculiar  formation,  being  composed  of  a 
muscular  portion  with  a  very  powerful  tendon,  which  are  at  first  dis- 
tinct and  separate,  to  be  intimately  united  lower  down,  and  terminat- 
ing at  the  lower  end  by  a  division  into  four  tendinous  bands.  It  is  a 
powerful  muscle  of  the  hinder  shank  bone,  and  also  acts  as  a  strong 
means  of  support  for  the  stifle  joint,  that  is,  of  the  articulation  of  the 
thigh  and  shank  bone,  in  front  and  outside  of  which  it  passes.  Its 
situation  and  its  use  cause  it  to  be  liable  to  severe  stretching  and  strain- 
ing, and  a  rupture  of  some  of  its  fibers  is  sometimes  the  consequence. 

Caitse. — This  injury  may  be  the  result  of  a  violent  effort  of  the  ani- 
mal in  leaping  over  a  high  obstacle;  in  missing  his  foothold  and  sud- 
denly slipping  backward  while  powerfully  grasping  the  ground  with 
the  feet  in  striving  to  start  a  heavily  loaded  vehicle;  or  in  making  a 
violent  eflort  to  prevent  a  probable  fall;  or  in  attempting  to  lift  the 
feet  from  miry  ground. 

S(/mj.)tonis. — The  accident  is  immediately  followed  by  disability 
which  will  vary  according  to  the  true  seat  of  the  injury  and  the  period 
of  its  duration.  This  rupture  will  not  prevent  the  horse  from  stand- 
ing perfectly  and  firmly  on  his  feet  when  kept  at  rest,  and  while  no 
muscular  efforts  are  required  from  him  there  is  no  appearance  of  any 
lesion  or  unsoundness.  An  attempt  to  move  him  backwards,  however, 
will  cause  him  to  throw  all  his  weight  upon  his  hind  quarters,  and  he 
Avill  refuse  to  raise  his  foot  from  the  ground.  If  compelled  to  do  so, 
or  required  to  move  forward,  the  hock  being  no  longer  capable  of 
flexion,  the  muscle  which  effects  that  movement  being  the  injured 
one,  the  opposite  muscles,  the  extensors,  acting  freely,  the  entire 
lower  part  of  the  leg,  from  the  hock  down,  will  be  suddenly,  with  a 
jerk,  extended  on  the  tibia  or  shank  bone,  and  simultaneously  with 
this  the  tendo-Achillis,  the  cord  of  the  hock,  the  tendons  of  the  exten- 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOKSE.  35S' 

sors  of  the  hock  will  be  put  in  a  wrinkled  and  relaxed  condition.  The 
leg  is  behind  the  animal  and  the  toe  rests  on  the  ground.  Examina- 
tion of  the  fore  part  of  the  shank  from  the  stifle  down  to  the  hock 
may  reveal  soreness,  and  possibly  some  swelling-  and  heat  at  the  seat; 
of  the  lesion. 

Treatineiit. — Our  experience  with  injuries  of  this  form  satisfies  us- 
that,  generally  speaking,  they  are  amenable  to  treatment.  Very  few 
instances  have  come  to  our  knowledge  in  which  radical  recovery  has 
not  been  obtained,  provided  a  sufficient  time  has  been  allowed  for 
union  to  take  place.  The  more  flexed  the  leg  can  be  kept,  the  quicker 
will  it  heal. 

In  these  cases,  as  in  those  alread}^  considered  of  simple  laceration  of 
tendons,  the  indications  resemble  those  which  apply  in  the  treatment, 
of  fractures;  as  near  a  coaptation  of  the  lacerated  ends  as  possible,, 
with  immobility,  being  the  necessary  conditions  to  secure.  The  first 
is  a  matter  of  very  difficult  accomplishment,  by  bandaging  alone,  and 
some  have  recommended  instead  the  application  of  charges  or  blisters 
in  order  to  compel  the  animal  to  keep  more  quiet. 
"  To  secure  the  necessary  immobilitj^  the  animal  should  be  placed  in' 
slings  snugly  applied,  and  kept  in  a  narrow  stall.  He  should  also  be 
tied  short,  and  restrained  from  any  backward  movement  bj^  ropes  or 
boards,  and  he  should  moreover  be  kept  in  as  quiet  a  temper  as  pos- 
sible by  the  exclusion  of  all  causes  of  irritation  or  excitement.  Weeks-- 
must  then  elapse,  not  less,  but  frequently  more  than  six,  often  eight,, 
before  he  can  be  considered  out  of  danger  and  able  to  return  to  his- 
labor,  which  should  for  a  time  be  light  and  easy,  and  gradually,  if 
ever,  increased  to  the  measure  of  a  thoroughly  sound  and  strong  ani- 
mal. If  he  is  used  too  soon  the  newly  formed  tissue  between  the  ends- 
of  the  muscle  will  be  apt  to  stretch  and  leave  the  flexor  muscle  toa 
long  and  permanently  displaced. 

SUNDRY   ADDITIONAL    AFFECTIONS   OF    THE    EXTREMITIES. 

Among  these  there  are  three  which  will  principally  occupy  our  atten- 
tion, and  these  may  be  considered  as  forming  a  single  group.  In  some- 
parts  of  the  legs  may  be  found  certain  peculiar  little  structures  of  a 
sac-like  formation,  containing  an  oil_y  substance  designed  for  the  lubri- 
cation of  the  parts  upon  which  they  are  placed  for  the  purpose  of 
facilitating  the  movements  of  the  tendons  which  pass  over  them. 
These  little  sacs  or  muco-synovial  capsules  are  liable  under  peculiar 
conditions  of  traumatism  to  become  subject  to  a  diseased  process,, 
which  consists  principally  in  a  hyper-secretion  of  their  contents  and' 
an  increase  in  dimensions,  and  they  may  undergo  peculiar  pathological 
changes  of  such  a  character  as  to  disable  an  animal,  and  in  many 
instances  to  cause  serious  blemishes  which  can  not  but  depreciate  his 
value.  These  growths,  which  are  known  as  hygromata,  may  result 
14384—03 23 


354  IJUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDU3TKY. 

from  external  violence,  as  l>lows  or  l)ruises,  and  maj'  appear  in  the 
form  of  small,  soft  tumors,  painless  and  not  intiammator}-  in  character, 
but,  by  a  repetition  of  the  cause  or  renewal  of  violence,  likely  to 
acquire  increased  severity.  Severe  intlammation,  with  suppuration, 
may  follow,  which,  iilling  up  the  cavity,  the  walls  will  become  thick- 
ened and  hard,  resulting-  in  the  formation  of  a  tumor. 

The  elbow,  the  knee,  and  the  hock  aie  the  parts  of  the  body  where 
these  lesions  are  ordinarily  found,  and  on  account  of  their  peculiar 
shape  and  the  position  they  occupy  they  have  received  the  denomina- 
tion of  '^ capped.^''     They  will  be  considered  in  their  peculiar  aspect. 

CAPPED    ELUOW. 

Capped  elbow,  or  "shoe  lx)il,"  is  a  term  applied  to  an  enlargement 
often  found  at  the  point  of  the  elbow. 

Cause, — This  lesion  is  due  to  injury  or  pressure  of  the  part  while  it 
is  resting  on  the  ground.  The  horse,  unlike  the  cow,  does  not  rest 
directly  on  the  under  surface  of  the  sternum  or  breastbone  on  account 
of  its  sharp  ridge-like  formation.  He  rests  more  on  the  side  of  the 
breastbone  and  chest  and  consequently  the  leg  which  is  flexed  under 
the  body  is  subject  to  considerable  pressure.  If  the  leg  is  flexed 
under  the  body  so  that  the  hoof  or  shoe  is  directly  in  contact  with  the 
elbow,  which  may  occur  in  horses  having  an  extremely  long  cannon 
bone  or  excessive  length  in  the  shoes,  the  greater  part  of  the  weight 
of  the  chest  is  concentrated  at  this  point  and  the  pressure  may  cause  a 
bruise  or  an  inflammation. 

Symptoms. — Under  these  conditions  the  point  of  the  elbow  ma}' 
become  swollen  and  tender  and  exhibit  heat  and  pain.  This  swelling 
may  not  only  cover  the  point  of  the  elbow,  but  sometimes  reaches  the 
axilla  and  assumes  such  proportions  that  there  is  great  difficulty  in 
using  the  leg,  the  animal  showing  signs  of  lameness  even  to  the  extent 
of  the  circumflex  step,  as  in  shoulder  lameness.  This  edematous 
condition,  however,  does  not  remain  stationary.  It  may  b}^  degrees 
subside  or  perhaps  disappear.  In  the  first  instance  it  will  become 
more  distincth'  defined,  with  better  marked  boundaries,  until  it  is 
reduced  to  a  soft,  round,  fluctuating  tumor,  with  or  without  heat  or 
pain.  There  is  then  either  a  bloody  or  serous  tumor  or  a  purulent 
collection,  and  following  the  puncture  of  its  walls  with  the  knife  there 
will  be  an  escape  of  blood,  of  serum,  or  of  pus,  as  the  case  ma}'  be,  in 
variable  quantities.  In  either  case,  but  principally  in  that  of  the 
C3'stic  form,  the  tumor  will  be  found  to  be  subdivided  b}'  septa,  or 
bands  running  in  various  directions. 

Various  changes  will  follow  the  opening  of  the  tumor  and  the 
esca.pe  of  its  contents.  In  a  majority  of  cases  the  process  of  cica- 
trization will  take  place,  and  the  cavit}'  fill  up  by  granulation,  the 
discharge,  at  first  a))uiidant,  graduall}^  diminishing  and  the  wound 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  355 

closing.  usiiall_y  without  leaviug-  anj"  mark.  At  times,  however,  and 
especiallj^  if  the  disease  has  several  times  repeated  its  course,  there 
may  remain  a  pendulous  sac,  partly-  obliterated,  which  a  sufficient 
amount  of  excitement  or  irritation  ma}'  soon  restore  to  its  previous 
dimensions  and  condition. 

In  other  cases  an  entirely  different  process  takes  place.  The  walls 
of  the  cavity,  cyst,  or  abscess  become  ulcerated  and  thickened,  the 
granulations  of  the  sac  become  fibrous  in  their  structure  and  fill  up 
the  cavit}',  and  it  assumes  the  character  of  a  hard  tumor  on  the  back 
of  the  elbow,  sometimes  partly  and  sometimes  entirely  covered  by  the 
skin.  It  is  fibrous  in  its  nature,  painless  to  the  touch,  well  defined 
in  its  contour,  and  may  vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  small  apple  to 
that  of  a  child's  head. 

This  last  form  of  capped  elbow  is  the  most  serious  of  any,  resisting 
all  known  forms  of  mild  treatment,  and  removable  by  the  knife  only. 
The  other  forms,  even  that  with  the  inflammatory  aspect  and  its  large 
edematous  swelling  which  interferes  with  the  work  of  the  animal,  may 
justify  a  much  milder  prognosis,  and,  aside  from  their  liability  to  recur, 
may  be  ranked  with  the  comparatively  harmless  affections. 

Treatment. — So  long  as  the  danger  of  recurrence  is  the  principal  bad 
feature  of  capped  elbow  the  most  important  consideration  is  that  of 
devising  a  means  for  its  prevention.  To  prevent  the  animal  from  h'ing 
down  is  evidently  the  simplest  method  of  keeping  the  heels  and  the 
elbow  apart;  but  the  impracticabilit}-  of  this  prescription  is  apparent, 
since  a  majority  of  animals  are  obliged  to  lie  dowii  when  they  sleep, 
though  it  is  true  that  a  few  take  their  sleep  on  their  feet.  The  ques- 
tion of  shoeing  here  enters  into  the  discussion.  The  shortening  of  the 
inside  branch  of  the  shoe,  which  is  the  one  with  which  the  pressure  is 
made,  may  be  of  advantage,  and  especially  if  the  truncated  end  of  the 
shoe  is  smooth  and  filed  over  to  remove  all  possibility  of  pressure  and 
contusion  upon  the  skin.  The  protection  of  the  skin  of  the  elbow  by 
interposing  soft  tissues  between  that  and  the  shoe,  or  by  bandaging  the 
heel  with  bags  or  covering  it  with  boots,  is  considered  by  many  the 
best  of  the  preventive  methods,  and  the  advantage  to  be  secured  by 
resorting  to  it  can  not  be  overlooked  when  the  number  of  horses  which 
develop  shoe  boil  whenever  the  use  of  the  boot  is  intermitted  is  con- 
sidered. In  order  to  prevent  the  animal  from  assuming  the  sternal 
decubitus,  many  give  preference  to  the  plan  of  fastening  a  piece  of 
wood  across  the  stall  at  some  distance  from  the  front  wall  or  manger. 
It  is  a  simple  expedient,  primitive,  perhaps,  but  nevertheless  practical 
and  followed  by  good  results. 

The  therapeutic  treatment  is  also  important.  The  edematous  swell- 
ing, when  recognized  by  its  external  appearance  and  the  existmg 
inflammation,  should  be  treated  without  delay.  Warm  fomentations, 
repeated  several  times  daily,  are  then  indicated,  the  degree  of  warmth 


35(3  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

being  as  high  as  can  be  borne  comfortal)h'.  The}"  are  easih'  applied 
and  often  yield  decided  relief  in  a  few  hours.  In  some  cases,  however, 
astringents  are  used  in  preference,  in  the  form  of  poultices  or  pastes, 
which  are  made  to  cover  the  entire  swelling  and  allowed  to  remain, 
drying  after  a  short  time,  it  is  true,  and  perhaps  falling  ofl",  but  easily 
renewed  and  reapplied.  An  excellent  astringent  for  these  cases  is  a 
putty  made  of  powdered  chalk  and  vinegar  (acetate  of  lime),  and  the 
whole  swelling  is  then  covered  with  a  thick  coating  of  soft  clay  made 
into  a  mass  with  water. 

These  simple  remedies  are  often  all  that  is  rec^uired.  Under  their 
use  the  swelling  passes  off  by  degrees  and  after  a  short  interval  the 
animal  is  fit  for  work  again;  but  not  uncommonly,  instead  of  this  a 
swelling  develops,  puffy,  not  painful,  and  perhaps  giving  a  sensation 
of  crepitation  when  pressure  is  applied  with  the  finger.  It  is  soft 
and  evidently  contains  a  liquid,  and  when  freely  opened,  with  a  good- 
sized  incision,  discharges  a  certain  amount  of  blood,  partly  liquid 
and  parth^  coagulated,  and  perhaps  a  little  hemorrhage  will  follow. 
The  cavity  should  then  be  well  washed  out  and  a  plug  of  oakum  intro- 
duced, leaving  a  small  portion  protruding  through  the  cut  to  prevent 
it  from  closing  prematurely.  It  may  be  taken  off  the  next  daj-,  and 
a  daily  cleansing  will  then  be  all  that  is  necessar}'.  In  another  case 
the  tumor  becomes  very  soft  in  its  whole  extent,  with  evident  fluctua- 
tion and  a  well-defined  form.  The  discharge  of  the  fluid  is  then  indi- 
cated, and  a  free  incision  will  be  followed  by  the  escape  of  a  quantity 
of  thin,  3"ellowish  liquid  from  a  single  sac.  The  wound  should  be  kept 
clean  and  dressed  frequently  in  order  to  insure  prompt  healing.  But 
if  the  cavitj^  is  found  to  be  subdivided  in  its  interior  by  numerous 
bands,  and  the  cyst  proves  to  be  multilocular,  the  partitions  should 
be  torn  out  with  the  fingers,  and  the  cavity  then  treated  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  unilocular  sac.  In  still  another  case  the  swelling  may 
be  warm  and  painful  with  indistinct  fluctuation,  or  fluctuation  onl}'  at 
a  certain  point.  This  indicates  an  abscess,  and  necessitates  an  incision 
to  drain  the  pus,  followed  by  the  careful  cleansing  and  dressing  of  the 
wound. 

But  cases  occur  in  which  all  the  treatment  that  has  been  described 
fails  to  effect  a  full  recover}^,  and  instead  a  fil)rous  tumor  begins  to 
develop.  A  change  of  treatment  is,  of  course,  then  in  order.  The 
inflammation  being  chronic  will  necessitate  stimidating  treatment  of 
the  part  in  order  to  increase  the  process  of  absorption.  We  must 
again  draw  upon  the  resources  of  experience  in  the  form  of  blisters, 
the  fomentations,  the  iodine,  and  the  mercurial  ointments  as  hereto- 
fore mentioned.  Good  results  may  always  be  insured  from  their 
judicious  and  timel}'  administration.  In  applying  the  powerful  min- 
eral inunctions  much  patience  and  wisdom  are  required.  It  should  be 
done  b}^  carefully  and  perse veringly  rubbing  in  small  quantities  daily; 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  357 

it  should  be  done  softly  and  gentl}^,  not  with  force  of  arms,  nor  with 
the  expectation  of  producing  an  astonishing  effect  by  heavy  dosing 
and  main  strength  in  a  few  hours;  it  should  be  after  the  manner  of  a 
siege  rather  than  that  of  a  charge.  The  object  is  to  induce  the  drugs 
to  permeate  the  affected  part  until  the  entire  mass  is  penetrated.  Of 
course,  cases  will  be  encountered  which  resist  all  forms  of  medical 
treatment.  The  tumor  remains  as  a  fixed  fact;  it  continues  to  grow; 
it  is  large  and  pendulous  at  the  elbow;  its  weight  is  estimated  in 
pounds;  it  is  not  an  eyesore  merely,  but  an  uncomfortable,  burden- 
some mass,  excoriating  all  the  surrounding  parts  and  being  itself 
excoriated  in  turn;  mild  treatment  has  failed  and  is  no  longer  to  be 
relied  on. 

Resort  must  now  be  made  to  surgical  methods,  and  here  again  we 
must  choose  between  the  ligature,  the  cautery,  and  the  knife.  Each 
has  its  advocates  among  practitioners.  In  a  case  like  the  present,  one 
of  the  difficulties  arises  in  connection  with  the  application  and  retention 
of  bandages  and  other  dressings  after  the  amputation  has  been  per- 
formed. It  is  a  somewhat  ditScult  problem,  owing  to  the  conformation 
and  proportions  of  the  body  of  the  patient,  and  involves  the  exercise 
of  a  consideraljle  amount  of  practical  ingenuity  to  adjust  and  retain 
the  appliances  necessary  to  insure  a  good  final  result. 

In  the  long  description  of  the  treatment  of  the  varieties  of  capped 
elbow  I  have  thus  far  omitted  any  mention  of  one  method  which  is 
practiced  and  commended  by  not  a  few.  I  refer  to  the  use  of  setons, 
introduced  through  the  tumor.  My  OTyn  experience  and  the  observa- 
tion of  many  failures  from  this  method  led  me  to  abandon  it. 

CAPPED    KNEE. 

The  passage  of  the  tendons  of  the  extensor  muscle  of  the  cannon,  as 
it  glides  in  front  of  the  knee  joint,  is  assisted  by  one  of  the  little  bursas 
before  mentioned,  and  when  this  becomes  the  seat  of  a  dropsical  col- 
lection a  hj^groma  is  formed  and  the  knee  is  "  capped."  Though  some- 
what analogous  in  its  history  to  the  capped  elbow,  there  are  points  of 
difference  between  them.  Their  development  may  prove  a  source  of 
great  annoyance  from  the  fact  of  the  blemish  which  they  constitute. 

Cause. — The  capped  knee  presents  itself  under  various  conditions. 
It  is  sometimes  the  result  of  a  bruise  or  contusion,  often  repeated, 
inflicted  upon  himself  by  a  horse  addicted  to  the  habit  of  pawing  while 
in  the  stable  and  striking  the  front  of  the  stall  with  his  knees.  Another 
class  of  patients  is  formed  of  those  weak-kneed  animals  which  are  sub- 
ject to  falling  and  l)ruising  the  front  of  the  joint  against  the  ground, 
the  results  not  being  alwaj's  of  the  same  character. 

Symptoms. — The  lesion  may  be  a  simple  bruise,  or  it  may  be  a  severe 
contusion  with  swelling,  edema,  heat,  and  pain.  The  joint  becomes  so 
stiff  and  rigid  that  it  interferes  with  locomotion  and  yet  under  careful 
simple  treatment  the  trouble  may  disappear. 


358  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL   INDUSTRY. 

Or,  aijain,  instead  of  altogether  passing-  off,  the  edema  may  diminish 
in  extent,  becoming  more  defined  in  form  and  remain  as  a  swelling  on 
the  front  part  of  the  knee.  Resulting  from  the  crushing  of  small 
blood  vessels,  this  is  necessarily  full  of  blood.  The  swelling  is  some- 
what soft,  diffuse,  not  painful,  more  or  less  fluctuating,  and  after  a  few 
days  becomes  crepitant  under  the  pressure  of  the  hand. 

Instead  of  being  filled  with  blood  the  swelling  may  l)e  full  of  serum, 
as  often  occurs  when  violence,  though  perhaps  slight,  has  been  fre- 
quently repeated.  In  that  case  the  swelling  is  generalh'  well  defined, 
soft,  and  painless,  with  more  or  less  fluctuation,  and  it  may  even 
become  pendulous.  In  other  cases  the  swelling  may  be  of  an  acute 
inflammatory  nature  with  heat  and  pain,  accompanied  by  stiffness  of 
the  joint.  This  leads  to  the  formation  of  an  abscess.  Whatever  the 
nature  of  these  swellings  may  be,  either  full  of  blood,  serum,  or  pus, 
some  blemish  usually  remains  after  treatment. 

Pt'ogiiosis. — Though  simple  bruises  of  the  knee  without  extensive 
lesions  are  usually  of  trifling  account,  a  different  prognosis  must  be 
pronounced  when  the  lesion  assumes  niQre  important  dimensions;  and 
though  a  capped  knee  may  be  comparatively  an  affair  of  little  impor- 
tance we  have  seen  cases  where  not  only  extensive  blemishes  were  left 
to  disfigure  the  patient,  but  where  the  animals  had  become  worthless 
in  consequence  of  the  extension  of  the  diseased  process  to  the  various 
elements  of  structure  composing  the  joint,  and  giving  rise  to  the  most 
complicated  cases  of  carpitis. 

Treatment. — Usually  the  finst  symptoms  of  trouble  is  the  edematous 
swelling  on  the  front  of  the  "knee."  The  prevention  of  the  inflam- 
mation, and  consequently  of  the  abscess,  is  the  prime  object  in  view, 
and  it  may  be  realized  h\  the  use  of  warm  water  fomentations  or  com- 
presses applied  over  the  swelling,  which  may  be  used  either  in  a 
simple  form  or  combined  with  astringents,  such  as  Goulard's  extract, 
alum,  or  sulphate  of  zinc.  The  application  of  warm  poultices  of  oil 
meal  or  ground  flaxseed,  enveloping  the  whole  joint  and  kept  in  place 
by  bandages,  is  often  followed  by  absorption  of  the  swelling,  or,  if 
the  abscess  is  in  process  of  formation,  by  the  active  excretion  of  pus. 
If  an  abscess  forms  in  spite  of  these  precautions  it  may  be  treated 
surgically  in  several  ways. 

In  one  it  should  be  done  b}'  a  careful  incision,  which  will  allow  the 
escape  of  the  blood  or  the  serum,  or  of  the  pus  which  is  inclosed  in 
the  sac;  in  another  it  may  be  b}-  means  of  a  seton,  in  order  that  the 
discharge  may  be  maintained  and  allowed  to  escape;  and  for  another 
the  more  cautious  mode  ma}'  be  adopted  of  emptying  the  cavity  b}' 
means  of  punctures  with  small  trochars  or  aspirators.  The  danger 
attending  this  last  method  arises  from  the  possible  sloughing  of  large 
portions  of  the  skin,  while  that  attending  the  first  is  the  hazard  of  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  359 

possibility  of  the  extension  of  the  inflammation  to  the  capsular  liga- 
ment of  the  knee,  with  the  possibilit}^  of  an  open  joint  in  prospect. 

As  we  have  remarked,  the  cavity,  after  being  emptied,  may  rapidly 
close  and  leave  in  a  sliort  time  but  slight  traces  of  its  previous  exist- 
ence. But  in  many,  if  not  in  a  majority,  of  cases  there  will  remain 
after  the  cicatrization  is  complete  a  thickening  or  organized  exuda- 
tion, at  one  time  round  and  well  defined,  at  another  spreading  by  a 
diffused  infiltration,  to  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  immediate 
attention,  from  the  fact  of  its  tendency  to  form  into  an  organized  and 
permanent  body.  To  stimulate  inflammation  in  this  diseased  structure 
blisters  are  recommended,  but  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the 
process  of  absorption. 

If  this  treatment  fails  the  use  of  iodine  and  mercurial  preparations 
is  recommended. 

Plain  mercurial  or  plain  iodine  ointment,  or  both  in  combination  as 
iodide  of  mercury,  are  commonl}^  used,  and  may  either  be  applied 
moderately  and  by  gentle  degrees,  as  we  have  suggested,  or  more 
freely  and  vigorously  with  a  view  to  more  immediate  effects,  which, 
however,  will  also  be  more  superficial.  The  use  of  the  firing  iron 
applied  deeply  with  fine  points  is  then  to  be  strongl}-  recommended,  to 
be  followed  by  blisters  and  various  liniments.  This  course  may  gen- 
erally be  relied  on  as  quite  sure  to  be  followed  by  satisfactory  results. 

While  the  treatment  is  in  progress  it  will,  of  course,  be  necessary  to 
secure  the  animal  in  such  a  manner  that  a  recurrence  of  the  injury 
will  be  impossible  from  similar  causes  to  those  which  were  previously 
responsible. 

CAPPED    HOCK. 

A  bad  habit  prevails  among  some  horses  of  rubbing  or  striking  the 
partitions  of  their  stalls  with  their  hocks,  with  the  result  of  an  injuiy 
which  shows  itself  on  the  upper  point  of  that  bone,  the  summit  of  the 
08  calcis.  From  its  analogy  to  the  condition  of  capped  elbow  the 
designation  of  capped  hock  has  been  applied  to  this  condition. 

Symj>toms. — A  capped  hock  is  therefore  but  the  development  of  a 
bruise  at  the  point  of  the  hock,  Avhich  if  many  times  repeated  may 
excite  an  inflammatory  process,  with  all  its  usual  external  symptoms 
of  swelling,  heat,  soreness,  and  the  rest  of  the  now  familiar  phenomena. 
The  swelling  is  at  first  diffused,  extending  more  or  less  on  the  exterior 
part  of  the  hock,  and  in  a  few  instances  running  up  along  the  tendons 
and  muscles  of  the  back  of  the  shank.  Soon,  however,  unless  the  irri- 
tating causes  are  continued  and  repeated,  the  edema  diminishes,  and, 
becoming  more  defined  in  its  external  outlines,  leaves  the  hock  capped 
with  a  hj^groma.  The  hj^groma,  at  the  ver}-  beginning  of  the  trouble, 
contains  a  bloody  serosity  which  soon  becomes  strictly  serum,  and  this, 
through  the  influence  of  an  acute  inflammator}^  action,  is  liable  to 


360  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

undergo  a  change  which  converts  it  into  the  usual  purulent  product  of 
suppuration. 

The  external  appearance  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  determine  the 
diagnosis,  but  there  arc  a  few  signs  which  ma.y  contribute  toward  a 
nicer  identitication  of  the  lesion.  The  capped  hock,  whether  under  the 
a])pearance  of  an  acute  edematous  swelling,  or  as  a  bloody  serous  col- 
lection, or  as  a  simple  serous  cyst,  does  not  give  rise  to  any  remark- 
able local  manifestation  other  than  such  as  have  already  passed  under 
our  survey  in  considering  similar  cases,  nor  will  it  be  likel}'  to  inter- 
fere with  the  functions  which  belong  to  the  member  in  question,  unless 
it  assumes  very  large  dimensions  and  on  each  side  of  the  tendons,  as 
well  as  on  the  summit  of  the  bone.  But  if  the  inflammation  is  quite 
high,  if  suppuration  is  developing,  if  there  is  a  true  abscess,  or — and 
this  is  a  common  complication — especiall}'  when  the  kicking  or  rub- 
bing of  the  animal  is  frequentl}^  recurring,  then,  besides  the  local 
trouble  of  the  cyst  or  of  the  abscess,  the  bones  become  diseased  and 
the  periosteum  inflamed;  perhaps  the  superior  ends  of  the  bone  and  its 
fibro-cartilage  become  affected,  and  a  simple  lesion  or  bruise,  whatever 
it  may  have  been,  becomes  complicated  with  periostitis  and  ostitis,  and 
is  naturally  accompanied  with  lameness,  developed  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  which  in  some  cases  may  be  permanent  and  in  others  increased 
by  work.     But  these  complications  are  not  common  or  frequent. 

Treatment. — Capped  hocks  are  in  many  cases  amenable  to  treatment, 
and  yet  they  often  become  the  opprobrium  of  the  practitioner  by 
remaining,  as  they  frequently  do,  an  e3"esore  on  the  top  of  the  hock; 
not  interfering,  it  is  true,  with  the  work  of  the  horse,  but  fixing  upon 
him  the  stigma  of  what,  in  human  estimation,  and  especially  in  that  of 
the  tribe  of  ''practical  politicians,"  is  a  most  unreliable  and  objection- 
able reputation,  to  wit,  that  of  being  an  habitual  "kicker,"  and,  worse 
than  all,  one  that  kicks  where  he  receives  his  provender. 

The  maxim  that  "an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure" 
fits  the  present  case  very  neatl3^  A  horse  whose  hocks  have  a  some- 
what puffy  look  and  whose  skin  on  the  front  of  the  hock  is  loose  and 
flabby,  justly  subjects  himself  to  a  suspicion  of  his  addictedness  to 
this  bad  habit.  But  he  may  easily  be  either  convicted  or  exonerated— 
a  little  watching  will  soon  establish  the  truth.  If,  then,  the  verdict 
is  one  of  conviction,  precautions  should  be  immediately  adopted 
against  a  continuance  of  the  evil.  The  padding  of  the  sides  of  the 
stall  with  straw  mats  or  mattresses  and  covering  the  posts  with  similar 
material,  in  such  a  manner  that  no  hard  surface  shall  be  exposed  with 
which  to  come  in  contact,  will  reduce  the  evil  to  its  minimum.  He 
may  jar  his  frame  when  he  kicks,  but  even  then  there  will  be  less 
force  in  the  concussion  than  if  it  impinged  upon  the  solid  plank,  and 
cuts  and  abrasions  can  not  be  inflicted  by  a  properl}'  made  cushion. 
Hobbles  are  also  rightly  recommended  with  a  view  to  the  required 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  361 

restraint  of  motion,  so  applied  as  to  secure  the  leg  with  which  the 
kicking  is  performed,  or  even  both  hind  legs,  in  such  a  manner  as 
shall  not  interfere  with  the  movements  of  lying  down  and  rising 
again  and  3'et  preventing  that  of  kicking  backward.  Boots  similar  in 
jDattern  to  those  which  are  us^d  for  the  prevention  of  shoe  boil  are 
also  prescribed.  These  are  placed  above  the  hock  and  retained  by 
straps  tightly  fastened.  But  we  apprehend  that  the  difficulty  of 
retaining  them  in  the  proper  place  without  the  danger  of  chafing 
from  the  tightness  of  the  straps  might  form  an  objection  to  their  use. 
Notwithstanding  all  precautions,  hocks  will  be  capped  in  the  future  as 
in  the  past,  and  the  studj^  of  their  treatment  will  alwa3's  be  in  order. 

The  mode  of  dealing  with  them  will,  of  course,  be  greatl}'  influenced 
by  the  condition  of  the  parts.  When  the  inflammation  is  excessive 
and  the  swelling  large,  hot,  and  painful  to  the  touch,  the  application 
of  warm  water  will  be  very  beneficial.  The  leg  should  be  well 
fomented  several  times  a  da}^,  for  from  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes  each 
time,  a  strong  decoction  of  marsh-mallow  leaves  being  added  to  the 
water,  and  after  each  application  swathed  with  flannel  bandages 
soaked  in  the  same  warm  mixture.  A  few  days  of  this  treatment  will 
usually  effect  a  resolution  of  the  inflammation,  if  not  complete,  at 
least  sufliciently  so  to  disclose  the  correct  outlines  of  the  hygroma  and 
exhibit  its  peculiar  and  specific  symptoms.  The  expediency  of  its 
removal  and  the  method  of  accomplishing  it  are  then  to  be  considered, 
with  the  question  of  opening  it  to  give  exit  to  its  contents.  If  the 
fluid  is  of  a  purulent  character  the  indication  is  in  favor  of  its  imme- 
diate discharge — no  time  should  be  lost,  and  it  should  be  by  means  of 
a  small  opening  made  with  a  narrow  bistoury.  If,  however,  the  fluid 
is  a  serosity,  we  prefer  to  remove  it  by  punctures  with  a  very  small 
trochar.  Our  reason  for  special  caution  in  these  cases  is  our  fear 
of  the  possibility  of  the  existence  of  diseased  conditions  of  a  severe 
character  in  the  pseudo-joint.  For  the  same  reason  we  prefer  the 
treatment  of  those  growths  by  external  applications.  In  the  first 
stages  of  the  disease  a  severe  and  stiff  blister,  such  as  the  cantharidate 
of  collodium,  entirely  covering  the  cyst,  perhaps  not  j^et  completely 
formed,  when  the  inflammation  has  subsided,  will  be  of  great  benefit 
by  its  stimulating  effect,  the  absorption  it  may  excite,  and  the  pressure 
which  when  dry  it  will  maintain  upon  the  tumor.  If,  however,  the 
thickening  of  the  growth  fails  to  diminish,  it  should  be  treated  with 
some  of  the  iodine  preparations  in  the  form  of  ointments,  pure  or  in 
combination  with  potassium,  mercury,  etc.,  of  various  strengths  and 
in  various  proportions.  My  opinion  of  setons  is  not  favorable,  but 
the  actual  cautery,  by  deep  and  fine  firing,  in  points — needle  cauteri- 
zation— I  believe  to  be  the  best  mode  of  treatment,  and  especially 
when  applied  earh^, 

A  \evy  satisfactory  way  to  treat  these  cases  is  to  burst  the  swelling 


362  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

by  pressure  from  without.  A  strap  or  strong  linen  bandage  is  placed 
about  the  hock  pressing  on  the  bursa  while  the  affected  leg  is  on  the 
ground,  the  other  hind  foot  being  lifted  up.  When  the  bandage  is  in 
place  release  the  leg  and  the  horse  will  violently  flex  the  bandaged 
limb  and  produce  pressure  on  the  bur.^a  with  consequent  bursting  and 
discharging  of  its  contents. 

Whatever  treatment  may  be  adopted  for  capped  hock,  patience  must 
be  one  of  the  ingredients.  In  these  parts  absorption  is  slow  and  the 
skin  is  very  thick,  and  its  return  to  a  soft,  pliable,  natural  condition, 
if  effected  at  all,  will  only  take  place  after  weeks  added  to  other  weeks 
of  medical  treatment  and  patient  waiting. 

IXTERFEraXG    AXB    SPEEDY    CUTS. 

These  designations  belong  to  certain  special  injuries  of  the  extremi-. 
ties,  produced  by  similar  causes,  giving  rise  to  kindred  pathological 
lesions  with  allied  phenomena,  requiring  about  the  same  treatment 
and  often  followed  by  the  same  results,  to  wit,  a  blemish  which  may 
not  only  subject  the  animal  to  a  suspicion  of  unsoundness,  but  in  some 
special  circumstances  interfere  with  his  abilit}'^  to  labor.  It  is  known 
as  "interfering"  when  the  location  of  the  trouble  is  the  inside  of  the 
fetlock  of  either  the  fore  or  hind  leg.  It  is  called  "  speedy  cut"  when 
it  occurs  on  the  inside  of  the  fore  leg,  a  little  below  the  knee,  at  the 
point  of  contact  of  that  joint  with  the  cannon.  It  is  always  the  result 
of  a  blow,  self-inflicted,  of  varying  severity,  and  giving  rise  to  various 
lesions. 

Symptoms. — At  times  the  injury  is  too  slight  to  be  seriously  noticed, 
the  hair  being  scarcely  cut  and  the  skin  unmarked.  At  other  times 
the  skin  will  be  cut  through,  partly  or  wholl}-,  and  it  ma}'  for  the  time 
cause  a  sufficient  amount  of  pain  to  check  the  motion  of  the  animal 
and  induce  him  to  suspend  his  labor  through  his  inability  to  use  the 
wounded  limb,  traveling  meanwhile  for  a  short  space  on  three  legs  only. 
Sometimes  a  single  blow  will  suffice,  or  again  there  will  be  a  repetition 
of  lighter  strokes.  In  the  latter  case  the  parts  will  become  much  swol- 
len, hot,  and  so  painful  to  the  touch  that  the  motion  of  the  knee  or  the 
fetlock  will  be  suflicicntly  disturbed  to  cause  lameness  of  a  degree  of 
severity  corresponding  with  that  of  the  lesion.  Following  the  subsid- 
ence of  this  diff'used  and  edematous  swelling  is  sometimes  the  forma- 
tion of  a  tumor,  either  at  the  knee  or  the  fetlock.  This  may  be  soft 
at  first  or  become  so  by  degrees,  with  ffuctuation,  its  contents  being  at 
first  extravasated  blood,  and  later  a  serosity;  or,  if  there  has  been  a 
sufficient  degree  of  inflammation,  it  may  become  suppurative.  The 
result  of  the  fault  of  interfering  may  thus  be  exhibited,  whether  at 
the  knee  or  at  the  fetlock',  as  characterized  by  all  the  pathological  con- 
ditions which  have  appeared  as  accompaniments  of  capped  knee  or 
capped  hock.     If,  in  consequence  of  the  force  of  the  blow  or  blows, 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  363 

the  inflammation  has  been  unusuall}'  severe,  a  mortification  of  the  skin 
may  become  one  of  the  consequences,  a  .slougli  talking  place,  succeeded 
by  a  cutaneous  ulcer  on  the  inside  of  the  fetlock  or  "svhere  the  greater 
number  of  the  original  wounds  are  inflicted.  If  the  interfering  has 
been  often  repeated  it  may  be  followed  b}^  another  condition,  which 
has  been  considered  in  our  remarks  upon  other  affections.  It  is  a 
plastic  exudation  or  thickening  of  the  parts,  which  are  commonly  said 
to  have  become  "callous,"  and  the  effect  of  it  is  to  destroy  the  regu- 
larity of  the  outlines  of  the  joint  to  an  extent  which  constitutes  a 
serious  blemish,  which  will  be  permanent,  and  according  to  the  degree 
of  the  aberration  from  the  natural  and  symmetrical  lines  will  inevitably 
depreciate  the  commercial  value  of  the  animal. 

An  animal  in  interfering  may  thus  exhibit  a  range  of  symptoms 
which,  from  the  simplest  form  of  a  mere  "  touching,"  may  successively 
assume  the  serious  characters  of  an  ugl}^  cicatrix,  a  hard,  plastic 
swelling,  or  perhaps,  as  witnessed  at  the  knee,  of  periostitis  with  its 
sequelae. 

If  a  single  and  constantly  recurring  cause — a  blow — be  the  starting 
point  in  interfering,  we  ma}-^  now  consider  the  subject  of  the  predispo- 
sition which  brings  such  serious  results  upon  the  suffering  animal, 
and  the  conditions  which  lead  to  and  accompanj^  it.  These  are 
numerous,  but  the  tirst  in  frequency'  and  importance  is  peculiarit}-  of 
conformation  in  the  animals  addicted  to  it.  The  first  class  will  include 
horses  whose  chests  are  narrow  and  whose  legs  do  not  stand  straight 
and  upright,  but  are  crooked  and  pigeon-toed  in  and  out.  The  second 
class  includes  those  whose  legs  are  weak,  either  from  3'outh  or  hard 
labor,  or  from  severe  attacks  of  sickness.  Another  class  is  made  up 
of  those  having  abnormally  developed  feet,  or  which  have  been  badly 
shod  with  unnecessaril}'  wide  or  heavy  shoes.  Another  class  consists 
of  those  that  are  affected  with  swoUen  fetlocks  or  chronic  edematous 
swelling  of  the  leg.  Another  is  formed  of  animals  with  a  peculiar 
action,  as  those  whose  knee  action  is  ver}^  high,  and  it  is  these  that 
furnish  most  of  the  cases  of  speedy  cut. 

Prognosis. — The  prognosis  of  interfering  is  never  a  very  serious 
one.  However  violent  the  blow  may  be  it  is  rarely  that  subsequent 
complications  of  a  troublesome  nature  occur.  The  principal  evil 
attending  it  is  a  liability'  to  be  followed  by  a  thickened  or  callous 
deposit  wdiich  is  not  only  an  eyesore  and  a  blemish,  but  constitutes  a 
new  and  increased  predisposition.  The  remark  that  "an  animal 
wdiich  has  interfered  once  is  alwa3's  liable  to  interfere,"  is  often  con- 
firmed and  sanctioned  by  a  recurrence  of  the  trouble. 

Treatment. — Another  point  in  w^hich  there  is  a  resemblance  between 
this  lesion  and  others  which  we  have  considered  is  in  its  responsiveness 
to  the  same  treatment  with  them.     Indeed,  the  prescription  of  warm 


364  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

fomentations,  .soothinj^  applications,  and  astringent  and  resolvent  mix- 
tures, in  a  majority  of  cases,  is  the  first  that  occurs  all  through  the  list. 
If  the  swelling-  assumes  the  character  of  a  serous  collection,  pressure, 
cold  water,  and  bandages  will  contribute  to  its  removal.  If  suppura- 
tion seems  to  be  established,  and  the  swelling  assumes  the  character 
of  a  developing  abscess,  the  hot  poultices  of  flaxseed  or  of  boiled 
vegetables  and  the  embrocations  of  sedative  ointments,  those  of 
basilicon,  or  vaseline,  impregnated  with  preparations  of  opium  or 
belladonna — all  these  recommend  themselves  b}^  their  general  adap- 
tation and  the  beneficial  results  which  have  followed  their  admin- 
istration, not  less  in  one  case  than  in  another.  When  an  abscess  has 
formed  and  is  fluctuating,  it  should  be  carefullj^  but  tuWy  opened  to 
evacuate  the  pus.  If  it  is  a  serous  cyst,  some  care  is  necessarj^  in 
emptying  it,  and  the  possibilitj'  of  the  extension  of  the  inflammation 
to  the  joint  must  be  taken  into  consideration.  When  the  cavities  have 
been  emptied  and  have  closed  by  filling  up  with  granulations,  or  if,  not 
being  opened,  the  contents  have  been  reabsorbed,  and  there  remains 
in  either  case  a  plastic  exudation  and  a  tendency  to  the  callous  organi- 
;5ation  that  may  yet  exist,  blisters  under  their  various  forms,  including 
those  of  cantharides,  of  mercur}^,  and  of  iodine  are  then  indicated, 
principalh"  in  the  early  stages,  as  it  is  then  that  their  effects  wnll  prove 
most  satisfactory.  The  use  of  the  actual  cauter}^,  with  fine  points, 
penetrating  deeph^  throughout  the  enlargement,  has  in  our  hands, 
when  employed  in  the  very  earl}^  stages  of  its  formation,  nearly 
always  brought  on  a  radical  recover}^  with  complete  absorption  of  the 
thickening. 

8TKIXGIIALT. 

This  is  an  involuntar}^  movement  of  one  or  both  hind  legs,  in  which 
the  foot  is  suddenly  and  spasmodically  lifted  from  the  ground  much 
higher  than  it  is  normally  carried,  with  excessi^'c  flexion  of  one  bone 
upon  the  other.  This  peculiarity  is  usuallj^  prominent,  although  it 
ma}^  disappear  with  work,  only  to  reappear  after  a  short  rest.  Some- 
times it  is  most  apparent  at  a  trot,  sometimes  at  a  walk,  and  other 
times  only  when  turned  around;  or  it  may  not  be  affected  bj'  the  gait 
of  the  horse.  It  does  not  seem  to  be  influenced  by  the  horse's  age, 
3'oung  and  old  being  alike  affected.  Its  first  manifestations  are  some- 
times very  slight.  It  has  been  noticed  as  occurring  to  an  aninal  when 
backing  out  of  his  stalde  and  ceasing  immediately  after.  In  some 
animals  it  is  best  seen  when  the  animal  is  turning  around  on  the 
affected  leg,  and  it  is  not  noticed  when  he  moves  straight  forward. 
That  this  peculiar  action  interferes  with  facility  of  locomotion  and 
detracts  from  a  horse's  claim  to  soundness  can  not  for  a  moment  be 
denied. 

Cause. — Veterinarians  and  pathologists  arc  3'ct  in  doul)t  in  respect  to 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  365 

the  cause  of  this  affection,  as  well  as  to  its  essential  nature.  AVhether 
it  results  from  disease  of  the  hock,  of  an  ulcerative  character;  whether 
it  springs  from  a  malformation;  whether  it  is  a  shortening  of  the  liga- 
ments, a  chronic  inflammation  of  the  sciatic  nerve,  or  a  disease  of  the 
spinal  cord;  whether  it  is  purely  a  muscular  or  purely  a  nervous 
lesion,  or  a  compound  of  both — it  still  continues,  if  an  etiologist  is 
bound  to  possess  universal  knowledge  within  the  scope  of  his  special 
studies,  to  be  his  opprobrium  and  his  puzzle. 

Treatment. — When  there  is  a  known  or  suspected  cause  the  treat- 
ment should  be  directed  toward  this  factor.  If  due  to  local  inflamma- 
tion of  the  hock  or  foot,  only  this  local  lesion  should  be  treated.  If 
it  remains  after  the  local  lesion  has  healed,  or  if  we  have  no  assignable 
cause,  the  best  results  have  followed  the  sectioning  of  the  lateral 
extensor  of  the  foot.  A  competent  veterinarian  alone  should  under- 
take this  operation. 

THROMBOSIS. 

There  are  certain  forms  of  lameness  which  are  ver}^  peculiar  in  their 
manifestation,  and'which  to  the  nonprofessional  mind  must  appear  to 
belong  to  the  domain  of  mystery  or  theory  instead  of  occupying  a  well- 
established  position  among  the  subjects  of  equine  pathology.  Yet  they 
are  no  less  susceptible  of  actual  demonstration  and  of  positive  com- 
prehension than  many  facts  which,  plain  and  familiar  to  the  general 
understanding  now,  were  once  ranked  among  things  occult  and 
unsearchable.  A  thrombus,  considered  as  a  cause  of  lameness,  may 
find  a  place  among  these  understood  mysteries. 

Cause. — Under  certain  peculiar  conditions  of  inflammation  of  the 
blood  vessels,  and  also  in  aneurisms,  clots  of  blood  are  sometimes 
formed  in  the  arteries  and  find  their  way  in  the  general  circulation. 
At  first,  while  very  small,  or  sufficiently  so  to  pass  from  one  vessel  to 
another,  the}^  move  from  a  small  vessel  to  a  larger,  and  from  that  to 
one  still  larger,  constanth^  increasing  in  size  until  at  some  given  point, 
from  their  inability  to  enter  smaller  vessels,  their  movement  is  finally 
arrested.  The  arter}^  is  thus  effectuall}^  dammed,  and  the  clot  in  a 
short  time  cuts  off  completely  the  supply  of  blood  from  the  parts 
bej^ond.  This  is  thrombosis,  and  it  often  gives  rise  to  sudden  and 
excessive  lameness  of  a  ver}^  painful  character. 

Symptoms. — Thrombi  may  form  in  any  of  the  arteries  of  the  bod}^, 
and  doubtless  have  been  the  cause  of  many  cases  of  lameness  which 
could  never  be  accounted  for.  If  they  exist  in  small  arteries  their 
diagnosis  will  probably  fail  to  be  made  out  with  certainty,  but  when 
situated  in  the  larger  trunks  a  strong  suspicion  of  their  presence  may 
be  excited.  In  some  cases  they  may  even  be  recognized  with  positive 
accuracy,  as  when  the  vessels  which  supply  the  posterior  extremities 
are  affected  by  the  blocking  up  of  the  posterior  aorta  or  its  ramifications. 

The  existence  of   thrombosis  of   the  arteries  of  the  hind  leg  may 


366  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

always  be  suspected  when  the  following  history  is  known:  The  gen- 
eral health  of  the  animal  is  good,  but  symptoms  of  lameness  in  one  of 
the  legs  have  been  developed,  becoming  more  marked  as  he  is  worked, 
and  especially  when  driven  at  a  fast  gait.  But  the  disturbance  is  not  per- 
manent, and  the  lameness  disappears  almost  immediately  upon  his  being 
permitted  to  rest.  There  is  an  increase  of  the  difficulty,  however,  and, 
though  he  may  walk  normally,  he  will,  when  made  to  trot,  ver}^  soon 
begin  to  slacken  his  pace  and  to  show  signs  of  the  trouble,  and  if 
urged  to  increase  his  speed  will  become  lamer  and  lamer;  an  aV)andant 
perspiration  will  break  out;  he  will  refuse  to  go,  and  if  forced  he 
shows  weakness  behind,  seems  ready  to  fall,  and  perhaps  does  fall. 
While  on  his  feet  the  leg  is  kept  in  constant  motion,  up  and  down, 
and  is  kept  from  the  ground  as  if  the  contact  was  too  painful  to  bear. 
If  undisturbed  this  series  of  sjmiptoms  will  gradually  subside,  some- 
times very  soon,  and  occasionally  after  a  few  hours  he  will  return  to 
an  apparently  perfect  condition.  A  return  to  labor  will  lead  to  a 
renewal  of  the  same  incidents. 

A  history  like  this  suggests  a  strong  suspicion  of  a  thrombus  in  an 
artery  of  the  hind  leg,  and  this  suspicion  will  be  confirmed  b}'  the 
external  symptoms  exhibited  by  the  animal.  The  total  absence  of 
any  other  disease  which  might  account  for  the  lameness,  and  a  mani- 
fest diminution  of  heat  over  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the  extremity, 
when  compared  with  the  opposite  side  or  with  anj^  other  portion  of 
the  bod}';  a  sensation  of  cold  attendant  on  the  pain,  but  gradualh' 
subsiding  as  the  pain  subsides,  and  the  circulation,  quickened  by  the 
rest,  has  been  reestablished  throughout  the  extremity;  all  these  are 
confirmator}^  circumstances.  Still,  it  is  thus  far  only  a  suspicion,  and 
absolute  certainty  is  3'et  wanting.  To  establish  the  truth  of  the  case  the 
rectal  exploration  must  be  resorted  to.  The  hands  then,  well  prepared 
and  carefully  introduced  into  the  rectum,  must  explore  for  the  truth, 
first  feeling  for  the  large  blood  vessels  which,  divided  at  the  aorta, 
separate  to  supph^  the  right  and  left  legs.  These  must  be  compared 
in  respect  to  the  pulsation  and  other  particulars.  The  artery  which  is 
health}^  will,  of  course,  exhibit  all  the  proper  conditions  of  that  state. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  the  vessel  appears  to  the  feel  hard,  more  or  less 
cord)',  and  pulseless,  or  giving  a  sensation  of  fluttering,  as  of  a  small 
volume  of  blood  with  a  trickling  motion  passing  through  a  confined 
space,  the  difference  between  the  sides  will  make  the  case  plain.  The 
first  will  be  the  full  flow  of  the  circulation  through  an  unobstructed 
channel,  the  other  a  forced  passage  of  the  fluid  between  the  thrombus 
and  the  coats  of  the  arter}'.  In  such  a  case  the  prognosis  is  necessaril}' 
a  grave  one  and  the  disease  is  more  liable  to  grow^  worse  than  better. 

Treatment. — No  form  of  treatment  can  be  advised;  and  the  suffering 
of  a  helpless  and  useless  animal  can  onl}'  be  terminated  by  that  which 
ends  all. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOBSE.  367 

Cases  occur,  however,  where  this  condition  of  the  blood  vessels  exists 
in  a  much  less  degree,  and  the  diseased  condition  is  not  sufficiently  pro- 
nounced for  final  condemnation.  There  may  even  be  a  possibility  of 
the  absorption  of  the  clot,  or  that  an  increase  of  the  collateral  circula- 
tion may  be  sufficient  to  supply  the  parts  with  blood.  In  such  cases 
spontaueous  recovery  ma}^  follow  moderate  exercise  in  the  pasture, 
field,  or  stable,  or  continuous  light  work  ma}'  be  given,  but  too  much 
hope  should  not  be  placed  in  such  treatment. 

SPRAIXS    OF   THE    LOIN'S. 

This  is  an  affection  which  suggests  to  the  mind  the  idea  of  muscular 
injury,  and  is  difficult  to  distinguish  from  many  similar  cases.  If  the 
animal  shrinks  from  the  slightest  pressure  or  pinching  of  the  spine  in 
the  region  of  the  loins,  he  is  by  many  pronounced  to  be  "lame  in  the 
loins,"  or  "sprained  in  the  loins,"  or  "weak  in  the  kidneys."  This  is 
a  grave  error,  as  in  fact  this  simple  and  gentle  yielding  to  such  a  pres- 
sure is  not  a  pathological  sign,  but  is  normal  and  significant  of  health. 
Yet  there  are  several  conditions  to  which  the  definition  of  "sprains  of 
the  loins"  may  apply  which  are  not  strictly  normal. 

Cause. — The  muscles  of  the  back  and  those  of  the  loins  proper,  as 
the  psoas,  may  have  been  injured,  or  again  there  may  be  trouble  of  a 
rheumatic  nature,  perhaps  suggestive  of  lumbago.  Diseases  of  the 
bones  of  the  vertebral  column,  or  even  those  of  the  organs  of  circula- 
tion, may  give  rise  to  an  exhibition  of  similar  symptoms. 

Sym2)toms. — The  symptoms  are  characteristic  of  a  loss  of  rigidity 
or  firmness  of  the  vertebral  column,  both  when  the  animal  is  at  rest 
and  in  action.  In  the  former  condition,  or  when  at  rest,  there  is  an 
arched  condition  of  the  back  and  a  constrained  posture  in  standing, 
with  the  hind  legs  separated.  In  the  latter  there  is  a  lateral,  balancing 
movement  at  the  loins,  principall}^  noticeable  while  the  animal  is  in 
the  act  of  trotting — a  peculiar  motion,  sometimes  referred  to  as  a 
"crick  in  the  back,"  or  what  the  French  call  a  tour  dehateau.  If, 
while  in  action,  the  animal  is  suddenh'  made  to  halt,  the  act  is  accom- 
panied with  much  pain,  the  back  suddenl}-  arching  or  bending  laterally, 
and  perhaps  the  hind  legs  thrown  under  the  body,  as  if  unable  to  per- 
form their  functions  in  stopping,  and  sometimes  it  is  only  accom- 
plished at  the  cost  of  a  sudden  and  severe  fall.  This  manifestation  is 
also  exhibited  when  the  animal  is  called  upon  to  back,  when  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  same  symptoms  will  also  occur. 

If  a  slight  pressure  on  the  back  or  the  loins  is  followed  bv  a  mod- 
erate yielding  of  the  animal,  it  is,  as  before  remarked,  a  good  sign 
of  health.  With  a  sprain  of  the  loins  pressure  of  any  kind  is  painful, 
and  will  cause  the  animal  to  bend  or  to  crouch  under  it  more  or  less, 
according  to  the  weight  of  the  pressure.  Heavy  loads,  and  even 
heavy  harnessing,  will  develop  this  tenderness.      In  lying  down  he 


368  BUKEAU  UF  ANIMAL  INDUSTKY. 

seems  to  suffer  much  discomfort,  and  often  accompanies  the  act  with 
groaning,  and  when  compelled  to  rise  does  so  only  with  groat  difficulty 
and  seldom  succeeds  without  repeated  efforts. 

Sprains  of  muscles  proper,  when  recent,  will  always  be  accompanied 
bj'  this  series  of  symptoms,  and  the  fact  of  their  exhi})ition,  with  an 
excessive  sensibility  of  the  parts,  and  possibly  with  a  degree  of  swell- 
ing, will  always  justify  a  diagnosis  of  acute  muscular  lesion;  and 
especiall3'  so  if  accompanied  b^^  a  historx'  of  violent  efforts,  powerful 
muscular  strains,  falls,  heavy  loading,  etc.,  connected  with  the  case. 
But  if  the  sj-mptoms  have  been  of  slow  development  and  gradual 
increase,  it  becomes  a  more  difficult  task  to  determine  whether  the 
diagnosis  points  to  pathological  changes  in  the  structure  of  the  muscles 
or  of  the  bones,  the  nervous  centers,  or  the  blood  vessels  of  the  region. 
And  yet  it  is  important  to  decide  as  to  which  particular  structure  is 
affected  in  reference  to  the  question  of  prognosis,  since  the  degree  of 
the  gravity  of  the  lesion  will  depend  largeh^  upon  whether  the  disabled 
condition  of  the  animal  is  due  to  an  acute  or  a  chronic  disease. 

Treatment. — The  prescription  which  will  necessarih'  first  of  all  sug- 
gest itself  for  sprains  of  the  loins  is  rest.  An  animal  so  affected 
should  be  immediately  placed  in  slings  and  none  of  his  efforts  to 
release  himself  should  be  allowed  to  succeed.  Hot  compresses,  cold 
water  douches,  sweating  applications,  stimulating  frictions,  strength- 
ening charges,  blistering  ointments  of  cantharides  and  the  actual  cau- 
tery, all  have  their  advocates;  but  in  no  case  can  the  immobility 
obtained  by  the  slings  be  dispensed  with.  In  man}^  cases  electricity 
has  also  yielded  good  results,  where  the  weakness  of  the  hind  quarters 
was  caused  bv  disease  of  the  nervous  centers. 


•   DISEASES  OF  THE  FETLOCK,  ANKLE,  AND  FOOT. 

By  A.  A.  HoLcoMBE,  D.  V.  S., 
Inspector,  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry. 

[Revised  in  1903  by  the  author.] 
ANATOMICAL    REVIEV/'  OF    THE    FOOT. 

In  a  description  of  the  foot  of  the  horse  it  is  customary  to  include- 
only  the  hoof  and  its  contents,  yet,  from  a  zoological  standpoint,  the 
foot  includes  all  the  leg  from  the  knee  and  the  hock  down. 

The  foot  of  the  horse  is  undoubtedly  the  most  important  part  of 
the  animal,  in  so  far  as  veterinarj^  surgery  is  concerned,  for  the  reason 
that  this  member  is  subject  to  so  many  injuries  and  diseases,  which., 
in  part  or  in  whole,  render  the  patient  unfit  for  the  labor  demanded 
of  him.  The  old  aphorism,  "no  foot  no  horse,"  is  as  true  to-day  as"- 
when  first  expressed;  in  fact,  domestication,  coupled  with  the  multi- 
plied uses  to  which  the  animal  is  put,  and  the  constant  reproduction^ 
of  hereditary  defects  and  tendencies,  have  largely  transformed  the-- 
ancient  "companion  of  the  wind"  into  a  very  common  piece  of 
machiner}^  which  is  often  out  of  repair,  and,  at  best,  is  but  short-liv^cd. 
in  its  usefulness. 

Since  the  value  of  the  horse  depends  largely,  or  even  entirely,  upon 
his  abilit}^  to  labor,  it  is  essential  that  his  organs  of  locomotion  should 
be  kept  sound;  and  to  accomplish  this  end  it  is  necessary  not  only  tc- 
know  how  to  cure  all  diseases  to  which  these  organs  are  liable,  but. 
better  still,  how  to  prevent  them. 

An  important  prerequisite  to  the  detection  and  cure  of  disease  is  a. 
knowledge  of  the  construction  and  function  of  the  parts  which  may  be 
involved  in  the  diseased  process;  hence,  first  of  all,  the  anatomical, 
structures  must  be  understood. 

The  hones  of  the  fetlock  and  foot  constitute  the  skeleton  on  which; 
the  other  structures  are  built,  and  comprise  the  lower  end  of  the  can- 
non bone  (the  metacarpus  in  the  fore  leg,  the  metatarsus  in  the  hind 
leg),  the  two  sesamoids,  the  large  pastern  or  suflfraginis,  the  small  pas- 
tern or  coronet,  the  coffinbone,  or  os  pedis,  and  the  small  sesamoid.^, 
or  navicular  bone.     (Plate  XXXII,  fig.  3.) 

The  cannon  lone  extends  from  the  knee  or  hock  to  the  fetlock,  i& 
cylindrical  in  shape,  and  stands  nearly  or  quite  perpendicular. 

14384—03 24  369 


370  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

The  sesa7)u)/(7s  occur  in  pairs,  are  small,  shaped  like  a  three-faced 
P3'ramid,  and  are  set  behind  the  fetlock  joint,  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
^uffraginis,  with  the  base  of  the  pyramid  down. 

The  svffragmis  is  a  verj'-  compact  bone,  set  in  an  oblicuie  direction 
downward  and  forward,  and  extends  from  the  cannon  bone  to  the 
coronet. 

The  cm'Miet  is  a  short,  cube-shaped  })one,  set  between  the  suffraginis 
and  coffinbone,  in  the  same  oblique  direction. 

The  co-ffinhone  forms  the  end  of  the  foot  and  is  shaped  like  the  horny 
box  in  which  it  is  enclosed. 

The  iiavieuhir  ho7ie  is  short,  flattened  above  and  below,  and  is 
attached  to  the  coffinbone  behind. 

All  of  these  bones  are  covered  on  the  surfaces  which  go  to  make  up 
the  joints,  with  a  cartilage  of  incrustation,  while  the  portions  between 
arc  covered  with  a  fibrous  membrane  called  the  periosteum. 

The  joints  of  the  legs  are  of  especial  importance,  since  any  inter- 
ference with  their  function  yg,yj  largely  impairs  the  value  of  the 
animal  for  most  purposes.  As  the  joints  of  the  foot  and  ankle  are  at 
the  point  of  greatest  concussion  they  are  the  ones  most  subject  to  injury 
and  disease. 

There  are  three  of  these  joints — the  fetlock,  pastern,  and  coffin. 
They  are  made  by  the  union  of  two  or  more  bones,  held  together  by 
ligaments  of  fibrous  tissue,  and  are  lubricated  by  a  thick,viscid  fluid, 
called  synovia,  which  is  secreted  by  a  special  mem))rane  inclosing  the 
joints. 

The  fetlock  joint  is  made  by  the  union  of  the  lower  end  of  the  can- 
non and  the  upper  end  of  the  largo  pastern  bones,  supplemented  by 
the  two  sesamoids,  so  placed  behind  the  upper  end  of  the  i^astern  that 
the  joint  is  capable  of  a  verj-  extensive  motion.  Those  bones  are  held 
together  b}'  ligaments,  only  one  of  which — the  suspensory — demands 
special  mention. 

The  susjpensory  ligament  of  the  fetlock  starts  from  the  knee,  extends 
down  behind  the  cannon,  lying  behind  the  two  splint  bones,  until  near 
the  fetlock,  where  it  divides  and  sends  a  branch  on  either  side  of  the 
joint,  downward  and  foi-ward,  to  become  attached  on  the  sides  of  the 
extensor  tendon  at  the  lower  end  of  the  pastern  bone.  As  it  crosses 
the  sesamoids,  on  the  posterior  borders  of  the  fetlock,  it  throws  out 
fi])ors  which  hold  it  fast  to  those  bones.    .(i*late  XXXII,  fig.  2.) 

The  i^astern  joint  is  made  b}"  the  imion  of  the  two  pastern  bones. 

The  coffin  joint  is  made  hy  tlye  union  of  the  small  pastern,  coffin, 
and  small  sesamoid,  or  navicular,  bone,  the  latter  being  set  behind 
and  beneath  the  joint  surface  of  the  coffinbone  in  such  a  way  as  to 
receive  largely  the  weight  of  the  small  pastern. 

Three  tend/ms  serve  to  move  the  bones  of  the  foot  one  on  another. 
Two  of  these  flex,  or  bend,  the  joints,  while  the  other  extends,  or 
straightens,  the  column  of  bones.     (Plate  XXX,  fig.  5.) 


DISEASES    OF    TUE    HORSE.  37 1 

The  flexor  pedis  jx^'^'foTans^  or  deep  flexor  of  the  foot,  passes  down 
behind  the  cannon  bone,  lying  against  the  suspensory  ligament  in 
front,  crosses  the  fetlock  joint  in  the  groove  made  by  the  union  of 
the  two  sesamoids,  and  is  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the  coffinbone, 
after  covering  the  navicular,  by  a  wide  expansion  of  its  fibers.  It  is 
the  function  of  this  tendon  to  flex  the  coflinbone  and,  with  it,  the 
horny  box. 

The  flexor  2^<idis  2>erforatu8^  or  superficial  flexor  of  the  foot,  follows 
the  course  of  the  preceding  tendon  and  is  attached  to  the  middle  of 
the  ankle.     The  function  of  this  tendon  is  to  flex  the  foot  at  the  fetlock. 

The  extenmr  j)edls  runs  dow^i  in'  front  of  the  leg,  is  attached  on 
the  most  prominent  point  of  the  coflinbono,  and  has  for  function  the 
straightening  of  the  bones  of  the  ankle  and  foot. 

The  bones,  ligaments,  and  tendons  are  covered  b}'  a  loose  connect- 
ive tissue,  which  gives  a  synmietry  to  the  parts  by  filling  up  and 
rounding  off,  and  all  are  protected  by  the  skin  and  hoof. 

The  slx'ui  of  the  fetlock  and  ankle  is  general!}^  characterized  'by  its 
thickness  and  the  length  of  its  hairs,  especially  around  the  hind  parts 
of  the  fetlock  joint  in  certain  breeds  of  horses.  The  most  important 
part  of  this  envelope  is  that  known  as  the  coronar}^  band. 

The  coronary  land  is  that  portion  of  the  skin  which  secretes  tlie 
horn  of  which  the  wall  of  the  hoof  is  made.  This  horn  much  resem- 
bles the  nail  which  grows  on  the  fingers  and  toes  of  man.  It  is  com- 
posed of  cylindrical  tubes,  which  are  held  together  by  a  tenacious 
opaque  matter.  The  horn  extends  from  the  coronary  band  to  the 
lower  border  of  the  hoof.     (Plate  XXIX,  fig.  1.) 

The  hoof'is  a  box  of  horn,  consisting  of  a  wall,  sole,  and  frog,  and 
contains,  besides  the  coflin,  navicular,  and  part  of  the  small  pastern 
bones,  the  sensitive  lamina?,  plantar  cushion,  and  the  lateral  cartilages. 
(Plate  XXX,  fig.  4.) 

The  sole  of  the  foot  incloses  the  box  on  the  ground  surface,  is  shaped 
like  the  circumference  of  the  foot,  except  that  a  V-shaped  opening  is 
left  behind  for  the  reception  of  the  frog,  and  is  concave  on  the  lower 
surface.  The  sole  is  produced  by  the  velvety  tissue,  a  thin  membrane 
covering  the  plantar  cushion  and  other  soft  tissues  beneath  the  coffin- 
bone.  The  horn  of  the  sole  differs  from  the  horn  of  the  wall,  in  that 
its  tubes  are  not  straight  and  from  the  fact  that  it  scales  off  in  pieces 
over  the  whole  surface. 

The,  frog  is  a  triangular-shaped  body,  divided  into  two  equal  parts 
by  a  deep  fissure,  extending  from  its  apex  in  front  to  the  base.  It 
fills  the  triangular  space  in  the  sole  to  which  it  is  intimatel}^  attached 
by  its  borders.  The  horn  of  the  frog  is  produced  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  sole;  but  it  differs  from  both  the  wall  and  sole  in  that  the  horn 
is  soft,  moist,  and  clastic  to  a  remarkable  degree.  It  is  the  function 
of  the  frog  to  destroy  shock  and  to  prevent  slipping. 


372  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

The  sensitive  laminse,  are  thin  plates  of  soft  tissue,  covering  the 
entire  anterior  surface  of  the  coffinbone.     They  are  present  in  great 
numbers,  and  by  fitting  into  corresponding  grooves  on  the  inner  sur 
face  of  the  horn  of  the  wall  the  union  of  the  soft  and  horn}^  tissues  is 
made  complete.     (Plate  XXIX,  fig.  1.) 

The  i^lantar  cushion  is  a  thick  pad  of  fibrous  tissue  placed  behind 
and  under  the  navicular  and  cofiinbones,  and  resting  on  the  sole  and 
frog,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  downward  pressure  of  the 
column  of  bones  and  to  destroy  shock.     (Plate  XXIX,  fig.  4.) 

The  lateral  cartilages  are  attached,  one  on  either  side,  to  the  wings 
of  the  coffinbone  by  their  inferio*!'  borders.  Thcj"  are  thin  plates  of 
fibro-cartilage,  and  their  function  is  to  assist  the  frog  and  adjacent 
structures  to  regain  their  proper  position  after  having  been  displaced 
b}'  the  weight  of  the  bod}^  while  the  foot  rested  on  the  ground.  (Plate 
XXIX,  fig.  2.) 

FAULTS    OF    CONFORMATION. 

A  large  percentage  of  horses  have  feet  which  are  not  f)erfect  in 
conformation,  and,  as  a  consequence  of  these  imperfections,  they  are 
especially  predisposed  to  certain  injuries  and  diseases. 

Flatfoot  is  that  condition  in  which  the  sole  has  little  or  no  con- 
vexity. It  is  a  peculiarity  common  to  some  breeds,  especiallj^  heavy, 
lymphatic  animals  raised  on  low,  marshy  soils.  It  is  confined  to  the 
fore  feet,  which  are  generally  broad,  low  heeled,  and  with  a  wall  less 
upright  than  is  seen  in  the  perfect  foot. 

In  flatfoot  there  can  be  little  or  no  elasticity  in  the  sole,  for  the 
reason  that  it  has  no  arch,  and  the  weight  of  the  animal  is  received 
on  the  entire  plantar  surface,  as  it  rests  upon  the  ground  instead  of  on 
the  wall.  For  these  reasons  such  feet  are  particularly  liable  to  bruises 
of  the  sole,  corns,  pumiced  sole,  and  excessive  suppuration  when  the 
process  is  once  established.  Horses  with  flatfoot  should  be  shod 
with  a  shoe  having  a  wide  web,  pressing  on  the  wall  only;  while  the 
heels  and  frog  are  never  to  be  pared.  Flatfoot  generally  has  weak 
walls,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  nails  of  the  shoe  are  readily  loosened 
and  the  shoe  cast. 

Clubfoot  is  a  term  applied  to  such  feet  as  have  the  wall  set  nearl}^ 
perpendicular.  When  this  condition  is  present  the  heels  are  high, 
the  fetlock  joint  is  thrown  forward,  or  knuckles,  and  the  weight  of 
the  animal  is  received  on  the  toes.  Manj^  mules  are  clubfootcd, 
especially  behind,  where  it  seems  to  cause  little  or  no  inconvenience. 
Clubfoot  may  be  cured  by  cutting  the  tendons  in  severe  cases;  but,  as 
a  rule,  special  shoeing  is  the  oxAy  measure  of  relief  that  can  be  adopted. 
The  toe  should  not  be  pared,  but  the  heels  are  to  be  lowered  as  much 
as  possible,  and  a  shoe  put  on  with  a  long  projecting  toe  piece,  slightly 
turned  up,  while  the  heels  of  the  shoe  are  to  be  made  thin. 


^^  f 


pr.A'rt-:  xxxii 


after  Stojielujn^e 


NavLcaJx/^Dijra.' 


H I  N  C  V  H  (  )  N  K  . VN  D   X  A\'I  C  U  L^R    D I S  K  A  S  J<: . 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  373 

Orookedfoot  is  that  condition  in  which  one  side  of  the  wall  is  higher 
than  the  other.  If  the  inside  wall  is  the  higher,  the  ankle  is  thrown 
outward,  so  that  the  fetlock  joints  are  abnormally  wide  apart  and  the 
toes  close  together.  Animals  with  this  deformity  are  "pigeon-toed," 
and  are  prone  to  interfere,  the  inside  toe  striking  the  opposite  fetlock. 
If  but  one  foot  is  affected,  the  liability  to  interfere  is  still  greater,  for 
the  reason  that  the  fetlock  of  the  perfect  leg  is  more  near  the  center 
plane. 

When  the  outside  heel  is  the  higher  the  ankle  is  thrown  in  and  the 
toe  turns  out.  Horses  with  such  feet  interfere  with  the  heel.  If  but 
one  foot  is  so  affected,  the  liability  to  interfere  is  less  than  where  both 
feet  are  affected,  for  the  reason  that  the  ankle  of  the  perfect  leg  is  not 
so  near  to  the  center  plane.  Such  animals  are  especially  liable  to 
stumbling  and  to  lameness  from  injury  to  the  ligaments  of  the  fetlock 
joints.  The  deformity  is  to  be  overcome  by  such  shoeing  as  will  equal- 
ize the  disparity  in  length  of  walls,  and  by  proper  boots  to  protect  the 
fetlocks  from  interfering. 

INTEKFERIXG. 

An  animal  is  said  to  interfere  when  one  foot  strikes  the  opposite  leg, 
as  it  passes  by,  during  locomotion.  The  inner  surface  of  the  fetlock 
joint  is  the  part  most  subject  to  this  injury,  although,  under  certain 
conditions,  it  may  happen  to  any  part  of  the  ankle.  It  is  seen  more 
often  in  the  hind  than  in  the  fore  legs.  Interfering  causes  a  bruise  of 
the  skin  and  deeper  tissues,  generally  accompanied  b}^  an  abrasion  of 
the  surface.  It  may  cause  lameness,  dangerous  tripping,  and  thickening 
of  the  injured  parts. 

Causes. — Faulty  conformation  is  the  most  prolific  cause  of  interfer- 
ing. When  the  bones  of  the  leg  are  so  united  that  the  toe  of  the  foot 
turns  in  (pigeontoed),  or  when  the  fetlock  joints  are  close  together 
and  the  toe  turns  out,  when  the  leg  is  so  deformed  that  the  whole  foot 
and  ankle  turn  either  in  or  out,  interfering  is  almost  sure  to  follow. 
It  may  happen,  also,  when  the  feet  grow  too  long,  from  defective  shoe- 
ing, rough  or  slippery  roads,  from  the  exhaustion  of  labor  or  sick- 
ness, swelling  of  the  leg,  high  knee  action,  fast  work,  and  because  the 
chest  or  hips  are  too  narrow. 

Si/mptoms. — Generally,  the  evidences  of  interfering  are  easily 
detected,  for  the  parts  are  tender,  swollen,  and  the  skin  broken.  But 
very  often,  especiallj^  in  trotters,  the  flat  surface  of  the  hoof  strikes 
the  fetlock  without  evident  injury,  and  attention  is  directed  to  these 
parts  only  by  the  occasional  tripping  and  unsteady  gait.  In  such 
cases  proof  of  the  cause  may  be  had  by  walking  and  trotting  the  ani- 
mal, after  first  painting  the  inside  toe  and  quarter  of  the  suspected 
foot  with  a  thin  coating  of  chalk,  charcoal,  mud,  or  paint. 

Treat^nent. — When  the  trouble  is  due  to  deformity  or  faulty  confor- 
mation, it  may  not  be  possible  to  overcome  the  defect. 


374  BUJREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

In  such  cases,  and  as  well  in  those  due  to  exhaustion  or  fatigue,  the 
fetlock,  or  ankle,  boot  must  be  used.  In  many  instances  interfering 
may  be  prevented  by  proper  shoeing.  The  outside  heel  and  quarter  of 
the  foot  on  the  injured  leg  should  be  lowered  sufficiently  to  change 
the  relative  position  of  the  fetlock  joint,  ])y  bringing  it  further  away 
from  the  center  plane  of  the  bod}',  thereby  permitting  the  other  foot 
to  pass  b}^  without  striking. 

A  very  slight  change  is  often  sufficient  to  effect  this  result.  At  the 
same  time  the  offending  foot  should  be  so  shod  that  the  shoe  may  set 
well  under  the  hoof  at  the  point  responsible  for  the  injury.  The  shoe 
should  be  reset  every  three  or  four  weeks. 

When  the  cause  has  been  removed,  cold  water  bandages  to  the 
injured  parts  will  soon  remove  the  soreness  and  swelling,  especially 
in  recent  cases.  If,  however,  the  fetlock  has  become  calloused  from 
long-continued  bruising,  a  Spanish-fly  blister  over  the  parts,  repeated 
in  two  or  three  weeks  if  necessary,  will  aid  in  reducing  the  leg  to  its 
natural  condition. 

KNUCKLING,  OR  COCKED  ANKLES. 

Knuckling  is  a  partial  dislocation  of  the  fetlock  joint,  in  which  the 
relative  position  of  the  pastern  ))one  to  the  cannon  and  coronet  bones 
is  changed,  the  pastern  becoming  more  nearly  perpendicular,  with 
the  lower  end  of  the  cannon  bone  resting  behind  the  center  line  of  the 
suffraginis,  while  the  lower  end  of  this  bone  rests  behind  the  center 
line  of  the  coronet.  While  knuckling  is  not  always  an  unsound 
ness,  it  nevertheless  predisposes  to  stumbling  and  to  fracture  of  the 
pastern. 

Causes. — Young  foals  are  quite  subject  to  this  condition,  but  in  the 
great  majority  of  cases  it  is  only  temporary.  It  is  largely  due  to 
the  fact  that,  before  birth,  the  legs  were  flexed;  and  time  is  required, 
after  birth,  for  the  ligaments,  tendons,  and  muscles  to  adapt  them- 
selves to  the  function  of  sustaining  the  weight  of  the  bod}'. 

Horses  with  erect  pasterns  are  ver}'  prone  to  knuckle  as  the}'  grow 
old,  especially  in  the  hind  legs.  All  kinds  of  heavy  work,  particu- 
larly in  hilly  districts,  and  fast  work  on  hard  race  tracks  or  roads  are 
exciting  causes  of  knuckling.  It  is  also  commonly  seen  as  an  accom- 
paniment to  that  faulty  conformation  called  clubfoot,  in  which  the  toe 
of  the  wall  is  perpendicular  and  short,  and  the  heels  high — a  condition 
most  often  seen  in  the  mule,  especially  in  the  hind  feet. 

Lastly,  knuckling  is  produced  by  disease  of  the  suspensory  liga-" 
ment,  or  of  the  flexor  tendons,  whereby  they  are  shortened,  and  by 
disease  of  the  fetlock  joints. 

Treatment. — In  young  foals  no  treatment  is  necessary,  unless  there 
is  some  deformity  present,  since  the  legs  straighten  up  without  inter- 
ference in  the  course  of  a  few  Aveeks.     When  knuckling  has  com- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  875 

menced,  the  indications  are  to  relieve  the  tendons  and  lig-aments  by 
proper  shoeing.  The  foot  is  to  be  prepared  for  the  shoe  by  shorten- 
ing the  toe  as  much  as  possible,  leaving  the  heels  high;  or  if  the  foot 
is  prepared  in  the  usual  way  the  shoe  should  be  thin  in  front,  with 
thick  heels  or  high  calks.  For  the  hind  feet  a  long-heeled  shoe  with 
calks  seems  to  do  Ijest.  Of  course,  when  possible,  the  causes  of  knuck- 
ling are  to  be  removed;  but  since  this  can  not  alwa3^s  be  done,  the 
time  may  come  when  the  patient  can  no  longer  perform  anj^  service, 
particularly  in  those  cases  where  both  fore  legs  are  affected,  and  it 
becomes  necessary  either  to  destroj'  the  animal  or  secure  relief  bj' 
surgical  interference.  In  such  cases  the  tendons  between  the  fetlock 
and  knee  may  be  divided  for  the  purpose  of  securing-  temporary  relief. 
Firing  and  blistering  the  parts  responsible  for  the  knuckling  ma}^  in 
some  instances,  effect  a  cure;  but  a  consideration  of  these  measures 
properly  belongs  to  the  treatment  of  the  diseases  in  which  knuckling 
simply  appears  as  a  sequel. 

V.'INDGALL. 

Joints  and  tendons  are  furnished  with  sacs  containing  a  lubricating 
fluid  called  synovia.  When  these  sacs  are  overdistended  by  reason 
of  an  excessive  secretion  of  synovia,  the}^  are  called  windgalls.  Thej^ 
form  a  soft,  puffy  tumor  about  the  size  of  a  hickory  nut;  and  are 
most  often  found  in  the  fore  leg,  at  the  upper  part  of  the  fetlock  joint, 
between  the  tendon  and  the  shin  bone.  When  they  develop  in  the 
hind  leg  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  them  reach  the  size  of  a  walnut. 
Occasionally  they  appear  in  front  of  the  fetlock  on  the  border  of  the 
tendon.  The  majority  of  horses  are  not  subject  to  them  after  colt- 
hood  has  passed. 

Causes. — Windgalls  are  often  seen  in  young,  overgrown  horses, 
where  the  body  seems  to  have  outgrown  the  ability  of  the  joints  to 
sustain  the  weight.  In  cart  and  other  horses  used  to  hard  work,  in 
trotters  with  excessive  knee- action,  in  hurdle  racers  and  hunters,  and 
in  most  cow-ponies  there  is  a  predisposition  to  windgalls.  Street-car 
horses  and  others  used  to  start  heavy  loads  on  slippery  streets  are  the 
ones  most  apt  to  develop  windgalls  in  the  hind  legs. 

Symptoms. — The  tumor  is  more  or  less  firm  and  tense  when  the  foot 
is  on  the  ground,  but  is  soft  and  compressible  when  ihe,  foot  is  off  the 
ground.  In  old  horses,  windgalls  generallj^  develop  slowl}^  and  cause 
no  inconvenience.  If  they  are  caused  by  excessive  tension  of  the  joint 
the  tumor  develops  rapidh^,  is  tense,  hot,  and  painful,  and  the  animal 
^s  exceedinglv  lame.  The  patient  stands  with  the  joint  flexed,  and 
walks  with  short  steps,  the  toe  only  being  placed  on  the  ground. 
When  the  tumor  is  large  and  situated  upon  the  inside  6f  the  leg  it 
may  be  injured  by  interfering,  causing  stumbling  and  inflammation  of 
the  sac.     Rest  generalh'  causes  the  tumor  to  diminish  in  size,  onh'  to 


376  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    IXDUSTRY. 

fill  up  again  after  renewed  labor.  In  old  cases  the  tumors  are  hard- 
ened, and  may  become  converted  into  bone  bj^  a  de^wsit  of  the  lime 
salts. 

Treatment. — The  large,  puffy  joints  of  suckling  colts,  as  a  rule, 
require  no  treatment;  for,  as  the  animal  gro-ws  older  the  parts  clean 
up,  and,  after  a  time,  the  swelling  entirel}-  disappears. 

When  the  trouble  is  due  to  an  injury,  entire  rest  is  to  be  secured 
b}'  the  use  of  slings  and  a  high-heeled  shoe.  Cold-water  douches 
should  be  used  once  or  twice  a  day,  followed  by  cold-water  bandages, 
until  the  fever  has  subsided  and  the  soreness  is  largely  removed, 
when  a  blister  is  to  be  applied. 

In  old  windgalls,  which  cause  more  or  less  stiffness,  some  relief 
may  be  had  by  the  use  of  cold  compress  bandages,  elastic  bobts,  or  the 
red  iodide  of  mercury  blisters.  Opening  the  sacs^  as  recommended 
b}^  some  authors,  is  of  doubtful  utilitj^,  and  should  be  adopted  only 
b}'  the  surgeon  capable  of  treating  the  wound  he  has  made.  Enforced 
rest  until  complete  recovery  is  effected  should  alwaj's  be  insisted  upon, 
since  a  too  earh'  return  to  work  is  sure  to  be  followed  b}-  relapse. 

SPRAIN    OF   THE    FETLOCK. 

Sprain  of  the  fetlock  joint  is  most  common  in  the  fore  legs,  and,  as 
a  rule,  affects  but  one  at  a  time.  Horses  doing  fast  work,  as  trotters, 
runners,  steeple-chasers,  hunters,  cow-ponies,  and  those  that  interfere, 
are  particularly  liable  to  this  injury. 

Causes. — Horses  knuckling  at  the  fetlock,  and  all  those  with  dis- 
eases which  impair  the  powers  of  locomotion,  such  as  navicular  disease, 
contracted  heels,  sidebones,  chronic  laminitis,  etc.,  are  predisposed  to 
sprains  of  the  fetlock.  It  generally  happens  from  a  misstep,  stum- 
bling, or  slipping,  which  results  in  the  joint  being  extended  or  flexed 
to  excess.  The  same  result  may  happen  where  the  foot  is  caught  in  a 
rut,  hole  in  abridge,  or  in  a  car  track,  and  the  animal  falls  or  struggles 
violently.  Direct  blows  and  punctured  wounds  may  also  set  up 
inflammation  of  the  joint. 

Symjptoms. — The  s3'mptoms  of  sprain  of  the  fetlock  vary  with  the 
severity  of  the  injur}'.  If  slight  there  may  be  no  lameness,  but  simply 
a  little  soreness,  especially  when  the  foot  strikes  on  uneven  ground 
and  the  joint  is  twisted  a  little.  In  cases  more  severe  the  joint  swells, 
is  hot  and  puff}^,  and  the  lameness  may  be  so  intense  as  to  compel  the 
animal  to  hobble  on  three  legs.  While  at  rest  the  leg  is  flexed  at  the 
joint  affected,  and  the  toe  rests  on  the  ground. 

Treatment. — If  the  injury  is  slight,  cold-water  bandages  and  a  few 
clays'  rest  are  sufficient  to  effect  recovery.  Where  there  is  an  intense 
lameness,  swelling,  etc.,  the  leg  should  be  placed  under  a  constant 
stream  of  cold  water,  as  described  in  the  treatment  for  quittor.  W^hen 
the  inflammation  has  subsided  a  blister  to  the  joint  should  be  applied. 


DISEASES    OP    THE    HORSE.  377 

In  some  cases,  especiall}^  in  old  horses  long  accustomed  to  fast 
work,  the  ligaments  of  the  joints  are  ruptured,  in  whole  or  in  part, 
and  the  lameness  may  last  a  long  time.  In  these  cases  the  joint  should 
be  kept  completely  at  rest;  and  this  condition  is  best  secured  by  the 
application  of  the  plaster  of  Paris  bandages,  as  in  cases  of  fracture. 
As  a  rule,  patients  take  kindly  to  this  bandage,  and  may  be  given  the 
freedom  of  a  roomy  box  or  yard  while  wearing  it.  If  they  are  dis- 
posed to  tear  it  off,  or  if  sufficient  rest  can  not  otherwise  be  secured,, 
the  patient  must  be  kept  in  slings. 

In  the  majorit}'^  of  instances  the  plaster  bandage  should  remain  on 
from  two  to  four  weeks.  If  the  lameness  returns  when  the  bandage 
is  removed,  a  new  one  should  be  put  on.  The  swelling,  which  always 
remains  after  the  other  evidences  of  the  disease  have  disappeared, 
may  be  largely  dissipated  and  the  joint  strengthened  by  the  use  of  the 
firing  iron  and  blisters. 

A  joint  once  injured  by  a  severe  sprain  never  entirely  regains  its 
original  strength,  and  is  ever  after  particularly  liable  to  a  repetition 
of  the  injury. 

RUPTURE    OF    THE    SUSPENSORY   LIGAMENT. 

Sprain  with  or  without  rupture  of  the  suspensory  ligament  may 
happen  in  either  the  fore  or  hind  legs,  and  is  occasionally  seen  in 
horses  of  all  classes  and  at  all  ages.  Old  animals,  however,  and  espe- 
cially hunters,  runners,  and  trotters,  are  the  most  subject  to  this  injury; 
and  with  these  classes  the  seat  of  the  trouble  is  nearly  always  in  one 
or  both  the  fore  legs.  Horses  used  for  heavy  draft  are  more  liable  to 
have  the  ligament  of  the  hind  legs  affected. 

When  the  strain  upon  the  suspensory  ligament  becomes  too  great, 
one  or  both  of  the  branches  may  be  torn  from  the  sesamoid  bones;  one 
or  both  of  the  branches  may  be  torn  completely  across,  or  the  liga- 
ment may  rupture  above  the  point  of  division. 

8ym2?toms. — The  most  common  injury  to  the  suspensory  ligament 
is  sprain  of  the  internal  branch  in  one  of  the  fore  legs.  The  trouble 
is  proclaimed  by  lameness,  heat,  swelling,  and  tenderness  of  the 
affected  branch,  beginning  just  above  the  sesamoid  bone  and  extend- 
ing oblique!}^  downward  and  forward  to  the  front  o£  the  ankle.  If 
the  whole  ligament  is  involved  the  swelling  comes  on  gradually,  and 
is  found  above  the  fetlock  and  in  front  of  the  flexor  tendons.  The 
patient  stands  or  walks  upon  the  toe  as  much  as  possible,  keeping  the 
fetlock  joint  flexed  so  as  to  relieve  the  ligament  of  tension. 

When  both  branches  are  torn  from  their  attachments  to  the  sesa- 
moids, or  both  are  torn  across,  the  lameness  comes  on  suddenly  and 
is  most  intense;  the  fetlock  descends,  the  toe  turns  up,  and,  as  the 
animal  attempts  to  walk,  the  leg  has  the  appearance  of  being  broken 
off  at  the  fetlock.     These   symptoms,  followed   by  heat,   pain,  and 


y78  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

swelling  of  the  parts  at  the  point  of  injuiy,  will  enable  un3'one  to  make 
a  diagnosis. 

Treatment. — Sprain  of  the  suspcnsorj' ligament,  no  matter  how  mild 
it  may  be,  should  always  be  treated  by  enforced  rest  of  at  least  a 
month,  and  the  application  of  cold  douches  and  cold-water  bandages, 
firmly  applied  until  the  fever  has  subsided,  when  a  cantharides  blister 
should  be  put  on  and  repeated  in  two  or  three  weeks  if  necessar3\ 
When  rupture  has  taken  place,  the  patient  should  be  put  in  slings,  and 
a  constant  stream  of  cold  water  allowed  to  trickle  over  the  seat  of 
injury  until  the  fever  is  reduced.  In  the  course  of  a  week  or  ten  days 
a  plaster  of  Paris  splint,  such  as  is  used  in  fractures,  is  to  be  applied 
and  left  on  for  a  month  or  six  weeks.  When  this  is  taken  off  blisters 
may  be  used  to  remove  the  remaining  soreness;  but  it  is  useless  to 
expect  a  removal  of  all  the  thickening;  for,  in  the  process  of  repair, 
new  tissue  has  been  formed  which  will  always  remain. 

.  In  old  cases  of  sprain  the  firing-iron  may  often  be  used  with  good 
results.  As  a  rule,  severe  injuries  to  the  suspensorj-  ligament  inca- 
pacitate the  subject  for  anything  but  slow,  light  work. 

OVERREACH. 

An  overreach  is  where  the  shoe  of  the  hind  foot  strikes  and  injures 
the  heel  or  quarter  of  the  fore  foot.  It  rareh"  happens  except  when 
the  animal  is  going  fast,  hence  is  most  common  in  trotting  and  running 
horses.  In  trotters  the  accident  gcnerall}"  happens  when  the  animal 
Ijreaks  from  a  trot  to  a  run.  The  outside  heels  and  quarters  are  most 
liable  to  the  injury. 

Symjytoms. — The  coronet  at  the  heel  or  quarter  is  bruised  or  cut,  the 
injurj^  in  some  instances  involving  the  horn  as  well.  Where  the  hind 
foot  strikes  well  back  on  the  heel  of  the  fore  foot — an  accident  known 
among  horsemen  as  "grabbing" — the  shoe  may  be  torn  from  the  fore 
foot  or  the  animal  may  fall  to  its  knees.  Horses  accustomed  to  over- 
reaching are  often  "bad  breakers,"  for  the  reason  that  the  pain  of  the 
injury  so  excites  them  that  they  can  not  readih'  be  brought  back  to  the 
ti'otting  gait. 

Treatment. — If  the  injury  is  but  a  slight  bruise  cold-water  bandages 
applied  for  a  few  daxys  will  remove  all  of  the  soreness.  If  the  parts 
are  deeply  cut,  more  or  less  suppuration  will  follow,  and,  as  a  rule,  it 
is  well  to  poultice  the  parts  for  a  day  or  two,  after  which  cold  baths 
may  be  used,  or  the  wounds  dressed  with  tincture  of  aloes,  oakum, 
and  a  roller  bandage. 

When  an  animal  is  known  to  be  subject  to  overreaching  he  should 
never  be  driven  fast  without  quarter  boots,  which  are  specially  made 
for  the  protection  of  the  heels  and  quarters. 

If  there  is  a  disposition  to  "grab"  the  forward  shoes,  tlie  trouble 
may  be  remedied  by  having  the  heels  of  these  shoes  made  as  short  as 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  379 

possible,  while  the  toe  of  the  hind  foot  should  project  well  over  the 
hind  shoe.  When  circumstances  will  permit  of  their  use  the  fore  feet 
may  be  shod  with  the  "  tips"  instead  of  the  common  shoe,  as  described 
in  treatment  for  contracted  heels. 

CALK   WOU^"DS. 

Horses  wearing  shoes  with  sharp  calks  are  liable  to  wounds  of  the 
coronary  region,  either  from  tlampling  on  themselves  or  on  each 
other.  These  injuries  are  most  common  in  heavy  draft  horses, 
especially  on  rough  roads  and  slipper}-  streets.  The  fore  feet  are 
more  liable  than  the  hind  ones,  and  the  seat  of  injury  is  commonly  on 
the  quarters.  In  the  hind  feet  the  wound  often  results  from  the  ani- 
mal resting  with  the  heel  of  one  foot  set  directly  over  the  front  of  the 
other.  In  these  cases  the  injury  is  generall}^  close  to  the  horn,  and 
often  involves  the  coronar}-  band,  the  sensitive  laminae,  the  extensor 
tendon,  and  even  the  coffinbone. 

Treatment. — Preventive  measures  include  the  use  of  boots  to  pro- 
tect the  coronet  of  the  hind  foot,  and  the  use  of  a  blunt  calk  on  the 
outside  heel  of  the  fore  shoe,  since  this  is  generally  the  offending 
instrument  where  the  fore  feet  are  injured.  If  the  wound  is  not  deep, 
and  the  soreness  slight,  cold-water  bandages  and  a  light  protective 
dressing,  such  as  carbolized  cosmoline,  will  be  all  that  is  needed. 
Where  the  injury  is  deep,  followed  by  inflammation  and  suppuration 
of  the  coronary  band,  lateral  cartilages,  sensitive  laminae,  etc.,  active 
measures  must  be  resorted  to.  Cold,  astringent  baths,  made  by  adding 
2  ounces  of  sulphate  of  iron  to  1  gallon  of  water,  should  be  used,  fol- 
lowed by  poultices  if  it  is  necessaiy  to  hasten  the  cleansing  of  the 
wound  by  stimulating  the  sloughing  process.  Where  the  wound  is 
deep  between  the  horn  and  skin,  especially  over  the  anterior  tendon, 
the  horn  should  l>e  cut  away  so  that  the  injured  tissues  may  be  exposed. 
The  subsequent  treatment  in  these  cases  should  follow  the  directions 
laid  down  in  the  article  on  toe  cracks. 

FROSTBITES. 

Excepting  the  ears,  the  feet  and  legs  are  about  the  only  part  of  the 
horse  liable  to  become  frostbitten.  The  cases  most  comraonlj^  seen 
are  found  in  cities,  especially  among  car  horses,  where  salt  is  used 
for  the  purpose  of  melting  the  snow  on  curves  and  switches.  This 
mixture  of  snow  and  salt  is  splashed  over  the  feet  and  legs,  rapidly 
lowering  the  temperature  of  the  parts  to  the  freezing  point.  In 
mountainous  districts,  where  the  snowfall  is  heavy  and  the  cold  often 
intense,  frostbites  are  not  uncommon  even  among  animals  running  at 
large. 

Symptoms. — AVhen  the  frosting  is  slight  the  skin  becomes  pale  and 
bloodless,  followed  soon  after  by  intense  redness,  heat,  pain,  and  swell- 


380  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

ing.  In  these  cases  the  hair  may  fall  out  and  the  epidermis  peel  off, 
l)ut  the  inflammation  soon  subsides,  the  swelling  disappears,  and  only 
an  increased  sensitiv^eness  to  cold  remains. 

In  cases  mon  —^'-e,  irregular  patches  of  skin  are  destroyed  and 
after  a  few  daj  '•  ..^h  away,  leaving  slow-healing  ulcers  behind.  In 
the  cases  produced  by  low  temperatures  and  deep  snow,  the  coronary 
band  is  the  part  most  often  affected. 

In  man}^  instances  there  is  no  destruction  of  the  skin  but  simply  a 
temporary  suspension  of  the  horn-producing  function  of  the  coronary 
band.  The  fore  feet  are  more  often  affected  than  the  hind  ones,  and 
the  heels  and  quarters  arc  less  often  involved  than  the  front  part  of 
the  foot.  The  coronary  band  becomes  hot,  swollen,  and  painful,  and 
after  two  or  three  days  the  horn  separates  from  the  band  and  slight 
suppuration  follows.  For  a  few  days  the  animal  is  lame,  but  as  the 
suppuration  disappears  the  lameness  subsides.  New  horn,  often  of  an 
inferior  quality,  is  produced  by  the  coronary  band,  and  in  time  the  cleft 
is  grown  off  and  complete  recovery  is  effected.  The  frog  is  occasion- 
ally frostbitten  and  may  slough  off,  exposing  the  soft  tissues  beneath 
and  causing  severe  lameness  for  a  time. 

Treatment. — Simple  frostbites  are  best  treated  by  cold  fomentations 
followed  by  applications  of  a  5  per  cent  solution  of  carbolized  oil. 
When  portions  of  the  skin  are  destroyed,  their  earlj-  separation  should 
be  hastened  by  warm  fomentations  and  poultices.  Ulcers  are  to  be 
treated  by  the  application  of  stimulating  dressings,  such  as  carbolized 
oil,  a  1  per  cent  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  or  of  chloride  of  zinc,  with 
pads  of  oakum  and  flannel  bandages.  In  many  of  these  cases  recovery 
is  exceedingly  slow.  The  new  tissue  by  which  the  destroyed  skin  is 
replaced  always  shrinks  in  healing,  and,  as  a  consequence,  unsightly 
scars  are  unavoidable.  Where  the  coronary  band  is  involved  it  is 
generally  advisable  to  blister  the  coronet  over  the  seat  of  injury  as 
soon  as  the  suppuration  ceases,  for  the  purpose  of  stimulating  the 
growth  of  new  horn.  Where  a  crevasse  is  formed  between  the  old  and 
new  horn,  no  serious  trouble  is  likely  to  be  met  with  until  the  cleft  is 
nearly  grown  out,  when  the  soft  tissues  may  be  exposed  by  a  breaking 
off  of  the  partly  detached  horn.  But  even  where  this  accident  hap- 
pens final  recovery  is  secured  by  poulticing  the  foot  until  a  sufficient 
growth  of  horn  protects  the  parts  from  injury. 

QUITTOR. 

Quittor  is  a  term  applied  to  various  affections  of  the  foot  wherein 
the  tissues  which  are  involved  undergo  a  process  of  degeneration  that 
results  in  the  formation  of  a  slough  followed  by  the  elimination  of  the 
diseased  structures  by  means  of  a  more  or  less  extensive  suppuration. 

For  convenience  of  consideration  quittors  may  be  divided  into  four 
classes,  as  suggested  by  Girard:  (1)  Cutaneous  quittor,  which  is  known 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  381 

also  as  simple  quittor,  skin  quittor,  and  carbuncle  of  the  coronet;  (2) 
tendinous  quittor;  (3)  subhorny  quittor;  and  (4)  cartilaginous  quittor, 

CUTANEOUS    QUITTOR. 

Simple  quittor  consists  in  a  local  inflammation  of  the  skin  and  sub- 
cutaneous connective  tissue  on  some  part  of  the  coronet,  followed  by  a 
slough  and  the  formation  of  an  ulcer  which  heals  b}^  suppuration. 

It  is  an  extremely  painful  disease,  owing  to  the  dense  character  of 
the  tissues  involved;  for  in  all  dense  structures  the  swelling  which 
accompanies  inflammation  alwaj^s  produces  intense  pressure.  This 
pressure  not  onl}-  adds  to  the  patienfs  sufl'ering,  but  may  at  the  same 
time  endanger  the  life  of  the  aflfected  parts  by  strangulating  the  blood 
vessels.  It  is  held  by  some  writers  that  simple  quittor  is  most  often 
met  with  in  the  hind  feet,  but  in  m}^  experience  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  cases  have  developed  in  the  fore  feet.  While  any  part 
of  the  coronet  may  become  the  seat  of  attack,  the  heels  and  quarters 
are  undoubtedly  most  liable. 

Causes. — Bruises  and  other  wounds  of  the  coronet  are  often  ihQ 
cause  of  cutaneous  quittor;  yet  there  can  be  no  question  but  that  in 
the  great  majorit}^  of  cases  the  disease  develops  without  any  known 
cause.  For  some  reason,  not  je,i  satisfactorily  explained,  most  cases 
happen  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  One  explanation  of  this  fact  has  been 
attempted  in  the  statement  that  the  disease  is  due  to  the  injurious 
action  of  cold  and  mud.  This  claim,  however,  seems  to  lose  force 
when  it  is  remembered  that  in  many  parts  of  this  country  the  most 
mud,  accompanied  b}"  freezing  and  thawing  weather,  is  seen  in  the 
early  springtime  without  a  corresponding  increase  of  quittor.  Fur- 
thermore, the  serious  outbreaks  of  this  disease  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  Colorado,  Wyoming,  and  Montana  are  seen  in  the  fall  and 
winter  seasons,  when  the  w^eather  is  the  driest.  It  may  be  claimed, 
and  perhaps  with  justice,  that  during  these  seasons,  when  the  water  is 
low,  animals  are  compelled  to  wade  through  more  mud  to  drink  from 
lakes  and  pools  than  is  necessary  at  other  seasons  of  the  year,  when 
these  lakes  and  pools  are  full.  Add  to  these  conditions  the  further 
fact  that  much  of  this  mud  is  impregnated  with  alkaline  salts,  which, 
like  the  mineral  substances  always  found  in  the  mud  of  cities,  are  more 
or  less  irritating,  and  it  seems  fair  to  conclude  that  under  certain  cir- 
cumstances mud  maj^  become  an  important  factor  in  the  production  pf 
quittor.^ 

«A  recent  outbreak  of  quittor  near  Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  which  came  under  the 
author's  observation,  was  caused  by  the  mud  through  which  the  horses  had  to  wade 
to  reach  the  watering  troughs.  These  troughs  were  furnished  with  water  by  wind- 
mills, and  the  mud  holes  were  caused  by  the  waste  water.  More  than  fifty  cases 
developed  inside  of  two  months,  or  during  September  and  October.  In  these  fifty 
cases  all  forms  of  the  disease  and  all  possible  complications  were  presented.     During 


3b2  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTEY. 

While  this  disease  attticks  an}'  and  all  classes  of  horses,  it  is  the 
large,  common  breeds,  with  thick  skins,  heavy  coats,  and  coarse  legs 
that  are  most  often  affected.  Horses  well  groomed  and  cared  for  in 
stahlos  seem  to  be  less  liable  to  the  disease  than  those  running  at 
large  or  than  those  which  are  kept  and  worked  under  adverse  circum- 
stances. 

S ipnptom 8.— JMineness,  lasting  from  one  to  three  or  four  days, 
nearly  alwaj^s  precedes  the  development  of  the  strictly  local  evidences 
of  quittor.  The  next  sign  is  the  appearance  of  a  small,  tense,  hot, 
and  painful  tumor  in  the  skin  of  the  coronary  region.  If  the  skin  of 
the  affected  foot  is  white,  the  inflamed  portion  will  present  a  dark-red 
or  even  a  purplish  appearance  near  the  center.  Within  a  few  hours 
the  ankle  or  even  the  whole  leg  as  high  as  the  knee  or  hock  becomes 
much  swollen.  The  lameness  is  now  so  great  that  the  patient  refuses 
to  use  the  foot  at  all,  but  carries  it  in  the  air  if  compelled  to  move. 
As  a  consequence  the  opposite  leg  is  required  to  do  the  work  of  both^ 
and  if  the  animal  persists  in  standing  a  greater  part  of  the  time  it, 
too,  becomes  swollen.  In  many  of  these  cases  the  suffering  is  so 
intense  during  the  first  few  days  as  to  cause  general  fever,  dullness, 
loss  of  appetite,  and  increased  thirst.  Generall}^  the  tumor  shows 
signs  of  suppuration  within  fortj^-eight  to  seventy-two  hours  after  its 
first  appearance;  the  summit  softens,  a  fluctuating  fluid  is  felt  beneath 
the  skin,  which  soon  ulcerates  completel}'  through,  causing  the  dis- 
charge of  a  thick,  yellow,  bloody  pus,  containing  shreds  of  dead  tissue 
which  have  sloughed  away.  The  sore  is  now  converted  into  an  open 
ulcer,  generally  deep,  nearly  or  quite  circular  in  outline,  aiid  with 
hardened  base  and  edges.  In  exceptional  cases  large  patches  of  skin, 
varying  from  1  to  2^-  inches  in  diameter,  slough  away  at  once,  leaving 
an  ugly  superficial  ulcer.  These  sores,  especially  when  deep,  suppu- 
rate freely,  and  if  there  are  no  complications  they  tend  to  heal 
rapidly  as  soon  as  the  degenerated  tissue  has  softened  and  is  entirel}^ 
removed.  When  suppuration  is  fully  established  the  lameness  and 
general  symptoms  subside.  Where  but  a  single  tumor  and  abscess 
form,  the  disease  progresses  rapidly,  and  recovery,  under  proper 
treatment,  maybe  effected  in  from  two  to  three  weeks;  but  when  two 
or  more  tumors  are  developed  at  once,  or  where  the  formation  of  one 
tumor  is  rapidly  succeeded  by  another  for  an  indefinite  time,  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  patient  are  greatly  increased,  the  case  is  more  difficult 
to  treat,  and  recovery  is  more  slow  and  less  certain. 

This  form  of  quittor  is  often  complicated  with  the  tendinous  and 
sul)horny  quittors  by  an  extension  of  the  sloughing  process. 

the  rain  J-  season  at  Leadville,  Colo.,  outbreaks  of  quittor  are  common,  and  the  dia- 
eaye  is  so  virulent  that  it  has  long  been  known  as  the  "  Leadville  foot  rot."  The 
soil  being  rich  in  mineral  matters  is  no  doubt  the  cause  of  the  outbreak.-'.  In  the 
city  of  Montreal  quittor  is  said  to  be  very  common  in  the  early  springtime,  when 
the  streets  are  muddy  from  the  melting  snow  and  ice. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  383 

Treatment. — The  first  step  in  the  treatment  of  an  outbreak  of  quittor 
should  be  the  removal  of  all  exciting  causes.  Crowding  animals  into 
small  corrals  and  stables,  where  injuries  to  the  coronet  are  likel}'  to 
happen  from  trampling,  especially  among  unl)roken  range  horses,  must 
be  avoided  as  much  as  possible. 

Watering  places  accessible  without  having  to  wade  through  mud 
are  to  be  supplied.  In  towns,  where  the  mud  or  dust  is  large!}*  impreg- 
nated with  mineral  products,  it  is  not  possible  to  adopt  complete  pre- 
ventive measures.  Much  can  be  done,  however,  by  careful  cleaiising 
of  the  feet  and  legs  as  soon  as  the  animal  returns  from  work.  Warm 
water  should  be  used  to  remove  the  mud  and  dirt,  after  which  the 
parts  are  to  be  thoroughly  dried  with  soft  cloths. 

The  means  which  are  to  be  adopted  for  the  cure  of  cutaneous  quittor 
vary  with  the  stage  of  the  disease  at  the  time  the  case  is  presented  for 
treatment.  If  the  case  is  seen  early — that  is,  before  anj^  of  the  signs 
of  suppuration  have  developed — the  affected  foot  is  to  be  placed  under 
a  constant  stream  of  cold  water,  with  the  object  of  arresting  a  further 
extension  of  the  inflammatory  process.  To  accomplish  this,  put  the 
patient  in  slings  in  a  narrow  stall  having  a  slat  or  open  floor.  Band- 
age the  foot  and  leg  to  the  knee  or  hock,  as  the  case  may  be,  with  flan- 
nel bandages  loosely  applied.  Set  a  tub  or  barrel  filled  with  cold  water 
above  the  patient,  and  by  the  use  of  a  small  rubber  hose  of  sufiicient 
length  make  a  siphon  which  will  carry  the  water  from  the  bottom  of 
the  tub  to  the  leg  at  the  top  of  the  bandages.  The  stream  of  water 
should  be  quite  small,  and  is  to  be  continued  imtil  the  inflammation 
has  entirely  subsided  or  until  the  presence  of  pus  can  be  detected  in 
the  tumor.  When  suppuration  has  commenced  the  process  should  ))e 
aided  b}'  the  use  of  warm  baths  and  poultices  of  linseed  meal  or  boiled 
turnips.  If  the  tumor  is  of  rapid  growth,  accompanied  by  intense 
pain,  relief  is  secured  and  sloughing  largely  limited  by  a  free  incision 
of  the  parts.  The  incision  should  l)e  vertical  and  deep  into  the  tumor, 
care  being  taken  not  to  entirel}'  divide  the  coronary  band.  If  the 
tumor  is  large,  more  than  one  incision  ma}"  l>e  necessary. 

The  foot  should  now  be  placed  in  a  warm  bath  for  half  an  hour  or 
longer  and  then  poulticed.  The  hemorrhage  produced  by  the  cutting 
and  encouraged  by  the  warm  bath  is  generally  very  copious  and  soon 
gives  relief  to  the  overtension  of  the  parts. 

In  other  cases  it  will  bo  found  that  suppuration  is  well  under  way, 
so  that  the  center  of  the  tumor  is  soft  when  the  patient  is  first  pre- 
sented for  treatment.  It  is  always  good  surgery  to  relieve  the  tumor 
of  pas  whenever  its  presence  can  be  detected;  hence  in  these  cases  a 
free  incision  must  be  made  into  the  softened  parts,  the  pus  evacuated, 
and  the  foot  poulticed. 

B}'  surgical  interference  the  tumor  is  now  converted  into  an  open 
sore  or  ulcer,  which,  after  it  has  been  well  cleaned  by  warm  baths 
and  poultices  applied  for  two  or  three  days,  needs  to  be  protected  by 


384  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

proper  dressings.  The  best  of  all  protective  dressings  is  made  of 
small  balls,  or  pledgets,  of  oakum,  carefully  packed  into  the  wound 
and  held  in  place  bj^  a  roller  bandage  4  yards  long,  from  3  to  4  inches 
wide,  made  of  common  bcdticking  and  skillfully  applied. 

The  remedies  which  may  be  used  to  stimulate  the  healing  process 
are  manj^,  and,  as  a  rule,  they  arc  applied  in  the  form  of  solutions  or 
tinctures. 

In  mj'  own  practice  I  prefer  a  solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury  1 
part,  water  500  parts,  with  a  few  drops  of  muriatic  acid  or  a  few 
grains  of  muriate  of  ammonia  added  to  cause  the  mercury  to  dissolve. 
The  balls  of  oakum  are  wet  with  this  solution  before  thej'  are  applied 
to  the  wound. 

Among  the  other  remedies  which  may  be  used,  and  perhaps  with 
equally  as  good  results,  will  be  noted  the  sulphate  of  copper,  iron,  and 
zinc,  5  grains  of  either  to  the  ounce  of  water;  chloride  of  zinc,  5  grains 
to  the  ounce;  carbolic  acid,  20  drops  dissolved  in  an  equal  amount  of 
glycerin  and  added  to  1  ounce  of  water;  nitrate  of  silver,  10  grains  to 
the  ounce  of  water;  and  creolin,  pure  or  diluted. 

If  the  wound  is  slow  to  heal,  it  will  be  found  of  advantage  to  chani^e 
the  remedies  every  few  days. 

If  the  wound  is  pale  in  color,  the  granulations  transparent  and 
glistening,  the  tincture  of  aloes,  tincture  of  gentian,  or  the  spirits  of 
camphor  rasij  do  best. 

When  the  sore  is  red  in  color  and  healing  rapidly,  an  ointment  made 
of  1  part  of  carbolic  acid  to  40  parts  of  cosmoline  or  vaseline  is  all  that 
is  needed. 

If  the  granulations  continue  to  grow  until  a  tumor  is  formed  which 
projects  beyond  the  surrounding  skin,  it  should  be  cut  off  with  a  sharp, 
clean  knife,  and  the  foot  poulticed  for  twenty-four  hours,  after  which 
the  wound  is  to  be  well  cauterized  daily  with  lunar  caustic  and  the 
bandages  applied  with  great  firmness. 

The  question  as  to  how  often  the  dressings  should  be  renewed  nuist 
be  determined  by  the  condition  of  the  wound,  etc.  If  the  sore  is  sup- 
purating freely  it  will  be  necessary  to  renew  the  dressing  every  twenty- 
four  or  forty-eight  hours;  if  the  discharge  is  small  in  quantity  and  the 
patient  comfortable,  the  dressing  may  be  left  on  for  several  da^'s;  in 
fact,  the  less  often  the  wound  is  disturbed  the  better,  in  so  long  as  the 
healing  process  is  health}-.  When  the  sore  commences  to  skin  over, 
the  edges  should  belightlj-  touched  with  lunar  caustic  at  each  dressing. 
The  patient  may  now  be  given  a  little  exercise  daily;  but  the  bandages 
must  be  kept  on  until  the  wound  is  entirely  healed. 

TENDINOUS   QUITTOR. 

This  form  of  quittor  differs  from  the  cutaneous  in  that  it  not  only 
affects  the  skin  and  subcutaneous  tissues,  but  involves,  also,  the  ten 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  385^ 

dons  of  the  leg,  the  lig-Jiments  of  the  joints,  and,  in  many  cases,  the> 
bones  of  the  foot  as  well. 

Fortunately  this  form  of  quittor  is  less  common  than  the  preceding;: 
yet  any  case  beginning  as  simple  cutaneous  quittor  may,  at  any  time 
during  its  course,  become  complicated  by  the  death  of  some  part  of  the 
tendons,  by  gangrene  of  the  ligaments,  sloughing  of  the  coronar}^  band,, 
caries  of  the  bones,  or  inflammation  and  suppuration  of  the  synoviaF 
sacs  and  joints,  thereby  converting  a  sim.ple  quittor  into  one  which- 
will,  in  all  probabilit}^,  either  destroy  the  patient's  life  or  maim  him 
for  all  time. 

Causes.- — Tendinous  quittor  is  caused  b}^  the  same  injuries  and  intlu- 
ences  that  produce  the  simple  form.  Zundel  believes  it  to  be  a  not 
infrequent  accompaniment  of  distemper.  In  my  own  experience  I 
have  seen  nothing  to  verify  this  belief,  but  I  am  satisfied  that  young 
animals  are  more  liable  to  have  tendinous  quittor  than  older  ones,  anct 
that  they  are  much  more  likely  to  make  a  good  recovery. 

Symptoms. — When  a  case  of  simple  quittor  is  transformed  into  the- 
tendinous  variety  the  change  is  announced  by  a  sudden  increase  in  the- 
severity  of  all  the  symptoms.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  attack  pri- 
marily is  one  of  tendinous  quittor,  the  earliest  S3^mptom  seen  is  a  well-- 
marked  lameness.  In  those  cases  due  to  causes  other  than  injuries- 
this  lameness  is  at  first  very  slight,  and  the  animal  limps  no  more  in- 
trotting  than  in  walking;  but  later  on,  generally  during  the  next  forty- 
eight  hours,  the  lameness  increases  to  such  an  extent  that  the  patient 
often  refuses  to  use  the  leg  at  all.  An  examination  made  during  the- 
first  two  days  rarely  discloses  any  cause  for  this  lameness;  it  may  not 
be  possible  even  to  say  with  certainty  that  the  foot  is  the  seat  of  the- 
trouble.  On  the  third  or  fourth  day,  sometimes  as  late  as  the  fifth,  a. 
doughy-feeling  tumor  will  be  found  forming  on  the  heel  or  quarter. 
This  tumor  grows  rapidly,  feels  hot  to  the  touch,  and  is  extremely 
painful.  As  the  tumor  develops,  all  the  other  symptoms  increase  in- 
intensity;  the  pulse  is  rapid  and  hard;  the  breathing  quick;  the  tem- 
perature elevated  three  or  four  degrees;  the  appetite  Is  gone;  thirst 
increased,  and  the  lameness  so  great  that  the  foot  is  carried  in  the  air- 
if  locomotion  is  attempted.  At  this  stage  of  the  disease  the  patient" 
generally  seeks  relief  by  lying  upon  the  broad  side,  with  outstretched 
legs;  the  coat  is  bedewed  with  a  clammy  sweat,  and  every  respiration- 
is  accompanied  h\  a  moan.  The  leg  soon  swells  to  the  fetlock;  later- 
this  swelling  gradually  extends  to  the  knee  or  hock,  and  in  some  cases- 
reaches  tire  body.  As  a  rule,  several  days  elapse  before  the  disease- 
develops  a  well-defined  abscess,  for,  owing  to  the  dense  structure  of 
the  bones,  ligaments,  and  tendons,  the  suppui*ative  process  is  a  slow 
one,  and  the  pus  is  prevented  from  readily  collecting  in  a  mass. 

Recently  I  made  a  postmortem  examination  on  a  typical  case  of  this 
disease,  where   the  animal  had  died  on  the  fourth  day  after  being; 
14384—03 25 


386  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

found  on  the  range  slightly  lame.  The  suffering  had  been  intense; 
yet  the  only  external  evidences  of  the  disease  consisted  in  the  shed- 
ding of  the  hoof  from  the  right  forefoot  and  a  limited  swelling  of 
the  log  to  the  knee.  The  sloughing  of  tlie  hoof  took  place  two  or 
tlirec  hours  before  death,  and  was  accompanied  with  but  little  suppu- 
ration and  no  hemorrhage.  The  skin  from  the  knee  to  the  foot  was 
thickened  from  watery  infiltration  (edema),  and  on  the  inside  quarter 
three  holes,  each  about  one-half  inch  in  diameter,  were  found.  All 
had  ragged  edges,  while  but  one  had  gone  deep  enough  to  perforate 
the  coronary  band.  The  loose  connective  tissue  beneath  the  skin  was 
distended,  with  a  gelatinous  infiltration  over  the  whole  course  of  the 
flexor  tendons  and  to  the  fetlock  joint  over  the  tendon  in  front.  The 
soft  tissues  covering  the  coffiubone  were  loosened  in  patches.by  col- 
lections of  pus  which  had  formed  beneath  the  sensitive  laminte.  The 
coffin  and  pastern  joints  were  inflamed,  as  were  also  the  coffin,  navicu- 
lar, and  coronet  bones,  while  the  outside  toe  of  the  coffinbone  had 
become  softened  from  suppuration  until  it  readily  crumbled  between 
the  fingers.  The  coronary  band  was  largely  destroyed  and  completely 
separated  from  the  other  tissues  of  the  foot.  The  inner  lateral  carti- 
lage was  gangrenous,  as  was  also  a  small  spot  on  the  extensor  tendon 
near  its  point  of  attachment  on  the  coffinlwne.  Several  small  collec- 
tions of  pus  were  found  deep  in  the  connectiv^e  tissue  of  the  coronary 
region;  along  the  course  of  the  sesamoid  ligaments;  in  the  sheath  of 
the  flexor  tendons;  under  the  tendon  just  ])elow  the  fetlock  joint  in 
front,  and  in  the  coffin  joint. 

But  all  cases  of  tendinous  quittor  are  by  no  means  so  complicated 
as  this  one  was.  In  rare  instances  the  swelling  is  slight,  and  after  a 
few  days  the  lameness  and  other  symptoms  subside,  without  any  dis- 
charge of  pus  from  an  external  opening.  In  most  cases,  however, 
from  one  to  half  a  dozen  or  more  soft  points  arise  on  the  skin  of  the 
coronet,  open,  and  discharge  slowly  a  thick,  yellow,  fetid,  and  bloody 
matter.  In  other  cases  the  suppurative  process  is  largely  confined  to 
the  sensitive  laminai  and  plantar  cushion,  when  the  suffering  is  intense 
until  the  pus  finds  an  avenue  of  escape  Iw  separating  the  hoof  from  the 
coronary  band,  at  or  near  the  heels,  without  causing  a  loss  of  the  whole 
horny  box.  When  the  flexor  tendon  is  involved  deep  in  the  foot,  the 
discharge  of  pus  usually  takes  place  from  an  opening  in  the  hollow  of 
the  heel;  if  the  sesamoid  ligament  or  the  sheath  of  the  flexors  are 
affected,  the  opening  is  nearer  the  fetlock  joint;  although  in  most  of 
these  cases  the  suppuration  spreads  along  the  course  of  the  tendons 
until  the  navicular  joint  is  involved,  and  extensive  sloughing  of  the 
deeper  parts  follows. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  tendinous  quittor  is  to  be  directed 
toward  the  saving  of  the  foot.  First  of  all  an  effort  must  be  made  to 
prevent  suppuration;  and  if  the  patient  is  seen  at  the  beginning,  cold 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  387 

irrigation,  recommended  in  the  treatment  for  cutaneous  quittor,  is  to 
be  resorted  to.  Later  on,  when  the  tumor  is  forming  on  the  coronet, 
the  knife  must  be  used,  and  a  free  and  deep  incision  made  into  the 
swelling.  Whenever  openings  appear  from  which  pus  escapes,  the}^ 
should  be  carefully  probed;  in  all  instances  the^e  listulous  tracts  lead 
down  to  dead  tissue  which  nature  is  trj'ing  to  remove  b}-  the  process 
of  sloughing.  If  a  counter  opening  can  be  made,  which  w^ill  enable  a 
more  ready  escape  of  the  pus,  it  should  be  done  at  once;  for  instance, 
if  the  probe  shows  that  the  discharge  originates  from  the  bottom  of 
the  foot,  the  sole  must  be  pared  through  over  the  seat  of  trouble. 
Whenever  suppuration  has  commenced  the  process  is  to  be  stimulated 
b}'  the  use  of  warm  baths  and  poultices.  The  pus  Avhich  accumulates 
in  the  deeper  parts,  especialh'  along  the  tendons,  around  the  joints, 
and  in  the  hoof,  is  to  be  removed  b}"  pressure  and  injections  made  with 
a  small  syringe,  repeated  two  or  three  times  a  day.  As  soon  as  the 
discharge  assumes  a  health}-  character  and  dmiinishes  in  quantit\',  stim- 
ulating solutions  are  to  be  injected  into  the  open  wounds.  Where  the 
tendons,  ligaments,  and  other  deeper  parts  are  affected,  a  strong  solu- 
tion of  carbolic  acid — 1  to  -i — should  be  used  at  first.  Or  strong  solu- 
tions of  tincture  of  iodine,  sulphate  of  iron,  sulphate  of  copper, 
bichloride  of  mercury,  etc.,  may  be  used  in  place  of  the  carbolic;  after 
which  the  remedies  and  dressings  directed  for  use  in  simple  quittor  arc 
to  be  used.  In  those  cases  where  the  fistulous  tracts  refuse  to  heal  it 
is  often  necessar}^  to  l)urn  them  out  with  a  saturated  solution  of  caustic 
soda,  equal  parts  of  muriatic  acid  and  water;  or,  better  still,  with  a 
long,  thin  iron,  heated  white  hot. 

But  no  matter  what  treatment  is  adopted,  a  large  percentage  of 
the  cases  of  tendinous  quittor  fail  to  make  good  recoveries.  Where 
the  entire  hoof  sloughs  awa}-,  the  growth  of  a  new,  but  soft  and  imper- 
fect, hoof  ma}'  be  secured  by  carefully  protecting  the  exposed  tissues 
with  proper  bandages.  When  the  joints  are  opened  by  deep  slough- 
ing, recovery  m^aj^  eventually  take  place,  but  the  joint  remains  immov- 
able ever  after.  If  caries  of  a  small  part  of  the  cofEnbone  takes  place, 
it  may  be  removed  by  an  operation;  but  if  much  of  the  bone  is  affected, 
or  if  the  navicular  and  coronet  bones  are  involved  in  the  carious  proc- 
ess, the  onh'  hope  for  a  cure  is  in  the  amputation  of  the  foot.  This 
operation  is  advisable  only  where  the  animal  is  valuable  for  breeding 
purposes.  In  all  other  cases  where  there  is  no  hope  for  recover}-,  the 
patient's  suffering  should  be  relieved  by  death.  In  tendinous  quittor 
much  thickening  of  the  coronary  region,  and  sometimes  of  the  ankle 
and  fetlock,  remains  after  suppuration  has  ceased  and  the  fistulous 
tracts  have  healed.  To  stimulate  the  reabsorption  of  this  new  and 
unnecessary  tissue,  the  parts  should  be  fired  with  the  hot  iron,  or,  in 
its  absence,  repeated  ]>listering  with  the  biniodide  of  mercury  oint- 
ment may  largely  accomplish  the  same  result. 


388  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

srniioRXY  QfirniH. 

This  Is  the  most  coiiiiiion  form  of  the  disease.  It  is  gencnilly  seen 
in  but  one  foot  at  a. time,  and  more  often  in  the  fore  than  in  the  hind 
feet.  It  nearl}'  always  attacks  the  inside  quarter,  but  may  affect  the 
outside  quarter,  the  band  in  front,  or  the  heel,  where  it  is  of  but  little 
consequence.  It  consists  in  the  inflammation  of  a  small  part  of  the 
coronary  band  and  adjacent  skin,  folloAved  by  sloughing-  and  suppura- 
tion, which  in  most  cases  extends  to  the  neighboring  sensitive  lamiivv. 

C(n(Sc'S. — Injuries  to  the  coronet,  such  as  bruises,  overreaching,  and 
calk  wounds,  are  considered  as  the  common  causes  of  this  disease. 
Still,  cases  occur  in  whicli  there  appears  to  be  no  exciting  cause,  just 
as  in  the  other  forms  of  quittor,  and  it  seems  fair  to  conclude  that 
subhorn}'  quittor  may  also  be  produced  by  internal  causes. 

S(/inj}toms\ — At  the  outset  the  lameness  is  alwa3's  severe,  and  the 
patient  often  refuses  to  use  the  affected  foot.  Swelling  of  the  coronet 
close  to  the  top  of  the  hoof  causes  the  quarter  to  protrude  beyond  the 
wall.  This  tumor  is  extremely  sensitive,  and  the  whole  foot  is  hot 
and  painful.  After  a  few  days  a  small  spot  in  the  skin,  over  the  most 
elevated  part  of  the  tumor,  softens  and  opens  or  the  hoof  separates 
from  the  coronary  band  at  the  quarter  or  well  back  toward  the  heel. 
From  this  opening,  w^herever  it  may  be,  a  thin,  watery,  offensive  dis- 
charge escapes,  often  dark  in  color,  at  times  mixed  with  blood,  and 
always  containing  a  considerable  percentage  of  pus. 

l'rol)ing  will  now  disclose  a  fistulous  tract  leading  to  the  bottoiu  of 
the  diseased  tissues.  If  the  opening  is  small,  there  is  a  tendency  upon 
the  part  of  the  suppurative  process  to  spread  downward;  the  pus 
gradually  separates  the  hoof  from  the  sensitive  laminie  until  the  sole  is 
reached,  and  even  a  portion  of  this  may  ])e  undermined. 

As  a  rule,  the  slough  in  this  form  of  quittor  is  not  deep,  and,  if  the 
case  receives  early  and  proper  trciitment,  complications  are  generally 
avoided;  but  if  the  case  is  neglected,  and,  occasionally,  even  in  spite 
of  the  best  of  treatment,  the  disease  spreads  until  the  tendon  in  front, 
the  latei-al  cartilage,  or  the  coffinbone  and  joint  as  well  are  involved. 

In  all  cases,  of  subhorny  quittor,  much  relief  is  experienced  when 
the  slough  comes  awa}',  and  rapid  recovery  is  made.  If,  however, 
after  the  lapse  of  a  few  days,  the  lameness  remains  and  the  wound 
continues  to  discharge  a  thin  unhealthy  matter,  the  probabilities  are 
that  the  disease  is  spreading,  and  pus  collecting  in  the  deeper  parts  of 
the  foot.  In  Zundel's  opinion,  if  the  use  of  the  probe  now  detects  a 
pus  cavity  below  the  opening,  a  cartilaginous  quittor  is  in  the  course 
of  development. 

Tnatinent. — Hot  baths  and  poultices  are  to  be  used  until  the  pres- 
ence of  pus  can  be  determined,  when  the  tumor  is  to  be  opened  W'ith 
a  knife  or  sharp-pointed  iron  heated  white  hot.  The  hot  baths  and 
poultices  are  now  continued  for  a  few  days  or  until  the  entire  slough 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  389 

has  come  awa}'-  and  the  discharge  is  diminished,  when  dressings 
recommended  in  the  treatment  for  cutaneous  quittor  are  to  be  used 
until  recovery  is  completed.  In  cases  where  the  discharge  comes 
from  a  cleft  between  the  upper  border  of  the  hoof  and  the  coronary 
band,  always  pare  away  the  loosened  horn,  so  that  the  soft  tissues 
beneath  are  fully  exposed,  care  being  taken  not  to  injure  the  healthy 
parts.  This  operation  permits  of  a  thorough  inspection  of  the  dis- 
eased parts,  the  easy  removal  of  all  gangrenous  tissue,  and  a  better 
application  of  the  necessary  remedies  and  dressings.  The  only  objec- 
tion to  the  operation  is  that  the  patient  is  prevent<xl  from  being  early 
returned  to  work. 

When  the  probe  shows  that  pus  has  collected  under  the  cotfinbone, 
the  sole  must  be  pared  through,  and,  if  caries  of  the  bone  is  present, 
the  dead  parts  cut  away.  After  either  of  these  operations  the  wound 
is  to  be  dressed  with  the  oakum  balls,  saturated  in  the  bichloride  of 
mercur}"^  solution,  as  previously  directed,  and  the  bandages  tightly 
applied.  Generally  the  discharge  for  the  first  two  or  three  days  is  so 
great  that  the  dressings  need  to  be  changed  every  twenty-four  hours; 
but  when  the  discharge  diminishes,  the  dressing  may  be  left  on  from 
one  to  two  weeks.  Before  the  patient  is  returned  to  work,  a  bar  shoe 
should  be  applied,  since  the  removed  quarter  or  heel  can  only  be  made 
perfect  again  by  a  new  growth  from  the  coronary  band. 

Tendinous  or  cartilaginous  complications  are  to  be  treated  as  directed 
under  those  headings. 

rAnnLA(;iN()r.s  quittok. 

This  form  of  quittor  ma}'  commence  as  a  primary  inllammation  of 
the  lateral  cartilage,  but  in  the  great  majoritj^  of  cases  it  appears  as  a 
sequel  to  cutaneous  or  subhorny  quittor.  It  may  affect  either  the  fore 
or  hind  feet,  but  is  most  commonly  seen  in  the  former.  As  a  rule,  it 
attacks  but  one  foot  at  a  time,  and  but  one  of  the  cartilages,  generally 
the  inner  one.  It  is  always  a  serious  affection  for  the  reason  that,  in 
many  cases,  it  can  only  be  cured  b}^  a  surgical  operation,  requiring  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  anatoni}'  of  the  parts  involved  and  nuich 
surgical  skill. 

Causes. — Direct  injuries  to  the  coronet,  such  as  trampling,  pricks, 
burns,  and  the  blow  of  some  heavy  falling  ol)ject  which  may  puncture, 
bruise,  or  crush  the  cartilage,  are  the  conunon  direct  causes  of  carti- 
laginous quittor.  Besides  being  a  sequel  to  the  other  forms  of  quittor, 
it  sometimes  develops  as  a  complication  in  suppurative  corn,  canker, 
grease,  laminitis,  and  punctured  wounds  of  the  foot.  Animals  used 
for  heavy  draft,  and  those  with  flat  feet  and  low  heels,  are  more 
liable  to  the  disease  than  others,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the}^  are 
more  exposed  to  injury.  Rough  roads  also  predispose  to  the  disease 
by  increasing  liability  to  injury. 


31)0  BUliEAU    OF    ANi:iAL    I^^DUSTKY. 

Symptoms. — When  the  disease  commences  as  a  primary  inflamma- 
tion of  the  cartilaoe,  himeness  develops  with  the  formation  of  a  swell-, 
ing  on  the  side  of  the  coronet  over  the  quarter.  The  severitj^  of  this 
lameness  depends  largely  upon  the  part  of  the  cartilage  which  is  dis- 
eased, for  if  the  disease  is  situated  in  that  part  of  the  cartilage  nearest 
the  heel,  where  the  surrounding  tissues  are  soft  and  spong}-,  the  lame- 
ness ma}'  be  very  slight,  especially  if  the  patient  is  required  to  go  no 
faster  than  a  walk;  but  when  the  middle  and  anterior  parts  of  the 
cartilage  are  diseased,  the  pain  and  consequent  lameness  are  much 
greater,  for  the  tissues  are  less  elastic  and  the  coffin  joint  is  more 
.likely  to  become  affected. 

Except  in  the  cases  to  be  noted  hereafter,  one  or  more  li.stulous 
openings  finally  appear  in  the  tumor  on  the  coronet.  These  openings 
are  surrounded  by  a  small  mass  of  granulations  which  are  elevated 
above  the  adjacent  skin  and  bleed  readily  if  handled.  A  probe  shows 
these  fistulous  tracts  to  be  more  or  less  sinuous,  but  always  leading  to 
one  point — the  gangrenous  cartilage.  When  cartilaginous  quittor 
happens  as  a  complication  of  suppurative  corn,  or  from  punctured 
Avounds  of  the  foot,  the  fistulous  tract  ma}'  open  alone  at  the  point  of 
injury  on  the  sole. 

The  discharge  in  this  form  of  quittor  is  generally  thin,  watery,  and 
contains  enough  pus  to  give  it  a  pale  yellow  color;  it  is  offensive  to 
the  sense  of  smell,  due  to  the  detachment  of  small  flakes  of  cartilage 
which  have  become  gangrenous  and  are  seen  in  the  discharge  as  sniall 
greenish  colored  particles.  In  old  cases  it  is  not  unusual  to  find  some 
of  the  fistulous  openings  heal  at  the  surface;  this  is  followed  by  the 
gradual  collection  of  pus  in  the  deeper  parts,  forming  an  abscess, 
Avhich  in  a  short  tim^  opens  at  a  new  point.  The  wall  of  the  hoof, 
over  the  affected  quarter  and  heel,  in  very  old  cases,  becomes  rough 
and  wrinkled  like  the  horn  of  a  ram,  and  generally  it  is  thicker  than 
the  corresponding  quarter,  owing  to  the  stimulating  effect  which  the 
disease  has  upon  the  coronary  band. 

Complications  may  arise  by  an  extension  of  the  disease  to  the  lateral 
ligament  of  the  coffin  joint,  to  the  joint  itself,  to  the  plantar  cushion, 
and  by  caries  of  the  coffinbone. 

Treatinent. — Before  recovery  can  tak(^  place  all  of  the  dead  cartilage 
nuist  be  removed.  In  rare  instances  this  is  effected  by  nature  without 
assistance.  Usually,  however,  the  disease  does  not  tend  to  recovery, 
and  active  curative  measures  must  be  adopted.  The  best  and  simplest 
treatment,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  is  the  injection  of  strong  caustic 
solutions,  which  destroy  the  diseased  cartilage  and  cause  its  discharge, 
along  with  the  other  products  of  suppuration.  In  favorable  cases 
these  injections  will  secure  a  healing  of  the  wound  in  from  two  to 
three  weeks.  While  the  saturated  solution  of  sulphate  of  copper,  or 
a  solution  of  10  parts  of  bichloride  of  mercury  to  100  parts  of  water, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  3'Jl 

has  given  the  best  results  iji  uiy  hands,  equalh'  as  favorable  success 
has  been  secured  by  others  from  the  use  of  caustic  soda,  nitrate  of 
silver,  sulphate  of  zinc,  tincture  of  iodine,  etc.  But  no  matter  which 
one  of  these  remedies  maj'-  be  selected,  it  must  be  used  at  least  twice  a 
da}'  for  a  time.  The  solution  is  injected  into  the  various  openings 
with  enough  force  to  drive  it  to  the  bottom  of  the  wound,  after  which 
the  foot  is  to  be  dressed  with  a  pad  of  oakum,  held  in  place  by  a  roller 
bandage  tightly  applied.  While  it  is  not  always  uecessarj^  it  is  often 
of  advantage  to  relieve  the  pressure  on  the  parts  b}^  rasping  away  the 
hoof  over  the  seat  of  the  cartilage;  the  coronary  band  and  laminaa 
should  not  be  injured  in  the  operation. 

If  the  caustic  injections  prove  successful,  the  discharge  will  become 
healthy  and  gradually  diminish,  so  that  b}'  the  end  of  the  second  week 
the  fistulous  tracts  are  closing  up,  and  the  injections  are  made  with 
much  difficulty. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  but  little  or  no  improvement  after 
this  treatment  has  been  used  for  three  weeks,  it  ma}'  reasonably  be 
concluded  that  the  operation  for  the  removal  of  the  lateral  cartilage 
must  be  resorted  to  for  the  cure  of  the  trouble.  As  this  operation 
can  be  safely  undertaken  only  by  an  expert  surgeon,  it  will  not  be 
described  in  this  connection. 


Thrush  is  characterized  by  an  excessive  secretion  of  unhealthy  mat- 
ter from  the  cleft  of  the  frog.  While  all  classes  of  horses  are  liable 
to  this  affection,  it  is  more  often  seen  in  the  ct)mmon  draft  horse  than 
in  any  other  breed — a  fact  due  to  the  conditions  of  servitude  and  not 
to  the  fault  of  the  breed.  Country  horses  are  much  less  sul)ject  to  the 
disease,  except  in  wet,  marshy  districts,  than  are  the  horses  used  in 
cities  and  towns. 

Causes.— The  most  common  cause  of  thrush  is  the  filthy  condition  of 
the  stable  in  which  the  animal  is  kept.  ISIares  are  more  liable  to  con- 
tract' the  disease  in  the  hind  feet  when  the  cause  is  due  to  filth,  while 
the  gelding  and  stallion  are  more  likely  to  develop  it  in  the  fore  feet. 
Hard  work  on  rough  and  stony  roads  may  also  induce  the  disease,  as 
ma}^  a  change  from  dryness  to  excessive  moisture.  The  latter  cause 
is  often  seen  to  operate  in  old  track  horses,  whose  feet  are  constantly 
soaked  in  the  bath  tub  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  soreness.  Muddy 
streets  and  roads,  especially  where  mineral  substances  are  plentiful, 
excite  this  abnonnal  condition  of  the  frog.  Contracted  heels,  scratches, 
and  navicular  disease  predispose  to  thrush,  while  by  some  a  constitu- 
tional tendency  is  believed  to  exist  among  certain  animals  which  other- 
wise present  a  perfect  frog. 

Symptoms. — At  first  there  is  simply  an  increased  moisture  in  the 
cleft  of  the  frog,  accompanied  by  an  offensive  smell.     After  a  time  a 


392  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

considerable  discharge  takes  place — thin,  wateiy,  and  highly  offen- 
sive, changing  graduall}'  to  a  thicker  piiriform  matter,  Tkhich  rapidly 
destroys  the  horn  of  the  frog.  Only  in  old  and  severe  cases  is  the 
patient  lame  and  the  foot  feverish — cases  in  which  the  whole  frog  is 
involved  in  the  diseased  process. 

Treatment. — Thrushes  are  to  be  treated  b}^  cleanliness,  the  removal 
of  all  exciting  causes,  and  a  return  of  the  frog  to  its  normal  condition. 
As  a  rule,  the  diseased  and  ragged  portions  of  horn  are  to  be  pared 
away  and  the  foot  poulticed  for  a  day  or  two  with  boiled  turnips,  to 
which  may  be  added  a  fcAV  drops  of  carbolic  acid  or  a  handful  of  pow- 
dered charcoal  to  destroy  the  offensive  smell.  The  cleft  of  the  frog 
and  the  grooves  on  its  edges  are  then  to  be  cleaned  and  well  filled  with 
dry  calomel  and  the  foot  dressed  with  oakum  and  a  roller  bandage. 
If  the  discharge  is  profuse,  the  dressing  should  be  changed  daily; 
otheiwiso  it  may  be  left  on  two  or  three  days.  Where  a  constitu- 
tional taint  is  supposed  to  exist,  with  swelling  of  the  legs,  grease,  etc., 
a  purgative,  followed  by  dram  doses  of  sulphate  of  iron,  repeated 
daily,  may  be  prescribed.  In  cases  where  the  growth  of  horn  seems 
too  slow  a  Spanish-fly  blister  applied  to  the  heels  is  often  followed  by 
good  results.  Feet  in  which  the  disease  is  readily  induced  may  be 
protected  in  the  stable  with  a  leather  boot.  If  the  thrush  is  but  a 
sequel  to  other  diseases,  a  permanent  cure  ma}-  not  be  possible. 

CANKER. 

Canker  of  the  foot  is  due  to  the  rapid  reproduction  of  a  vegetable 
parasite.  It  not  only  destro3^s  the  sole  and  frog,  but  b}^  setting  up  a 
chronic  inflammation  in  the  deeper  tissues  prevents  the  growth  of  a 
healthy  horn  l)y  which  the  injury  might  be  repaired.  Heavy  cart 
horses  are  more  often  affected  than  those  of  any  other  class. 

Causes. — The  essential  element  in  the  production  of  canker  is  the 
parasite;  consequentl}^  the  disease  may  be  called  contagious.  But,  as 
in  all  other  diseases  due  to  specific  causes,  the  seeds  of  the  disorder 
must  find  a  suitable  soil  in  which  to  grow  before  they  are  reproduced. 
It  may  be  said,  then,  that  the  conditions  which  favor  the  preparation 
of  the  tissues  for  a  reception  of  the  seeds  of  this  disease  are  simply 
predisposing  causes. 

The  condition  most  favorable  to  the  development  of  canker  is  damp- 
ness—in fact,  dampness  seems  indispensable  to  the  existence  and 
growth  of  the  parasite;  for  the  disease  is  rarel}^,  if  ever,  seen  in  high, 
dry  districts,  and  is  much  more  common  in  rainy  than  in  diy  seasons. 
Filthy  stables  and  muddy  roads  have  been  classed  among  the  causes  of 
canker;  but  it  is  very  doubtful  if  these  conditions  can  do  more  than 
favor  a  preparation  of  the  foot  for  the  reception  of  the  disease  germ. 

All  injuries  to  the  feet  ma.y,  by  exposing  the  soft  tissues,  render  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  393 

animal  susceptible  to  infection;  but  neither  the  injury  nor  the  irrita- 
tion and  inflammation  of  the  tissues  which  follow  are  sufficient  to 
induce  the  disease. 

For  some  unknown  reason  horses  with  lymphatic  temperaments — ■ 
thick  skins,  flat  feet,  fleshy  frog-s,  heavy  hair,  and  particularl}-  with 
white  feet  and  legs — are  especially  liable  to  cankor. 

Si/niptoms. — Usually,  canker  is  confined  to  one  foot;  but  it  may 
attack  two,  three,  or  all  of  the  feet  at  once;  or,  as  is  more  cominonl}^ 
seen,  the  disease  attacks  first  one  then  another,  until  all  may  have  been 
successively  afl'ected.  When  the  disease  folloAvs  an  injury  which  has 
exposed  the  soft-  tissues  of  the  foot,  the  wound  shows  no  tendenc}^  to 
heal,  but,  instead,  there  is  secreted  from  the  inflamed  parts  a  profuse, 
thin,  fetid,  watery  discharge,  which  gradually  undermines  and  destroys 
the  surrounding  horn,  until  a  large  part  of  the  sole  and  frog  is  diseased. 
The  living  tissues  are  swollen,  dark  colored,  and  covered  at  certain 
points  with  particles  of  new,  soft,  yellowish,  thready  horn,  which  are 
constantl}"  undergoing  maceration  in  the  abundant  liquid  secretion  by 
which  they  are  immersed.  As  this  secretion  escapes  to  the  surround- 
ing parts,  it  dries  and  forms  small,  cheesy  uiasses  composed  of  partly 
dried  horn}^  matter,  exceedingly  offensive  to  the  sense  of  smell.  When 
the  disease  originates  independently  of  an  injury,  the  first  evidences 
of  the  trouble  are  the  oflfensive  odor  of  the  foot,  the  liquid  secretion 
from  the  cleft  and  sides  of  the  frog,  and  the  rotting  away  of  the  horn 
of  the  frog  and  sole. 

In  the  earlier  stages  there  is  no  interference  with  locomotion,  but 
later  the  foot  becomes  sensitive,  particularly  if  the  animal  is  used  on 
rough  roads,  and,  fi.nally,  when  the  sole  and  frog  are  largely  destroj^ed 
the  lameness  is  severe. 

Treatnient. — Since  canker  does  not  destroy  the  power  of  the  tissues 
to  produce  horn,  but  rather  excites  them  to  an  excessive  production 
of  an  imperfect  horn,  the  indications  for  treatment  are  to  restore  the 
parts  to  a  normal  condition,  when  healthy  horn  may  again  be  secreted. 
In  my  experience,  limited  though  it  has  been,  the  old  practice  of  strip- 
ping off  the  entire  sole  and  deep  cauterization,  with  either  the  hot 
iron  or  strong  acids,  is  not  attended  Avith  uniformly  good  results. 

I  am  of  the  opinion  that  recover}'  can  generally  be  effected  as  surel}'^ 
and  as  speedily  with  measures  which  are  less  heroic  and  much  less 
painful.  True,  the  treatment  of  canker  is  likely  to  exhaust  the 
patience,  and  sometimes  the  resources,  of  the  attendant;  but,  after 
all,  success  depends  more  on  the  persistent  application  of  simple 
remedies  and  great  cleanliness  than  on  the  special  virtues  of  any 
particular  drug. 

First,  then,  clean  the  foot  with  vrarm  baths  and  applj^  a  poultice 
containing  powdered  charcoal  or  carbolic  acid.  A  handful  of  the 
charcoal   or   a   tablespoonful   of   the   acid   mixed  with    the   poultice 


394  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

serves  to  destroy  much  of  the  offen!?ive  odor.  The  diseased  portions 
of  horn  are  to  be  carefully  removed  -with  sharp  instruments,  until  only 
healthy  horn  borders  the  affected  parts.  The  edges  of  the  sound  horn 
are  to  be  jDared  thin,  so  that  the  swollen  soft  tissues  may  not  overlap 
their  borders.  With  shai-p  scissors  cut  off  all  the  prominent  points  on 
tlu^  soft  tissues,  shorten  the  -walls  of  tlie  foot,  and  nail  on  a  broad, 
phiin  shoe.  The  foot  is  now  ready  for  the  dressing's,  and  any  of  the 
many  stimulating  and  drying  remedies  may  be  used;  but  it  will  be 
necessary-  to  change  frequently  from  one  to  another,  until  tinally  all 
may  be  tried. 

The  list  from  which  a  selection  may  be  made  comprises  wood  tar, 
gas  tar,  petroleum,  creosote,  phenic  acid;  sulphates  of  iron,  copper, 
and  zinc;  chloride  of  zinc,  bichloride  of  mercury,  calomel,  caustic  soda, 
nitrate  of  silver,  chloride  of  lime;  carbolic,  nitric,  and  sulphuric  acids. 

In  practice  I  prefer  to  give  the  newh'  shod  foot  a  bath  for  an  hour 
or  two  in  a  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  iron,  made  by  adding  2  ounces 
of  the  powdered  sulphate  to  a  gallon  of  cold  water.  When  the  foot 
is  removed  it  is  dressed  with  oakum  balls,  dipped  in  a  mixture  made 
of  Barbados  tar,  1  part,  oil  of  turpentine,  8  parts,  to  which,  is 
slowly  added  2  parts  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  the  mixture  well  stirred 
and  cooled.  The  diseased  parts  being  well  covered  with  the  balls,  a 
pad  of  oakum,  sufficiently  thick  to  cause  considerable  ]:)ressure,  is 
placed  over  them,  and  all  are  held  in  place  by  pieces  of  heavy  tin 
fitted  to  slip  under  the  shoe.  Tlie  whole  foot  is  now  incased  in  a 
boot  or  folded  gunny  sack,  and  the  patient  turned  into  a  loose,  dry 
box.  The  dressings  are  to  be  changed  daih'-  or  even  twice  a  da}',  at 
first.  When  they  are  removed,  all  pieces  of  new  horn}'  matter  which 
are  now  firmly  adherent  must  be  rubbed  off  with  the  finger  or  a  tent 
of  oakum.  As  the  secretion  diminishes,  dr}-  powders  may  prove  of 
most  advantage,  such  as  calomel,  sulphates  of  iron,  copper,  etc.  The 
sulphates  should  not  be  used  pure,  but  are  to  be  mixed  with  powdered 
animal  charcoal  in  the  proportion  of  one  of  the  former  to  eight  or  ten 
of  the  latter.  When  the  soft  tissues  are  all  horned  over,  the  dress- 
ings should  be  continued  for  a  time,  weak  solutions  being  used  to 
prevent  a  recurrence  of  the  disease.  If  the  patient  is  run  down  in 
condition,  bitter  tonics,  such  as  gentian,  may  be  given  in  2-dram 
doses,  twice  a  day,  and  a  liberal  diet  of  grain  allowed. 


A  corn  is  an  injury  to  the  living  horn  of  the  foot,  involving  the 
soft  tissues  beneath,  whereby  the  capillar}'  blood  vessels  are  ruptured 
and  a  small  amount  of  blood  escapes,  which,  by  permeating  the  horn 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  stains  it  a  dark  color.  Jf  the  injury 
is  continuously  repeated  the  horn  becomes  altered  in  character,  and 
the  soft  tissues  may  suppurate  or  a  horny  tumor  develop.     Corns 


DISEASES    OF    THE    H0K3E.  o'J5 

always  appear  m  the  sole  in  the  angle  between  the  bar  and  the  outside 
wall  of  the  hoof.  In  many  cases  the  lamina?  of  the  bar,  of  the  wall, 
or  of  both,  are  involv^ed  at  the  same  time. 

Three  kinds  of  corns  arc  commonly  recog-nized — the  dry,  the  moist, 
and  the  suppurative — a  division  based  solely  on  the  character  of  the 
conditions  which  follow  the  primary  injury. 

The  fore  feet  are  almost  exclusively  the  subjects  of  the  disease,  for 
two  reasons:  First,  because  they  support  a  greater  part  of  the  body; 
secondly,  because  the  heel  of  the  fore  foot  during  progression  is  first 
placed  upon  the  ground,  whereby  it  receives  much  more  concussion 
than  the  heel  of  the  hind  foot,  in  which  the  toe  first  strikes  the 
ground. 

Causes. — It  may  be  said  that  all  feet  are  exposed  to  corns,  and  that 
even  the  best  feet  may  suifer  from  them  when  conditions  necessary  to 
the  production  of  the  peculiar  injury  are  present.  The  heavier  breeds 
of  horses  generally  used  for  heavy  work  on  rough  roads  and  streets 
seem  to  be  most  liable  to  this  trouble.     Mules  rarely  have  corns. 

Among  the  causes  and  conditions  which  predispose  to  corns  may  be 
named  high  heels,  which  change  the  natural  relative  position  of  the 
bones  of  the  foot  and  thereby  increase  the  concussion  to  which  these 
parts  are  subject;  contracted  heels,  which  in  part  destroy  the  elas- 
ticit}^  of  the  foot,  increase  the  pressure  upon  the  soft  tissues  of  the 
heel,  and  render  lacerations  more  easy;  long  feet,  which  b}'  removing 
the  frog  and  heels  too  far  from  the  ground  deprive  them  of  necessary 
moisture,  which,  in  turn,  reduces  the  elastic  properties  of  the  horn  and 
diminishes  the  transverse  diameter  of  the  heels;  and  weak  feet,  or 
those  in  which  the  horn  of  the  wall  is  too  thin  to  resist  the  tendency 
to  spread,  whereby  the  soft  tissues  are  easily  lacerated.  Wide  feet 
with  low  heels  are  alwaj^s  accompanied  b}"  a  flat  sole  whose  posterior 
wings  either  rest  upon  the  ground  or  the  shoe,  and  as  a  consequence 
are  easil}'  In-uised;  at  the  same  time  the  arch  of  the  sole  is  so  broad 
and  flat  that  it  can  not  support  the  weight  of  the  body,  and  in  the  dis- 
placement w^hich  happens  when  the  foot  is  rested  upon  the  ground  the 
soft  tissues  are  liable  to  become  bruised  or  torn. 

It  is  universall}^  conceded  that  shoeing,  either  as  a  direct  or  predis- 
posing cause,  is  most  prolific  in  producing  corns.  One  of  the  most 
serious  as  well  as  the  most  common  of  the  errors  in  shoeing  is  to  be 
found  in  the  f)reparation  of  the  foot.  Instead  of  seeking  to  maintain 
the  integrit}'  of  the  arch,  the  first  thing  done  is  to  weaken  it  by  freely 
paring  awa}"  the  sole;  nor  does  the  mutilation  end  here,  for  the  frog, 
which  is  nature's  main  support  to  the  branches  of  the  sole  and  the 
heels,  is  also  largely  cut  away.  This  not  only  permits  of  an  excessive 
downward  movement  of  the  contents  of  the  horn}^  box,  but  it  at  the 
same  time  removes  the  one  great  means  by  which  concussion  of  the 
foot  is  destroyed.     As  adjuncts  to  the  foregoing  errors  must  be  added 


31)0  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

tlic  faults  of  coiisti-uction  in  the  shoe  and  in  the  ^ay  it  is  adjusted 
to  the  foot.  An  excess  of  concavitj^  in  the  shoe,  extending  it  too  far 
back  on  the  heels,  high  calks,  thin  heels  which  permit  the  shoo  to 
spring,  short  heels  with  a  calk  set  under  the  foot,  and  a  shoe  too  light 
for  the  animal  wearing  it  or  for  the  work  re^iuired  of  him,  are  all  to 
be  avoided  as  causes  of  corns.  A  shoe  so  set  as  to  press  upon  the  sole 
or  one  that  has  been  on  so  long  that  the  hoof  has  overgrown  it  until 
the  heels  rest  upon  the  sole  and  bars  becomes  a  direct  cause  of  corns. 
Indirect!}'  the  shoe  becomes  the  cause  of  corns  when  small  stones, 
Jiard,  dry  earth,  or  other  objects  collect  between  the  sole  and  shoe. 
Lastly,  a  rapid  gait  and  excessive  knee  action,  especially  on  hard 
roads,  predispose  to  this  disease  of  the  feet. 

St/hi2.)toms. — Ordinarily  a  corn  induces  sufficient  pain  to  cause  lame- 
ness. It  may  be  intense,  as  seen  in  suppurative  corn,  or  it  may  be  but 
a  slight  soreness,  such  as  that  which  accompanies  dr}-  corn.  It  is  by  no 
means  unusual  to  see  old  horses  having  chronic  corns  apparentlj^  so 
accustomed  to  the  slight  pain  which  they  suffer  as  not  to  limp  at  all; 
but  these  animals  are  generalh'  very  restless;  the}^  paw  their  bedding 
behind  them  at  night,  and  often  refuse  to  lie  down  for  any  lengthened 
rest.  The  lameness  of  this  disease,  however,  can  hardly  be  said  to  be 
characteristic,  for  the  reason  that  it  varies  so  greatly  in  intensit}-;  but 
the  position  of  the  leg  while  the  patient  is  at  rest  is  generalh'  the  same 
in  all  cases.  The  foot  is  so  advanced  that  it  is  relieved  of  all  weight, 
and  the  fetlock  is  flexed  until  all  pressure  by  the  contents  of  the  hoof 
is  removed  from  the  heels.  In  suppurative  corn  the  lameness  subsides 
or  entirely  disappears  as  soon  as  the  abscess  opens.  When  the  injured 
tissues  are  much  inflamed,  as  may  happen  in  severe  and  recent  cases, 
the  heel  of  the  affected  side,  or  even  the  whole  foot,  is  hot  and  tender 
to  pressure.  In  dry  corn,  and  in  most  chronic  cases,  all  evidences  of 
local  fever  are  often  wanting.  It  is  in  these  cases  that  the  patient  goes 
well  when  newly  shod,  for  the  smith  cuts  away  the  sole  over  the  seat 
of  injury  until  all  pressure  by  the  shoe  is  removed,  and  lowers  the 
heels  so  that  concussion  is  reduced  to  a  mininmm. 

If  a  corn  is  suspected  the  foot  should  be  examined  for  increased 
sensibility  of  the  inside  heel.  Tapping  the  heel  of  the  shoe  with  a 
hammer  and  grasping  the  wall  and  bar  between  the  jaws  of  pincers, 
with  moderate  pressure,  will  cause  more  or  less  flinching,  if  the  disease 
is  present.  For  further  evidence  the  shoe  is  removed  and  the  heel  cut 
away  with  the  drawing  knife.  As  the  horn  is  pared  out,  not  only  the 
sole  in  the  angle  is  found  discolored,  but  in  man}^  instances  the  insen- 
sible laminfB  of  the  bar  and  wall  adjacent  are  also  stained  with  the 
escaped  blood.  In  moist  and  suppurative  corns  this  discoloration  is 
less  marked  than  in  dr}^  corn  and  may  be  entirely  wanting.  In  these 
cases  the  horn  is  soft,  often  white,  and  stringy  or  mealy,  as  seen  m 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  897 

pumiced  sole  resulting  from  founder.  When  the  whole  thickness  of 
the  sole  is  discolored  and  the  horn  dry  and  brittle,  it  is  generalh'  evi- 
dence that  the  corn  is  an  old  one  and  that  the  exciting  cause  has 
existed  continuousl3\  A  moist  corn  differs  from  the  dry  corn  in  that 
the  injury  is  more  severe;  the  parts  affected  are  more  or  less  inHamed, 
and  the  horn  of  the  sole  in  the  angle  is  undermined  by  a  citron-colored 
fluid,  which  often  permeates  the  injured  sole  and  lamina?,  causing  the 
horn  to  become  somewhat  spongy. 

A  suppurative  corn  differs  from  others  in  that  the  inflammation  ends 
in  suppuration.  The  pus  collects  at  the  point  of  injur}^  and  finally 
escapes  by  working  its  way  between  the  sensitive  and  insensible  1am- 
in83  to  the  top  of  the  hoof,  where  an  opening  is  made  between  the  wall 
and  coronar}^  band  at  or  near  the  heels.  This  is  the  most  serious  form 
of  corns,  for  the  reason  that  it  may  induce  gangrene  of  the  plantar 
cushion,  cartilaginous  quittor,  or  caries  of  the  cofiinbone. 

Treatment. — Since  a  diversit}'  of  opinion  exists  as  to  what  measures 
must  be  adopted  for  the  radical  cure  of  corns,  the  author  will  advise 
the  use  of  those  which  have  proven  most  efficient  in  his  hands. 

As  in  all  other  troubles,  the  cause  must  be  discovbred,  if  possible, 
and  removed.  In  the  great  majoritj^  of  cases  the  shoeing  will  be  at 
fault.  While  sudden  changes  in  the  method  of  shoeing  are  not  advis- 
able, it  may  be  said  that  all  errors,  either  in  the  preparation  of  the 
foot,  in  the  construction  of  the  shoe,  or  in  its  application  may  very 
properl}^  be  corrected  at  an}'^  time.  Circumstances  may  at  times  make 
it  imperative  that  shoes  shall  be  worn  which  are  not  free  from  objec- 
tions; as,  for  instance,  the  shoe  with  a  high  calk;  but  in  such  cases  it 
is  considered  that  the  injuries  liable  to  result  from  the  use  of  calks  are 
less  serious  than  those  which  are  sure  to  happen  for  the  want  of  them. 

For  a  sound  foot  perfectly  formed,  a  flat  shoe,  with  heels  less  thick 
than  the  toe,  and  which  rests  evenl}^  on  the  wall  proper,  is  the  best. 
In  flat  feet  it  is  often  necessary  to  concave  the  shoe  as  miTch  as  possi- 
ble on  the  upper  surface,  so  that  the  sole  may  not  be  pressed  upon. 
If  tlie  heels  are  ver}-  low  the  heels  of  the  shoe  maj^  be  made  thicker. 
If  the  foot  is  very  broad  and  the  wall  light  toward  the  heels,  a  bar- 
shoe  resting  upon  the  frog  will  aid  to  prevent  excessive  tension  upon 
the  soft  tissues  when  the  foot  receives  the  weight  of  the  body.  A 
piece  of  leather  placed  between  the  foot  and  shoe  serves  largel}^  to 
destroy  concussion,  and  its  use  is  absolutel  v  necessar}^  on  some  animals 
to  enable  them  to  work. 

Last  among  the  preventive  measures  may  be  mentioned  those  wdiich 
serve  to  maintain  the  suppleness  of  the  hoof.  The  dead  horn  upon 
the  surface  of  the  sole  not  only  retains  moisture  for  a  long  time,  but 
protects  the  living  horn  beneath  from  the  effects  of  evaporation;  for 
this  reason  the  sole  should  be  pared  as  little  as  possible.     Stuffing  the 


iJUb  IRliEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUtiTKY. 

foot  with  flax.scod  nioal,  wot  clay,  or  other  like  substances,  or  damp  dirt 
,lh)ors  or  damp  bedding  of  tanbark,  <»-reasy  hoof  ointments,  ete.,  are 
all  means  which  may  be  used  to  keep  the  feet  from  l)ecomin}4-  too  dr}' 
and  hard. 

As  to  the  curative  measures  whicii  are  to  be  adopted  nuich  will 
depend  upon  the  extent  of  the  injury.  If  the  case  is  one  of  chronic 
dry  corn,  with  but  slight  lameness,  the  foot  should  be  pt)ultieed  for  a 
day  or  two  and  the  discolored  horn  pared  out,  care  bein<^  taken  not  to 
injure  the  soft  tissues.  The  heel  on  the  atl'ected  side  is  to  be  lowered 
until  all  pressure  is  removed  and,  if  the  ])atient's  labor  is  required,  the 
foot  must  be  shod  with  a  bar  shoe  or  with  one  havino-  stitl'  lieels.  Care 
must  be  taken  to  reset  the  slioe  before  the  foot  has  grown  too  long,  else 
the  shoe  will  no  longer  rest  on  the  wallj  but  on  the  sole  and  bar. 

I  believe  in  cutting  moist  corns  out.  If  there  is  inflammation  pres- 
ent, cold  baths  and  poultices  should  be  used;  when  the  horn  is  well 
softened  and  the  fever  allayed,  pare  out  all  of  the  diseased  horn,  lightly 
cauterize  the  soft  tissues  beneath  and  poultice  the  foot  for  two  or  three 
days.  When  the  granulations  look  red,  dress  the  wound  with  oakum 
l)alls  saturated  in  a  weak  solution  of  tincture  of  aloes  or  spirits  of 
camphor  and  apply  a  roller  Iwudage.  Change  the  dressing-  every  two 
or  three  days  until  a  iirm,  healtliy  layer  of  new  horn  covers  the  wound, 
when  the  shoe  may  l)e  put  on,  as  in  dry  corn,  and  the  patient  returned 
to  work. 

In  suppurative  corns  the  loosened  horn  must  be  removed,  so  that 
the  pus  may  freely  escape.  It'  the  pus  has  worked  a  passage  to  the 
coronar}"  band  and  escapes  from  an  opening  between  the  band  and 
hoof,  an  opening  must  be  made  on  the  sole,  and  apld  baths  made 
astringent  with  a  little  suli)hate  of  iron  or  copper  art^^be  used  for  a 
day  or  tw^o.  When  the  discharge  becomes  healthy,  thfe  nstulous  tracts 
may  be  injected  daily  with  a  weak  solution  of  bichloride  of  mercury, 
nitrate  of  silver,  etc. ,  and  the  foot  dressed  as  after  operation  for  moist 
corns.  When  complications  arise  the  treatment  must  be  varied  to 
meet  the  indications;  if  gangrene  of  the  lateral  cartilage  takes  place, 
it  must  bo  treated  as  directed  under  the  head  of  caililaginous  quittor; 
if  the  velvety  tissue  is  gangrenous,  it  must  be  cut  away;  if  the  coHin- 
bone  is  necrosed,  it  must  bo  scrai)ed,  and  the  resulting  wounds  treated 
on  general  princii)les.  After  an}-  of  the  operations  for  corns  have 
been  performed,  in  which  the  soft  tissues  have  been  laid  bare,  it  is 
l)est  to  protect  the  foot  by  a  sole  of  soft  leather  set  beneath  the  shoe 
when  the  animal  is  returned  to  work.-  Only  in  rare  instances  are  the 
complications  of  corn  so  serious  as  to  destro}-  the  life  or  usefulness  of 
the  patient.  It  is  the  wude,  flat  foot  with  low  heels  and  a  thin  wall 
which  is  most  liable  to  resist  all  efl'orts  toward  efl'ecting  a  complete 
cure. 


diseasp:.s  of  the  house.  399 

bruise  of  the  frog. 

When  the  frog  is  severe!}'  bruised  the  injiny  is  followed  by  suppu- 
ration beneath  the  horn,  and  at  times  by  partial  gangrene  of  the 
plantar  cushion. 

Causes. — A  bruise  of  the  frog  generally  happens  from  stepping  on 
a  rough  stone  or  other  hard  object.  It  is  more  apt  to  take  place  when 
trotting,  running,  or  jumping  than  when  at  a  slower  pace.  A  stone 
wedged  in  the  shoe  and  pressing  on  the  frog  or  betAveen  the  sides  of 
the  frog  and  the  shoe,  if  it  remains  for  a  time,  produces  the  same 
results.  A  cut  through  the  horny  frog  with  some  sharp  instrument 
or  a  punctured  wound  b}'^  a  bhuit  pointed  instrument  may  also  cause 
suppuration  and  gangrene  of  the  plantar  cushion.  Broad,  flat  feet 
Avith  loAV  heels  and  a  fleshy  frog  are  most  lialde  to  these  injuries. 

Si/mptoms. — Lameness,  severe  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  the 
bruise  and  the  consequent  suppuration,  is  always  an  early  symptom. 
When  the  animal  moves  the  toe  onl}-  is  placed  to  the  ground  or  the 
foot  is  carried  in  the  air  and  the  patient  hobbles  along  on  three  legs. 
W^hen  he  is  at  rest  the  foot  is  set  forward  Avith  the  toe  on  the  ground 
and  the  leg  flexed  at  the  fetlock  joint.  As  soon  as  the  pus  finds  its 
Avay  to  the  surface  the  lameness  improves.  If  the  frog  is  examined 
early  the  injured  spot  may  usuall}-  be  found;  later,  if  no  opening 
exists,  the  pus  may  be  discovered  Avorking  its  waj-  toward  the  heels. 
The  horn  is  loosened  from  the  deeper  tissues,  and,  if  pared  through, 
a  thin,  yellow,  AvaterA'  and  offensive  pus  escapes.  In  other  cases  a 
ragged  opening  is  found  in  the  frog,  leading  doAvn  to  a  mass  of  dead, 
sloughing  tissues,  Avhich  are  pale  green  in  color  if  gangrene  of  the 
plantar  cushion  l?as  set  in.  In  rare  cases  the  coflinbone  may  be  in- 
volved in  the  injury  and  a  small  portion  of  it  become  carious. 

Treatment, — If  the  injury  is  seen  at  once,  the  foot  should  be  placed 
in  a  bath  of  cold  water  to  prevent  suppuration.  If  suppuration  has 
already  set  in,  the  horn  of  the  frog,  and  of  the  bars  and  branches  of  the 
sole  if  necessarj^,  is  to  be  pared  thin  so  tluit  all  possible  pressure  ma}'  be 
removed,  and  the  foot  poulticed.  When  the  pus  has  loosened  the  horn, 
all  the  detached  portions  are  to  be  cut  away.  If  the  pus  is  discharging 
from  an  opening  near  the  hair,  the  Avhole  frog,  or  one-half  of  it,  will 
generally  be  found  separated  from  the  plantar  cushion,  and  is  to  be 
removed  with  the  knife.  After  a  fcAV  days  the  gangrenous  portion  of 
the  cushion  will  slough  oflf  from  the  effects  of  the  poultice;  under  rare 
circumstances  only  should  the  dead  parts  be  removed  by  surgical  inter- 
ference. When  the  slough  is  all  detached,  the  remaining  Avound  is  to 
be  treated  with  simple  stimulating  dressings,  such  as  tmcture  of  aloes 
or  turpentine,  oakum  balls,  and  bandages  as  directed  in  punctured 
wounds.  When  the  lameness  has  subsided,  and  a  thin  layer  of  new 
horn  has  coA'ered  the  exposed  parts,  the  foot  may  be  shod.     Cover 


400  BUllEACr    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

the  frog  with  a  thick  pad  of  oakum,  hokl  in  phice  )\y  pieces  of  tin 
fitted  to  slide  under  the  shoe,  and  return  to  slow  work.  Where 
caries  of  the  coffinbone,  etc.,  follow  the  injury,  the  treatment  recom- 
mended for  these  complications  in  punctured  wounds  of  the  foot  must 
be  resorted  to. 

PUNCTUHKD    WOUNDS    OF    Till:    FOOT. 

Of  all  the  injuries  to  which  the  foot  of  the  horse  is  liable,  none  are 
more  common  than  punctured  wounds,  and  none  are  more  serious  than 
these  ma}'^  be  Avhen  involving  the  more  important  organs  contained 
within  the  hoof.  A  nail  is  the  most  common  instrument  by  which  the 
injury  is  inflicted,  yet  wounds  ma}-  happen  from  sharp  pieces  of  rock, 
glass,  wire,  knives,  etc. 

A  wound  of  the  foot  is  more  serious  when  made  by  a  blunt-pointed 
instrument  than  when  the  point  is  sharp,  and  the  nearer  the  injury  is 
to  the  center  of  the  foot  the  more  likely  arc  disastrous  results  to  follow. 
Wounds  in  the  heel  and  in  the  posterior  parts  of  the  frog  are  attended 
with  but  little  danger,  unless  they  are  so  deep  as  to  injure  the  lateral 
cartilages,  when  quittor  may  follow.  Punctured  wounds  of  the  ante- 
rior parts  of  the  sole  are  more  dangerous,  for  the  reason  that  the  coflln- 
bonc  may  be  injured,  and  the  suppuration,  even  Vvhere  the  wound  is 
not  deep,  tends  to  spread  and  alwa^'s  gives  rise  to  intense  suffering. 
The  most  serious  of  the  punctured  wounds  are  those  which  happen  to 
the  center  of  the  foot,  and  which  involve,  in  proportion  to  their  depth, 
the  plantar  cushion,  the  plantar  aponeurosis,  the  sesamoid  sheath,  the 
navicular  bone,  or  the  coffin  joint. 

Punctured  wounds  are  more  likely  to  be  deep  in  flat  or  convex  feet 
than  in  well-made  feet,  and,  as  a  rule,  recovery  is  neither  so  rapid  nor 
so  certain.  These  wounds  are  less  serious  in  animals  used  for  Ijeavy 
draft  than  in  those  required  to  do  faster  work;  for  the  former  may  l)e 
useful,  even  if  complete  recovery  is  not  effected.  Lastly,  punctured 
wounds  of  the  fore  feet  are  more  serious  than  of  the  hind  feet,  for  the 
reason  that  in  the  former  the  instrument  is  apt  to  enter  the  foit  in  a 
nearlj^  perpendicular  line,  and,  consequent!}^,  is  more  likely  to  injure 
the  deeper  structures  of  the  foot;  in  the  hind  foot,  the  injury  is 
generally  near  the  heels  and  the  wound  oblique  and  less  deep. 

Symptoms. — A  nail  or  other  sharp  instrument  ma\^  penetrate  the 
frog  and  remain  for  several  days  without  causing  lameness;  in  fact,  in 
mau}^  cases  of  punctured  wound  of  the  frog  the  first  evidence  of  the 
injur}^  is  the  finding  of  the  nail  or  the  appearance  of  an  opening  where 
the  skin  and  frog  unite,  from  which  more  or  less  pus  escapes.  Even 
when  the  sole  is  perforated,  if  the  injury  is  not  too  deep,  no  lameness 
develops  until  suppuration  is  established.  In  all  cases  of  foot  lame- 
ness, especially  if  the  cause  is  obscure,  the  foot  should  be  examined 
for  evidence  of  injury. 


PLA.TE    XXXIII 
'J'op  ofwfi/J . 


/ran  for  hiiinuig  /lolr-^ 


Actual  tfn'xkn^ss 
of  walL'^  of'Tioof. 


^^> 


■^ 


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cubsorptCoii  of  coffi7i  bonr. 


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Ql '  Al  ri'  Y.  H  -  (^  H . V(  ■  K    AX  1 )   H  V.  \\  K  D  T K  S . 


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DISEASES    OF   THE    H0B8E.  401 

The  lameness  from  punctured  wounds,  accompanied  b}^  suiDpuration, 
is  generally  severe,  the  patient  often  refusing  to  use  the  affected  mem- 
ber at  all.  The  pain  being  lancinating  in  character,  he  stands  with  the 
injured  foot  at  rest  or  constantly  moves  it  back  and  forth.  In  other 
cases  the  patient  lies  down  most  of  the  time  with  the  feet  outstretched^ 
the  breathing  is  rapid,  the  pulse  fast,  the  temperature  elevated,  and 
the  body  covered  with  patches  of  sweat. 

When  the  plantar  aponeurosis  is  injured,  the  pus  escapes  with  diffi- 
cult}'  and  the  wound  shows  no  signs  of  healing;  the  whole  foot  is  hot 
and  ver}^  painful.  If  the  puncture  involves  the  sesamoid  sheath,  the 
synovial  fluid  escapes.  At  first  this  fluid  is  pure,  like  joint  water,  bufe 
later  becomes  mixed  with  the  products  of  suppuration  and  loses  its 
clear  amber  color.  Suppuration  generally  extends  up  the  course  of 
the  flexor  tendon,  an  abscess  forms  in  the  hollow  of  the  heel,  and  finally 
opens  somewhere  below  the  fetlock  joint.  The  whole  coronet  is  more 
or  less  swollen,  the  discharge  is  profuse  and  often  mixed  with  blood, 
jat  the  suffering  is  greatly  relieved  from  the  moment  the  abscess  opens. 

If  the  puncture  reaches  the  navicular  bone  the  lameness  is  intense- 
from  the  beginning;  but  the  only  certain  way  to  determine  the  exist- 
ence of  this  complication  is  by  the  use  of  the  probe,  and  unless  therfr 
is  a  free  escape  of  synovia  it  must  be  used  with  the  greatest  of  care^ 
else  the  coffin  joint  may  be  opened. 

If  the  cofiin  joint  has  been  penetrated,  either  b}"  the  offending  instru- 
ment or  by  the  process  of  suppuration,  acute  inflammation  of  the  joint 
follows,  accompanied  by  high  fever,  loss  of  appetite,  etc.  The  ankle; 
and  coronet  arc  now  greatly  swollen,  and  drops}'  of  the  leg  to  the  knee- 
or  hock,  or  even  to  the  body,  often  follows.  If  the  process  of  sup- 
puration continues,  small  abscesses  appear  at  intervals  on  different 
parts  of  the  coronet,  the  patient  rapidly  loses  flesh,  and  ma}^  die  from 
intense  suffering  and  blood  poisoning.  In  other  cases  the  suppuration 
soon  disappears,  and  recovery  is  effected  by  the  joint  becoming  stiff 
(anclndosis). 

When  the  wound  is  forward,  near  the  toe,  and  deep  enough  to  injure 
the  cofiinbone,  caries  always  results.  The  presence  of  the  dead  pieces 
of  bone  can  be  determined  by  the  use  of  the  probe;  the  bone  feels 
rough  and  gritty.  Furthermore,  there  is  no  disposition  upon  the  part 
of  the  wound  to  heal. 

Besides  the  complications  above  mentioned,  others  equally  as  seri- 
ous may  be  met  with.  The  tendons  may  soften  and  rupture,  the  hoof 
may  slough  off,  quittors  develop,  or  sidebones  and  ringbones  grow. 
Finall}',  laminitis  of  the  opposite  foot  may  happen  if  the  patient  per- 
sists in  standing,  or  lockjaw  may  cause  early  death. 

Treatment. — In  all  cases  the  horn  around  the  seat  of  injur}'  should 
be  thinned  down,  a  free  opening  made  for  the  escape  of  the  products 
of  suppuration,  and  the  foot  placed  in  a  poultice.  If  the  injury  is- 
14384—03 26 


402  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

not  serious,  recovery  takes  place  in  a  few  days'  time.  "Where  the 
wound  is  deeper,  it  is  better  to  put  the  foot  in  a  cold  bath  or  under  a 
stream  of  cold  water,  as  advised  in  the  treatment  for  quittor. 

If  the  bone  is  injured,  cold  baths,  containing  about  2  ounces  each 
of  sulphate  of  copper  and  sulphate  of  iron,  may  be  used  until  the 
dead  bone  is  well  softened,  when  it  should  be  removed  by  an  opera- 
tion. The  animal  must  be  cast  for  this  operation.  The  sole  is  pared 
away  until  the  diseased  bone  is  exposed,  when  all  the  dead  particles 
are  to  be  removed  with  a  drawing-knife  and  the  wound  dressed  with 
creolin  or  a  5  per  cent  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  oakum  balls,  and  a 
roller  bandage. 

Wounds  of  the  bone  which  are  made  by  a  blunt-pointed  instrument, 
like  the  square-pointed  cut  nail,  in  which  a  portion  of  the  surface  is 
driven  into  the  deeper  parts  of  the  bone,  always  progress  slowh%  and 
should  be  operated  upon  as  soon  as  the  conditions  are  favorable.  Even 
wounds  of  the  navicular  bone,  accompanied  by  caries,  ma}'  be  oper- 
ated on  and  the  life  of  the  patient  saved;  but  the  most  skillful  sur- 
gerj'  is  required  and  only  the  experienced  operator  should  undertake 
their  treatment. 

If  there  is  an  escape  of  pure  synovial  fluid  from  a  wound  of  the  sole, 
without  injur}^  to  the  bone,  a  small  pencil  of  corrosive  sublimate 
should  be  introduced  to  the  bottom  of  the  wound  and  the  foot  dressed 
as  directed  above. 

The  other  complications  are,  to  be  treated  as  directed  under  their 
proper  headings. 

After  healing  of  the  wounds  has  been  effected,  lameness,  with  more 
or  less  swelling  of  the  coronary  region,  may  remain.  In  such  cases 
the  coronet  should  be  blistered  or  even  fired  with  the  actual  cautery, 
and  the  patient  turned  to  pasture.  If  the  lameness  still  persists,  and 
is  not  due  to  a  stiff  joint,  unnerving  maj'  be  resorted  to;  in  many  cases 
with  very  good  results.  If  the  joint  is  auch3do8ed,  no  treatment  can 
relieve  it,  and  the  patient  must  either  be  put  to  very  slow  work  or 
kept  for  breeding  purposes  only. 

'•'' Prick  in  shoeing''''  is  an  injury  which  should  be  considered  under 
the  head  of  punctured  wounds  of  the  foot.  The  nails  by  which  the 
shoe  is  fastened  to  the  hoof  may  produce  an  injur}^  followed  by  inllam- 
mation  and  suppuration  in  two  days,  b}'  i:)enetrating  the  soft  tissues 
directly  or  by  being  driven  so  deep  that  the  inner  laj-ers  of  the  horn 
of  the  wall  are  pressed  against  the  soft  tissues  with  such  force  as  to 
crush  them.  In'  either  case  the  animal  generally  goes  lame  soon  after 
shoeing  unless  the  injury  is  at  the  toe,  when  the  first  evidence  of  the 
trouble  may  be  the  discharge  of  pus  at  the  coronet.  When  lameness 
follows  close  upon  the  setting  of  the  shoes,  without  other  apprecia))le 
cause,  each  nail  should  be  lightly  struck  with  a  hammer,  when  the 
one  at  fault  will  be  detected  by  the  flinching  of  the  animal. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  403 

Treatment  consists  in  drawing  the  nail,  and  if  the  soft  tissues  have 
been  penetrated  or  suppuration  has  commenced,  the  horn  must  be 
pared  away  until  the  diseased  parts  are  exposed.  The  foot  is  now  to 
be  poulticed  for  a  day  or  two,  or  until  the  lameness  and  suppuration 
hav^e  ceased.  If  the  discharge  of  pus  from  the  coronet  is  the  first  evi- 
dence of  the  disease,  the  oflfending  nail  must  be  found  and  removed,  the 
horn  pared  out,  and  creolin  or  a  weak  solution  of  carbolic  acid  injected 
at  the  coronet  until  the  fistulous  tract  has  healed. 

CONTRACTED    HEELS,  OR   HOOF-BOUND. 

Contracted  heels,  or  hoof -bound,  is  a  common  disease  among  horses 
kept  on  hard  floors  in  dry  stables,  and  in  such  as  are  subject  to  much 
saddle  work.  It  consists  in  an  atroph}^,  or  shrinking,  of  the  tissues  of 
the  foot,  whereby  the  lateral  diameter  of  the  heels  is  diminished.  It 
afl'ects  the  fore  feet  principal  I3";  but  it  is  seen  occasionall}^  in  the  hind 
feet,  w  here  it  is  of  less  importance  for  the  reason  that  the  hind  foot 
first  strikes  the  ground  with  the  toe,  and,  consequentl}^,  less  expan- 
sion of  the  heels  is  necessary  than  in  the  fore  feet,  where  the  weight 
is  first  received  on  the  heels.  Any  interference  with  the  expansibilitj^ 
of  this  part  of  the  foot  interferes  with  locomotion  and  ultimately  gives 
rise  to  lameness.  Usually  but  one  foot  is  affected  at  a  time;  but  when 
both  are  diseased  the  change  is  greater  in  one  than  in  the  other. 
Occasionally  but  one  heel,  and  that  the  inner  one,  is  contracted;  in 
these  cases  there  is  less  likel}^  to  be  lameness  and  permanent  impair- 
ment of  the  animal's  usefulness.  According  to  the  opinion  of  some 
of  the  French  veterinarians,  hoof -bound  should  be  divided  into  two 
classes — total  contraction.,  where  the  whole  foot  is  shrunken  in  size;  and 
contraction  of  the  heels,  when  the  trouble  extends  onlv  from  the  quarters 
backward.     (Plate  XXXIV,  figs,  -i  and  7.) 

Causes. — Animals  raised  in  wet  or  marsh}^  districts,  when  taken  to 
towns  and  kept  on  dry  floors,  are  liable  to  have  contracted  heels,  not 
alone  because  the  horn  becomes  dry,  but  because  fever  of  the  feet  and 
wasting  awa}^  of  the  soft  tissues  result  from  the  change.  Another 
common  cause  of  contracted  heels  is  to  be  found  in  faulty  shoeing, 
such  as  rasping  the  wall,  cutting  awa}^  the  frog,  heels,  and  bars;  high 
calks  and  the  use  of  nails  too  near  the  heels.  Contracted  heels  may 
happen  as  one  of  the  results  of  other  diseases  of  the  foot;  for  instance, 
it  often  accompanies  thrush,  sidebones,  ringbones,  canker,  navicular 
disease,  corns,  sprains  of  the  flexor  tendons,  of  the  sesamoid  and  sus- 
pensory ligaments,  and  from  excessive  knuckling  of  the  fetlock  joints. 

Sym.2?toms. — In  contraction  of  the  heels  the  foot  has  lost  its  circular 
shape,  and  the  walls  from  the  quarters  backward  approach  to  a  straight 
line.  The  ground  surface  of  the  foot  is  now  smaller  than  the  coronary 
circumference;  the  frog  is  pinched  between  the  inclosing  heels,  is 
much  shrunken,  and  at  times  is  aflected  with  th^-ush.     The  sole  is  more 


404  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

concave  than  natural,  the  heels  are  higher,  and  the  bars  are  long  and 
nearl}'  perpendicular.  The  whole  hoof  is  dry,  and  so  hard  that  it  can 
, scarcely  be  cut;  the  parts  toward  the  heels  are  scaly  and  often  ridged 
like  the  horns  of  a  ram,  while  fissures,  more  or  less  deep,  maj-  bo  seen 
at  the  quarters  and  heels  following  the  direction  of  the  horn  fibers. 
(Plate  XXXIII,  fig.  10.)  When  the  disease  is  well  advanced,  lame- 
ness is  present,  while  in  the  earlier  stages  there  is  only  an  uneasiness 
evinced  by  frequent  shifting  of  the  affected  foot.  Stumbling  is 
common,  especially  on  hard  or  rough  roads.  In  most  cases  the  animal 
comes  out  of  the  stable  stiff  and  inclined  to  walk  on  the  toe,  but  after 
exercise  he  may  go  free  again.  He  wears  his  shoes  off'  at  the  toe  in  a 
short  time,  no  matter  whether  he  works  or  remains  in  the  stable. 
If  the  shoo  is  removed  and  the  foot  pared  in  old  cases,  a  dry,  mealy 
horn  will  be  found  where  the  sole  and  wall  unite,  extending  upward 
in  a  narrow  line  toward  the  quarters. 

Treatment. — First  of  all,  the  preventive  measures  must  be  consid- 
ered. The  feet  are  to  be  kept  moist  and  the  horn  from  drying  out  by 
the  use  of  damp  sawdust  or  other  bedding;  b}^  occasional  poultices  of 
boiled  turnips,  linseed  meal,  etc.,  and  greasj^  hoof  ointments  to  the 
sole  and  walls  of  the  feet.  The  wall  of  the  foot  should  be  spared  from 
the  abuse  of  the  rasp;  the  frog,  heels,  and  bars  are  not  to  be  mutilated 
with  the  knife,  nor  should  calks  be  used  on  the  shoe  except  when 
absolutely  necessary.  The  shoes  should  be  reset  at  least  once  a  month, 
to  prevent  the  feet  from  becoming  too  long,  and  daily  exercise  must 
be  insisted  on. 

As  to  curative  measures  a  diversity  of  opinion  exists.  A  number 
of  kinds  of  special  shoes  have  been  invented,  having  for  an  object  the 
spreading  of  the  heels,  and  perhaps  any  of  these,  if  properh'  used, 
would  eventually  effect  the  desired  result.  But  a  serious  objection  to 
most  of  these  shoes  is  that  they  are  expensiv^e  and  often  difficult  to 
make  and  apply.  The  method  of  treatment  which  I  have  adopted  is 
not  only  attended  with  good  results,  but  is  inexpensive,  if  the  loss  of 
the  patient's  services  for  a  time  is  not  considered  a  part  of  the  ques- 
tion. It  consists,  first,  in  the  use  of  poultices  or  baths  of  cold  water 
until  the  horn  is  thoroughly  softened.  The  foot  is  now  prepared  for 
the  shoe  in  the  usual  way,  except  that  the  heels  are  lowered  a  little, 
and  the  frog  remains  untouched.  A  shoe,  called  a  "tip,"  is  made  by 
cutting  off"  both  branches  at  the  center  of  the  foot  and  drawing  the 
ends  down  to  an  edge.  The  tapering  of  the  branches  should  begin  at 
the  toe,  and  the  shoe  should  be  of  the  usual  width,  with  both  the  upper 
and  lower  surfaces  flat.  This  tip  is  to  be  fastened  on  with  six  or  eight 
small  nails,  all  set  well  forward,  two  being  in  the  toe.  AVith  a  com- 
mon foot  rasp  begin  at  the  heels,  close  to  the  coronet,  and  cut  away 
the  horn  of  the  wall  until  only  a  thin  layer  covers  the  soft  tissues 
beneath.     Cut  forward  until  the  new  surface  meets   the  old  2^  or  3 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  405 

inches  from  the  heel.  The  same  sloping-  shape  is  to  be  observed  in 
cutting  downward  toward  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  at  which  point  the 
wall  is  to  retain  its  normal  thickness.  The  foot  is  now  blistered  all 
around  the  coronet  with  Spanish-fl}^  ointment;  when  this  is  well  set, 
the  patient  is  to  be  turned  to  pasture  in  a  damp  field  or  meadow.  The 
blister  should  be  repeated  in  three  or  four  weeks,  and,  as  a  rule,  the 
patient  can  be  returned  to  work  in  two  or  three  months'  time. 

The  object  of  the  tip  is  to  throw  the  weight  on  the  frog  and  heels, 
which  are  readily  spread  after  the  horn  has  been  cut  away  on  the  sides 
of  the  wall.  The  internal  structures  of  the  foot  at  the  heels,  being 
relieved  of  excessive  pressure,  regain  their  normal  condition  if  the 
disease  is  not  of  too  long  standing.  The  blister  tends  to  relieve  any 
inflammation  which  maj^  be  present,  and  stimulates  a  rapid  growth  of 
health}^  horn,  which,  in  most  cases,  ultimately  forms  a  wide  and  nor- 
mal heel.  In  old,  chronic  cases,  with  a  shrunken  frog  and  increased 
concavity  of  the  sole,  accompanied  b}^  excessive  wasting  of  all  the 
internal  tissues  of  the  foot,  satisfactory  results  can  not  be  expected 
and  are  rarely  secured.  Still,  much  relief,  if  not  an  entire  cure,  may 
be  effected  by  these  measures. 

When  thrush  is  present  as  a  complication,  its  cure  must  be  sought 
by  measures,  directed  under  that  heading.  If  sidebones,  ringbones, 
navicular  disease,  contracted  tendons,  or  other  diseases  have  been  the 
cause  of  contracted  heels,  treatment  will  be  useless  until  the  cause  is 
removed. 

SAND-CRACKS. 

A  sand-crack  is  a  fissure  in  the  horn  of  the  wall  of  the  foot.  These 
fissures  are  quite  narrow,  and,  as  a  general  rule,  they  follow  the 
direction  of  the  hornj'  fibers.  They  may  occur  on  any  pai-t  of  the 
wall,  but  ordinarily  are  onl}'  seen  directlv  in  front,  when  they  are 
called  toe-cracks;  or  on  the  lateral  parts  of  the  v^'alls,  w^hon  they  are 
known  as  quarter-cracks.     (Plate  XXXIII.) 

Toe-cracks  are  most  common  in  the  hind  feet,  vv'hile  quarter-cracks 
nearl}^  alwaj's  affect  the  fore  feet.  The  inside  quarter  is  more  liable 
to  the  injury  than  the  outside,  for  the  reason  that  this  quarter  is  not 
only  the  thinner,  but  during  locomotion  receives  a  greater  part  of  the 
weight  of  the  bod3\  A  sand-crack  may  be  superficial,  involving  only 
the  outer  parts  of  the  wall,  or  it  maj''  be  deep,  involving  the  whole 
thickness  of  the  wall  and  the  soft  tissues  beneath. 

The  toe-crack  is  most  likely  to  be  complete — that  is,  extending  from 
the  coronary  band  to  the  sole — while  the  quarter-crack  is  nearly  always 
incomplete,  at  least  when  of  comparatively  recent  origin.  Sand-cracks 
are  most  serious  when  they  involve  the  coronary  band  in  the  injury. 
The}"  may  be  complicated  at  any  time  b}^  hemorrhage,  inflammation  of 
the  laminffi,  suppuration,  gangrene  of  the  lateral  cartilage  and  of  the 


406  BUllEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

extensor  tendon,  caries  of  the  coffinbono,  or  the  growth  of  u  horny 
tumor  known  as  a  keraphyllocele. 

Causes. — Relative  drjaiess  of  the  horn  is  the  principal  predisposing 
cause  of  sand-cracks.  Excessive  dryness  is  perhaps  not  a  more  pro- 
lific cause  of  cracks  in  the  horn  than  alternate  changes  from  damp  to 
dry.  It  is  even  claimed  that  these  injuries  are  more  common  in  ani- 
mals working  on  wet  roads  than  in  those  working  on  roads  that  are 
rough  and  dry;  at  least  these  injuries  are  not  common  in  mountainous 
countries.  Animals  used  to  running  at  pasture  when  transferred  to 
stables  with  hard,  dr}-  floors  are  more  liable  to  quarter-cracks  than 
those  accustomed  to  stables.  Small  feet,  with  thick,  hard  hoofs,  and 
feet  Avhich  are  excessively  large,  are  more  susceptible  to  sand-cracks 
than  those  of  better  proportion.  A  predisposition  to  quarter-cracks 
exists  in  contracted  feet,  and  in  those  where  the  toe  turns  out  or  the 
inside  quarter  turns  under. 

Heavy  shoes,  large  nails,  and  nails  set  too  far  back  toward  the 
heels,  together  with  such  diseases  as  canker,  quittor,  grease  and  sup- 
purative corns,  must  be  included  as  occasional  predisposing  causes  of 
sand-cracks. 

Fast  work  on  hard  roads,  jumping,  and  blows  on  the  coronet, 
together  with  calk  wounds  of  tlie  feet,  are  accidental  causes  of  quar- 
ter-cracks in  particular.  Toe-cracks  are  more  likeh^  to  l)e  caused  by 
heavy  pulling  on  slipper}'  roads  and  pavements  or  on  steep  hills. 

Symptoms. — The  fissure  in  the  horn  is  ofttimes  the  only  evidence 
of  the  disease;  and  even  this  may  be  accidentally  or  purposely  hidden 
from  casual  view  by  mud,  ointments,  tar,  wax,  putty,  gutta-percha, 
or  by  the  long  hairs  of  the  coronet. 

Sand-cracks  sometimes  commence  on  the  internal  face  of  the  wjill, 
involving  its  whole  thickness  excepting  a  thin  laj^er  on  the  outer 
surface.  In  these  cases  the  existence  of  the  injury  may  be  suspected 
from  a  slight  depression,  which  begins  near  the  coronary  band  and 
follows  the  direction  of  the  horny  fibers;  but  tlie  trouble  can  onl}'  be 
positively  diagnosed  b}'  paring  awa}'  the  outside  layers  of  horn  until 
the  fissure  is  exposed.  In  toe-cracks  the  walls  of  the  fissure  are  in 
close  apposition  when  the  foot  receives  the  weight  of  the  bod}-,  but 
when  the  foot  is  raised  from  the  ground  the  fissure  opens.  In  quarter- 
crack  the  opposite  is  true;  the  fissure  closes  when  the  weight  is 
removed  from  the  foot.  As  a  rule,  sand-cracks  begin  at  the  coronary 
band,  and  as  they  become  older  they  not  only  extend  downward,  but 
they  also  grow  deeper.  In  old  cases,  particularly  in  toe-crack,  the 
horn  on  the  borders  of  the  fissure  loses  its  vitality  and  scales  off, 
sometimes  through  the  greater  part  of  its  thickness,  leaving  behind 
a  rough  and  irreg-ular  channel  extending  from  the  coronet  to  the  end 
of  the  toe. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  407 

In  many  cases  of  quarter-crack,  and  in  some  cases  of  toe-ci'ack  as 
well,  if  the  ed^es  remain  close  together,  with  but  little  motion,  the 
fissure  is  dry;  but  in  other  cases  a  thin,  offensive  discharge  issues 
from  the  crack  and  the  ulcerated  soft  tissues,  or  a  fungus-like  growth 
protrudes  from  the  narrow  opening. 

When  the  cracks  are  deep,  and  the  motion  of  their  edges  consider- 
able, so  that  the  soft  tissues  are  bruised  and  pinched  with  every  move- 
ment, a  constant  inflammation  of  the  parts  is  maintained  and  the 
lameness  is  severe. 

Ordinarily  the  lameness  of  sand-crack  is  slight  when  the  patient 
walks;  but  it  is  greatly  aggravated  when  he  is  made  to  trot,  and  the 
harder  the  road  the  worse  he  limps.  Furthermore,  the  lameness  is 
greater  going  down  hill  than  up,  for  the  reason  that  these  conditions 
are  favorable  to  an  increased  motion  in  the  edges  of  the  fissure. 
Lastly,  more  or  less  hemorrhage  accompanies  the  inception  of  a  sand- 
crack  when  the  whole  thickness  of  the  wall  is  involved.  Subsequent 
hemorrhages  may  also  take  place  from  fast  work,  jumping,  or  a 
misstep. 

Treatment. — In  so  far  as  preventive  measures  are  concerned,  but 
little  can  be  done.  The  suppleness  of  the  horn  is  to  be  maintained  by 
the  use  of  ointments,  damp  floor,  bedding,  etc.  The  shoe  is  to  be  pro- 
portioned to  the  weight  and  work  of  the  animal;  the  nails  holding  it 
in  place  are  to  be  of  proper  size,  and  not  driven  too  near  the  heels; 
sufficient  calks  and  toe-pieces  must  be  added  to  the  shoes  of  horses 
working  on  slippery  roads;  and  the  evils  of  jumping,  fast  driving,  etc., 
are  to  be  avoided. 

When  a  fissure  has  made  its  appearance,  means  are  to  be  adopted 
which  will  prevent  it  from  growing  longer  or  deeper;  and  this  can 
only  be  done  by  arresting  all  motion  in  the  edges.  The  best  and 
simplest  artificial  appliance  for  holding  the  lx)rders  of  a  toe-crack 
together  is  the  Vachette  clasp.  These  clasps  and  the  instruments 
necessar}^  for  their  application  can  be  had  of  any  prominent  maker  of 
veterinarj^  instruments.  (Plate  XXXIIl.)  These  instruments  com- 
prise a  cautery  iron  with  which  two  notches  are  burned  in  the  wall, 
one  on  each  side  of  the  crack,  and  forceps  with  which  the  clasps  are 
closed  into  place  in  the  bottom  of  the  notches  and  the  edges  of  the 
fissure  brought  close  together.  The  clasps,  being  made  of  stiff  steel 
wire,  are  strong  enough  to  prevent  all  motion  in  the  borders  of  the 
crack.  Before  these  clasps  are  applied  the  fissure  shoidd  be  thoroughly 
cleansed  and  dried,  and,  if  the  injury  is  of  recent  origin,  the  crack 
may  be  filled  with  a  putty  made  of  2  parts  of  gutta  percha  and  1  part 
of  guQi  ammoniac.  The  number  of  clasps  to  be  used  is  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  length  of  the  crack,  the  amount  of  motion  to  be  arrested, 
etc.     Generally  the  clasps  are  from  one-half  to  three-quarters  of  an 


408  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

inch  apart.  The  clasps  answer  equall}-  as  well  in  quarter-crack  if  the 
wall  is  sufficiently  thick  and  not  too  chy  and  brittle  to  withstand  the 
strain. 

In  the  absence  of  these  instruments  and  clasps  a  hole  ma}-  be  drilled 
through  the  horn  across  the  fissure  and  the  crack  closed  with  a  thin 
nail  made  of  tough  iron,  neatl}^  clinched  at  both  ends.  A  plate  of 
steel  or  brass  is  sometimes  fitted  to  the  parts  and  fastened  on  with 
short  screws;  while  this  appliance  may  prevent  much  gaping  of  the 
fissure,  it  does  not  entirely  arrest  motion  of  the  edges,  for  the  simple 
reason  that  the  plate  and  screw  can  not  be  rendered  iiumobile. 

If,  for  any  reason,  the  above  measures  fail  or  can  not  be  used, 
recourse  must  be  had  to  an  operation.  The  horn  is  softened  by  the 
use  of  warm  baths  and  poultices,  the  patient  cast,  and  the  walls  of  the 
fissure  entireh'  removed  with  the  knife.  The  horn  removed  is  in  the 
shape  of  the  letter  V  with  the  base  at  the  coronet.  Care  must  be  taken 
not  to  injure  the  coronary  band  and  the  lamim^.  The  wound  is  to  be 
treated  with  mild  stimulant  dressings,  such  as  creolin,  a  weak  solu- 
tion of  carbolic  acid,  tincture  of  aloes,  etc.,  oakum  balls,  and  a  roller 
bandage.  After  a  few  days  the  wound  will  be  covered  with  a  new, 
white  horn,  and  the  oakum  and  bandages  only  will  be  needed.  As  the 
new  quarter  grows  out  the  lameness  disappears,  and  the  patient  may 
be  shod  with  a  bar-shoe  and  returned  to  work. 

In  all  cases  of  sand-crack  the  growth  of  horn  should  be  stimulated 
by  cauterizing  the  coronary  band  or  by  the  use  of  blisters.  In  sim- 
ple quarter-crack  recovery  will  often  take  place  if  the  coronet  is  blis- 
tered, the  foot  shod  with  a  "tip,"  and  the  patient  turned  to  pasture. 

The  shoe  in  toe-crack  should  have  a  clip  on  each  side  of  the  fissure 
and  should  be  thicker  at  the  toe  than  at  the  heels.  The  foot  should  be 
lowered  at  the  heels  by  paring,  and  spared  at  the  toe,  except  directly 
under  the  fissure,  where  it  is  to  be  pared  awa}'  until  it  sets  free  from 
the,  shoe. 

When  any  of  the  complications  referred  to  above  arise,  special 
measures  must  be  resorted  to.  For  the  proper  treatment  of  gangrene 
of  tlie  lateral  cartilage  and  extensor  tendon  and  caries  of  the  coffin- 
bone  reference  may  be  had  to  the  articles  on  quittors.  If  the  horny 
tumor,  known  as  kcraphyllocele,  should  develop  it  is  to  be  removed 
b}^  the  use  of  the  knife.  Since  this  tumor  develops  on  the  inside  of 
the  horny  box  and  may  involve  other  important  organs  of  the  foot  in 
disease,  its  removal  should  onlj^  be  undertaken  by  a  skillful  surgeon. 

NAVICULAR   DISEASE. 

Navicular  disease  is  an  inflammation  of  the  sesamoid  sheath,  induced 
by  repeated  bruising  or  laceration,  an^  complicated  in  many  cases  by 
inflanuuation  and  caries  of  the  navicular  bone.  In  some  instances  the 
disease  undoubtedly  begins    in   the  bone,  and  the  sesamoid    sheath 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  409 

becomes  involved  subsequently  b}^  an  extension  of  the  inflaraniatory 
process.     (Plate  XXXII,  fig.  5.) 

The  Thoroughbred  horse  is  more  commonly  affected  than  any  other, 
yet  no  class  or  breed  of  horses  is  entirely  exempt.  The  mule,  how- 
ever, seems  rarely,  if  ever,  to  suffer  from  it.  For  reasons  which  will 
appear  when  considering  the  causes  of  the  disease,  the  hind  feet  are 
not  liable  to  be  affected.  Usually  but  one  fore  foot  suffers  from  the 
disease,  but  if  both  should  be  attacked  the  trouble  has  become  chronic 
in  the  first  before  the  second  shows  signs  of  the  disease. 

Causes. — To  comprehend  full}"  how  navicular  disease  ma}'  be  caused 
by  conditions  and  usages  common  to  nearly  all  animals,  it  is  necessary 
to  recall  the  peculiar  anatomy  of  the  parts  involved  in  the  process  and 
the  functions  which  they  perform  in  locomotion. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  fore  legs  largely  support  the  weight 
of  the  body  when  the  animal  is  at  rest,  and  that  the  faster  he  moves 
the  greater  is  the  shock  which  the  fore  feet  must  receive  as  the  body 
is  thrown  forward  by  the  propelling  force  of  the  hind  legs.  This 
shock  could  not  be  withstood  by  the  tissues  of ^  the  fore  feet  and  legs 
were  it  not  that  it  is  largely  dissipated  by  the"' elastic  muscles  which 
bind  the  shoulder  to  the  body,  the  ease  with  which  the  arm  closes  on 
the  shoulder  blade,  and  the  spring  of  the  fetlock  joint.  But  even  these 
means  are  not  sufficient  within  themselves  to  protect  the  foot  from 
injury;  so  nature  has  further  supplemented  them  by  placing  the  coflin 
joint  on  the  hind  part  of  the  coffinbone  instead  of  directly  on  top  of 
it,  whereby  a  large  part  of  the  shock  of  locomotion  is  dispersed  before 
it  can  reach  the  vertical  column  represented  by  the  cannon,  knee,  and 
arm  bones.  A  still  further  provision  is  made  by  placing  a  soft,  elastic 
pad — the  frog  and  plantar  cushion — at  the  heels  to  receive  the  sesamoid 
expansion  of  the  flexor  tendon  as  it  is  forced  downward  by  the  pressure 
of  the  coronet  bone  against  the  navicular.  Extraordinary  as  these 
means  may  appear  for  the  destruction  of  shock,  and  ample  as  they  are 
when  the  animal  is  at  a  sli)w  pace  or  unweighted  by  rider  or  load,  they 
fail  to  relieve  completely  the  parts  from  concussion  and  excessive 
pressure  whenever  the  opposite  conditions  are  present.  The  result, 
then,  is  that  the  coronet  bone  forces  the  navicular  hard  against  the 
flexor  tendon,  which,  in  turn,  presses  firmly  against  the  navicular  as 
the  force  of  the  contracting  muscles  lifts  the  tendon  into  place.  It  is 
self-evident,  then,  Ihat  the  more  rapid  the  pace  and  the  greater  the 
load,  the  greater  must  these  contending  forces  be,  and  the  greater, the 
liability  to  injury.  For  the  same  reason  horses  with  excessive  knee 
action  are  more  likely  to  suffer  from  this  disease  than  others,  concus- 
sion of  the  foot  and  intense  pressure  on  the  tendon  being  common 
among  such  horses. 

Besides  the  above  exciting  causes  must  be  considered  those  which 
predispose  to  the  disease.     Most  prominent  among  these  is  heredity. 


410  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

It  ma}'  be  claimed,  however,  that  an  inherited  predisposition  to  navic- 
ular disease  consists  not  so  much  in  a  special  susceptibility  of  the 
tissues  which  are  involved  in  the  process  as  in  a  vice  of  conformation 
which,  as  is  well  known,  is  likely  to  be  transmitted  from  parent  to  off- 
spring. The  faults  of  conformation  most  likely  to  be  followed  b}^  the 
development  of  navicular  disease  are  an  insufficient  plantar  cushion, 
a  small  frog,  high  heels,  excessive  knee  action,  and  contracted  heels. 
Finally,  the  environments  of  domestication  and  use,  such  as  dry  sta- 
bles, heav}'  pulling,  bad  shoeing,  punctured  wounds,  etc..  all  have 
their  influence  in  developing  this  disease. 

Symptoms. — In  the  earl}'  stages  of  navicular  disease  the  symptoms 
are  generally  very  obscure.  When  the  disease  begins  in  inflammation 
of  the  navicular  bone  the  animal,  w^hile  at  rest,  points  the  affected  foot 
a  time  before  any  lameness  is  seen.  While  at  work  he  apparently 
travels  as  well  a«  ever,  but  when  placed  in  the  stable  one  foot  is  set 
out  in  front  of  the  other,  resting  on  the  toe,  with  fetlock  and  knee 
flexed.  After  a  time,  if  the  case  is  closely  watched,  the  animal  takes 
a  few  lame  steps  while  at  work,  but  the  lameness  disappears  as  sud- 
denly- as  it  (jame  and  the  driver  doubts  if  the  animal  was  reality  lame 
at  all.  Later  on  the  patient  has  a  lame  spell  which  may  last  during  a 
greater  part  of  the  day,  but  the  next  morning  it  is  gone;  he  leaves  the 
stable  all  right,  but  goes  lame  again  during  the  day.  In  time  he  has 
a  severe  attack  of  lameness,  which  may  last  for  a  week  or  more,  when 
a  remission  takes  place  and  it  may  be  weeks  or  months  before  another 
attack  supervenes.  Finally,  he  becomes  constantly  lame,  and  the  more 
he  is  used  the  greater  the  lameness. 

In  the  lameness  from  navicular  disease  the  affected  leg  alwa3's  takes 
a  short  step,  and  the  toe  of  the  foot  first  strikes  the  ground;  so  the 
shoe  is  most  worn  at  this  point.  If  the  patient  is  made  to  move  back- 
wards, the  foot  is  set  down  with  exceeding  g,reat  care,  and  the  weiglit 
rests  upon  the  affected  leg  but  a  moment.  When  exercised  he  often 
stumbles,  and  if  the  road  is  rough  he  may  fall  on  his  knees.  If  he  is 
lame  in  both  feet  the  gait  is  stiltj^,  the  shoulders  seem  stiff,  and,  if 
made  to  work,  sweats  profusely  from  intense  pain.  Earl}^  in  the 
development  of  the  disease  a  careful  examination  will  reveal  some 
increased  heat  in  the  heels  and  frog,  particularly  after  work;  as  the  dis- 
ease progresses  this  becomes  more  marked,  until  the  whole  foot  is  hot  to 
the  touch.  At  the  same  time  there  is  an  increased  sensibilit}-  of  the  foot, 
for  the  patient  flinches  from  the  percussion  of  a  hammer  lightl}'  applied 
to  the  frog  and  heels  or  from  the  pressure  of  the  smith's  pincers.  The 
frog  is  generally  shrunken,  often  of  a  pale-red  color,  and  at  times  is 
affected  with  thrush.  If  the  heels  are  pared  away  so  that  all  the  weight 
is  received  on  the  frog,  or  if  the  same  result  is  attained  b}'^  the  appli- 
cation of  a  bar  shoe,  the  animal  is  excessively  lame.  The  muscles  of 
the  leg  and  shoulder  shrink  awa}^,  and  often  tremble  as  the  animal 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  411 

stands  at  rest.  After  months  of  lameness  the  foot  is  found  to  be 
shrunken  in  its  diameter  and  apparent!}'  lengthened;  the  horn  is  dry 
and  brittle  and  has  lost  its  natural  gloss,  while  circular  ridges,  devel- 
oped most  toward  the  heels,  cover  the  upper  part  of  the  hoof.  When 
both  feet  are  affected,  the  animal  points  first  one  foot,  then  the  other, 
and  stands  with  the  hind  feet  well  forward  beneath  the  bod}^  so  as 
to  relieve  the  fore  feet  as  much  as  possible  from  bearing  weight.  In 
old  cases  the  wasting  of  the  muscles  and  the  knuckling  at  the  fetlock 
become  so  great  that  the  leg  can  not  be  straightened;  and  locomotion 
can  scared}'  be  performed.  The  disease  generally  makes  a  steady 
progress  without  inclining  to  recover}' — the  remission  of  symptoms 
in  the  earlier  stages  should  not  be  interpreted  as  evidence  that  the 
process  has  terminated.  The  complications  usually  seen  are  ringbones, 
sideboncs,  thrush,  contracted  heels,  quarter-cracks,  and  fractures  of 
the  navicular,  coronet,  and  pastern  bones. 

Treatment. — But  few  cases  of  navicular  disease  recover.  In  the 
early  stages  the  wall  of  the  heels  should  be  rasped  away,  as  directed  in 
the  treatment  for  contracted  heels,  until  the  horn  is  quite  thin;  the 
coronet  should  be  well  blistered  with  Spanish-fly  ointment,  and  the 
patient  turned  to  grass  in  a  damp  lield  or  meadow.  After  three  or 
four  weeks  the  blister  should  be  relocated.  This  treatment  is  to  be  con- 
tinued for  two  or  three  months.  Plane  shoes  are  to  be  put  on  when 
the  patient  is  returned  to  work.  In  chronic  cases  the  animal  should 
be  put  to  slow,  easy  work.  To  relieve  the  pain,  neurotomy  may  be  per- 
formed—an operation  in  which  the  sense  of  feeling  is  destroyed  in  the 
foot  by  cutting  out  pieces  of  the  nerve  at  the  fetlock.  This  operation 
in  nowise  cures  the  disease,  and,  since  it  may  be  attended  with  serious 
results,  can  only  be  advised  in  certain  favorable  cases,  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  veterinarian. 

SIDEBONES. 

,A  sidebone  consists  in  a  transformation  of  the  lateral  cartilages  found 
on  the  wings  of  the  coffinbone  into  bony  matter  by  the  deposition  of 
lime  salts.  The  disease  is  a  common  one,  especially  in  heavy  horses 
used  for  draft,  in  cavalry  horses,  cow  ponies,  and  other  saddle  horses, 
and  in  runners  and  trotters, 

Sideboncs  are  peculiar  to  the  fore  feet,  yet  they  occasionally  develop 
in  the  hind  feet,  where  they  are  of  little  importance  since  they  cause 
no  lameness.  In  many  instances  sideboncs  are  of  slow  growth  and, 
being  unaccompanied  by  acute  inflammation,  they  cause  no  lameness 
until  such  time  as,  by  reason  of  their  size,  they  interfere  with  the 
action  of  the  joint.     (Plate  XXXII,  fig.  4.) 

Causes. — Sideboncs  often  grow  in  heavy  horses  without  any  appar- 
ent injury,  and  their  development  has  been  attributed  to  the  over- 
expansion  of  the  cartilages  caused  by  the  great  weight  of  the  animal. 


412  BITKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

Blows  and  other  injuries  to  the  cartilages  ma}'  set  up  an  inflamnia- 
tor}'  process  which  ends  in  the  formation  of  these  bony  growths. 
High-heeled  shoes,  high  calks,  and  long  feet  are  always  classed  among 
the  conditions  which  may  excite  the  growth  of  sidebones.  They  are 
often  seen  in  connection  with  contracted  heels,  ringbones,  navicular 
disease,  punctured  wounds  of  the  foot,  quarter-cracks,  and  occasion- 
ally as  a  sequel  to  founder. 

Symptoms. — In  the  earlier  stages  of  the  disease,  if  intlammation  is 
present,  the  onl}-  evidence  of  the  trouble  to  be  detected  is  a  little  fever 
over  the  seat  of  the  affected  cartilage  and  a  slight  lameness.  In  the 
lameness  of  sidebones  the  toe  of  the  foot  first  strikes  the  ground  and 
the  step  is  shorter  than  natural.  The  subject  comes  out  of  the  stable 
stiff  and  sore,  but  the  gait  is  more  free  after  exercise. 

Since  the  deposit  of  bony  matter  often  begins  in  that  part  of  the 
cartilage  where  it  is  attached  to  the  cofiinbone,  the  diseased  process 
may  exist  for  some  time  before  the  bonv  growth  can  be  seen  or  felt. 
Later  on,  however,  the  cartilage  can  be  felt  to  have  lost  its  elastic 
character,  and  Iw  standing  in  front  of  the  animal  a  prominence  of  the 
coronary  region  at  the  quarters  can  be  seen.  Occasional!}'  these  bones 
become  so  large  as  to  bulge  the  hoof  outward,  and  by  pressing  on  the 
Joint  the}"  so  interfere  with  locoiuotion  that  the  animal  becomes  entirely 
useless. 

Treatment. — So  soon  as  the  disease  can  be  diagnosed  active  treat- 
ment should  be  adopted.  Cold-water  bandages  are  to  be  used  for  a 
few  days  to  relieve  the  fever  and  soreness. 

The  improvement  consequent  on  the  use  of  these  simple  measures 
often  leads  to  the  belief  that  the  disease  has  recovered;  but  with  a 
return  to  work  the  lameness,  fever,  etc.,  reappears.  For  this  reason 
the  use  of  blisters,  or,  better  still,  the  firing  iron,  should  follow  on  the 
discontinuance  of  the  cold  bandages. 

But  in  many  instances  no  treatment  will  arrest  the  growth  of  these 
bony  tumors,  and  as  a  palliative  measure  neurotomy  must  be  resorted 
to.  Generally  this  operation  will  so  relieve  the  pain  of  locomotion 
that  the  patient  may  be  used  for  slow  work;  but  in  animals  used  for 
fast  driving  or  for  saddle  purposes,  the  operation  is  practically  use- 
less. Some  years  ago  I  unnerved  a  number  of  cavalry  horses  at  Fort 
Leavenworth  that  were  suffering  from  sidebones,  and  the  records  show 
that  in  less  than  seven  months  all  were  more  lame  than  ever.  Since 
a  predisposition  to  develop  sidebones  may  be  inherited,  animals  suffer- 
ing from  this  disease  should  not  be  used  for  breeding  purposes  unless 
the  trouble  is  knowm  to  have  originated  from  an  accident. 

RINGBONE. 

A  ringbone  is  the  growth  of  a  bony  tumor  on  the  ankle.  This  tumor 
is,  in  fact,  not  the  disease,  but  simply  the  result  of  an  inflammatory 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  413 

action  set  up  in  the  periosteum  and  bone  tissue  proper  of  the  large  and 
small  pastern  bones.     (Plate  XXXIl,  fig.  1.) 

Causes. — Injuries,  such  as  blows,  sprains,  overwork  in  young,  unde- 
veloped animals,  fast  work  on  hard  roads,  jumping,  etc.,  are  among 
the  principal  exciting  causes  of  ringbones.  Horses  most  disposed  to 
this  disease  are  those  with  short  upright  pasterns,  for  the  reason  that 
the  shock  of  locomotion  is  but  imperfectly  dissipated  in  the  fore  legs 
of  these  animals.  Improper  shoeing,  such  as  the  use  of  high  calks, 
a  too  great  shortening  of  the  toe  and  correspondingly  high  heels, 
predispose  to  this  disease  b}^  increasing  the  concussion  to  the  feet. 

Sym/ptoins. — The  first  symptom  of  an  activel}^  developed  ringbone 
is  the  appearance  of  a  lameness  more  or  less  acute.  If  the  bony  tumor 
forms  on  the  side  or  u.pper  parts  of  the  large  pastern,  its  growth  is 
generally  unattended  with  acute  inflammatory  action,  and  conse- 
quently produces  no  lameness  or  evident  fever.  These  are  called 
"  false"  ringbones.  But  when  the  tumors  form  on  the  whole  circum- 
ference of  the  ankle,  or  simply  in  front  under  the  extensor  tendon,  or 
behind  under  the  flexor  tendons,  or  if  they  involve  the  joints  between 
the  two  pastern  bones,  or  between  the  small  pastern  and  the  coffin- 
bone,  the  lameness  is  always  severe.  These  constitute  the  true  ring- 
bone. Besides  lameness  the  ankle  of  the  affected  limb  presents  more 
or  less  heat,  and  in  many  instances  a  rather  firm,  though  limited, 
swelling  of  the  deeper  tissues  over  the  seat  of  the  inflammatory  proc- 
ess. The  lameness  of  ringbone  is  characteristic,  in  that  the  heel  is 
first  placed  on  the  ground  when  the  disease  is  in  a  fore  legj  and  the 
ankle  is  kept  as  rigid  as  possible.  In  the  hind  leg,  however,  the  toe 
strikes  the  ground  first,  when  the  ring})one  is  high  on  the  ankle,  just 
as  in  health,  but  the  ankle  is  maintained  in  a  rigid  position.  If  the 
bony  growth  is  under  the  front  tendon  of  the  hind  leg,  or  if  it 
involves  the  coffin  joint,  the  heel  is  brought  to  the  ground  first.  In 
the  early  stages  of  the  disease  it  is  not  always  easy  tcr diagnose  ring- 
bone, but  when  the  deposits  have  reached  some  size  they  can  be  felt 
and  seen  as  well. 

The  importance  of  a  ringbone  depends  on  its  seat  and  often  on  its 
size.  If  it  interferes  with  the  joints  or  with  the  tendons  it  may  cause 
an  incurable  lameness,  even  though  small.  If  it  is  on  the  sides  of  the 
large  pastern,  the  lameness  generally  disappears  as  soon  as  the  tumor 
has  reached  its  growth  and  the  inflammation  subsides.  Even  where 
the  pastern  joint  is  involved,  if  complete  anchylosis  results,  the  patient 
may  recover  from  the  lameness-with  simph^  an  imperfect  action  of  the 
foot  remaining,  due  to  the  stiff  joint. 

Treatment. — Before  the  bony  growth  has  commenced  the  inflam- 
matory process  may  be  cut  short  by  the  use  of  cold  baths  and  wet 
bandages,  followed  by  one  or  more  blisters.  If  the  bony  deposits 
have  begun  the  firing  iron  should  always  be  used.     Even  where  the 


414  BUREAU    OF   ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

tumors  are  large  and  the  pastern  joint  involved  firing  often  hastens 
the  process  of  anchylosis  and  should  always  be  tried. 

Where  the  lower  joint  is  involved  or  where  the  tumor  interferes 
with  the  action  of  the  tendons  recovery  is  not  to  be  expected.  In 
many  of  these  latter  cases,  however,  the  animal  may  be  made  service- 
able by  proper  shoeing.  If  the  patient  walks  with  the  toe  on  the 
ground  the  foot  should  be  shod  with  a  high-heeled  shoe  and  a  short 
toe.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  walks  on  the  heel,  a  thick-toed  and  thin- 
heeled  shoe  must  be  worn. 

Since  ringbone  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  hereditar}-  diseases,  no 
animal  suffering  from  this  trouble  should  over  be  used  for  breeding 
purposes. 

LAMIXITIS,  OR    FOUNDER. 

Laminitis  is  a  simple  inflammation  of  the  sensitive  lamina;  of  the 
foct,  characterized  by  the  general  phenomena  attending  inflamma- 
tion of  the  skin  and  mucous  membranes,  producing  no  constitutional 
disturbances  except  those  dependent  upon  the  local  disease,  and  hav- 
ing a  strong  tendency",  in  severe  cases,  to  destructive  disorganization 
of  the  tissues  affected. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  laminitis  are  as  wide  and  variable  as  in  an}' 
of  the  local  inflammations,  and  may.  be  divided  into  two  classes — the 
jpredisposing  and  the  excitlmj. 

Predisposing  causes. — From  personal  observation  I  do  not  know  that 
any  particular  construction  of  foot  or  any  special  breed  of  horses  is 
predisposed  to  this  disease,  neither  can  I  find  anything  to  warrant 
the  assumption  that  it  is  in  any  way  hereditary;  so  that  while  we 
may  easily  cultivate  a  predisposition  to  the  disease,  it  does  not  origi- 
nate without  an  exciting  cause.  Like  most  other  tissues,  a  predisposi- 
tion to  inflammation  may  be  induced  in  the  sensitive  laminaj  b}'  an}- 
cause  which  lessens  their  power  of  withstanding  the  work  imposed  on 
them.  It  exis'ts  to  an  extent  in  those  animals  unaccustomed  to  work, 
particularly  if  they  are  plethoric,  and  in  all  those  that  have  been  pre- 
vious subjects  of  the  disease;  for  the  same  rule  holds  good  here  that 
we  find  in  so  many  diseases— «*.  <?.,  that  one  attack  impairs  the  func- 
tional activity  of  the  affected  tissues  and  renders  them  more  easy  of  a 
subsequent  inflammation.  Unusual  excitement  by  determining  an 
excessive  blood  supplj^,  bad  shoeing,  careless  paring  of  the  feet  by 
removing  the  sole  support,  and  iiigh  calkings  without  corresponding 
toe  pieces  must  be  included  under  this  head. 

Exciting  causes. — The  exciting  causes  of  laminitis  are  many  and 
varied.  The  most  common  are  concussion,  overexertion,  exhaustion, 
rapid  changes  of  temperature,  ingestion  of  various  foods,  purgatives, 
and  the  oft-mentioned  metastasis. 

(1)  Concussion  produces  this  disease  b^^  local  overstimulation.  The 
excessive  excitement  is  followed  by  an  almost  complete  exhaustion  of 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  415 

the  functional  activity  of , the  laminated  tissues,  the  exhaustion  by  con- 
gestion, and  eventually  by  inflammation.  But  congestion  here,  as  in 
all  other  tissues,  is  not  necessarily  followed  by  inflammation;  for, 
although  the  principal  symptoms  belonging  to  true  laminitis  are  pre's- 
ent,  the  congestion  may  be  relieved  before  the  processes  of  inflamma- 
tion are  fully  established.  This  is  the  condition  in  the  many  so-called 
cases  of  laminitis  which  recover  in  from  twenty -four  to  forty-eight 
hours.     They  should  be  called  congestion  of  the  laminte. 

Laminitis  from  concussion  is  common  in  track  horses  trotting  races 
when  not  in  condition,  especially  if  they  carry  the  obnoxious  toe 
weights,  and  in  green  horses  put  to  work  on  city  pavements  to  which 
they  are  unaccastomed.  Concussion  from  long  drives  on  dirt  roads  is 
at  times  productive  of  the  same  results,  notabl}^  when  the  weather  is 
extremely  warm,  or  at  least  when  the  relative  change  of  temperature 
is  great.  But  the  exhaustion  of  these  circumstances  must  prove  an 
exciting  cause  as  well  as  the  long-continued  concussion.  This  combi- 
nation of  causes  must  also  determine  the  disease  at  times  in  hunters, 
for  the  weight  of  the  rider  increases  the  demands  made  upon  the 
function  of  these  tissues,  and  their  powers  are  the  sooner  exhausted. 

(2)  Overexertion,  as  heavy  pulling  or  rapid  work,  even  where  there 
is  no  immoderate  concussion,  occasionally  results  in  this  disease;  but 
here  also  exhaustion  is  a  conjunctive  cause,  for  overexertion  can  not 
be  long  continued  without  exhaustion. 

(3)  Exhaustion  is  nearly  as  prolific  a  source  of  laminitis  as  is  con- 
cussion; for  when  the  physical  strength  is  impaired,  even  though  tem- 
porarily, some  part  of  the  economy  is  rendered  more  vulnerable  to 
disease  than  others.  To  this  cause  we  must  ascribe  those  cases  which 
follow  a  hard  day's  work,  where  at  no  time  has  there  been  overexer- 
tion or  immoderate  concussion. 

The  tendenc}^  to  laminitis  in  horses  on  sea  voyages  results  from  the 
continual  constrained  position  the  animal  maintains  on  account  of  the 
rocking  motion  of  the  vessel. 

Where  one  foot  has  been  blistered,  or  where  one  limb  is  incapacitated 
from  any  cause,  the  opposite  member,  doing  double  duty,  soon  becomes 
exhausted,  and  congestion,  followed  by  inflammation,  results.  Where 
one  foot  only  becomes  laminitic,  it  is  customary  to  find  the  correspond- 
ing member  participating  at  a  later  date;  not  alwa3\s  because  of  S3'm- 
pathy,  but  because  one  foot  had  to  do  the  work  of  two. 

(4)  Rapid  changes  of  temperature  act  as  an  exciting  cause  of  lami- 
nitis by  impairing  the  normal  blood  supply. 

This  change  of  temperature  may  be  induced  by  drinking  large  quan- 
tities of  cold  water  while  in  an  overheated  condition.  Here  the  inter- 
nal heat  is  rapidly  reduced,  the  neighboring  tissues  and  blood  vessels 
constrained,  and  the  blood  supply  to  these  organs  greatly  diminished, 
while  the  quantity  sent  to  the  surface  is  correspondingly  increased. 


416  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Truo,  in  many  cases  there  has  not  been  sufficient  labor  performed  to 
impair  the  powers  of  the  laminre,  and  laminitis  is  more  readily  induced 
than  congestion  or  inflammation  of  the  skin  or  other  surface  organs, 
because  the  lamina?  can  not  relieve  themselves  of  threatened  conges- 
tion by  the  general  saf  et}^  valve  of  perspiration.  A  cold  wind  or  rela- 
tiveh'  cold  air  allowed  to  pla}^  upon  the  body  when  heated  and  wet 
with  sweat  has  virtuall}-  the  same  result,  for  it  arrests  evaporation  and 
rapidl}^  cools  the  external  surface,  thereb}^  determining  an  excess  of 
blood  to  such  organs  and  tissues  as  are  protected  from  this  outside 
influence.  In  many  instances  this  happens  to  be  some  of  the  internal 
organs,  as  the  lungs,  if  the  previous  work  has  been  rapid  and  their 
functional  activity  impaired;  but  in  numerous  other  instances  the 
determination  is  toward  the  feet,  and  that  it  is  so  depends  upon  two  very 
palpable  facts:  First,  that  these  tissues  have  been  greatly  excit;^d  and 
are  already  receiving  as  much  blood  as  they  can  acconmiodate  consist- 
ently with  health;  secondl}",  even  though  these  tissues  are  classed  with 
those  of  the  surface,  their  protection  from  atmospheric  influences  by 
means  of  the  thick  box  of  horn  incasing  them  renders  them  in  this 
respect  equivalent  to  internal  organs. 

A  more  limited  local  action  of  cold  may  excite  this  disease,  by  driv- 
ing through  water  or  washing  the  feet  and  legs  while  the  animal  is 
warm  or  just  in  from  work.  Here  a  very  marked  reaction  takes  place 
in  the  surface  tissues  of  the  limbs,  and  passive  congestion  of  the  foot 
results  from  an  interference  with  the  return  flow  of  l)lood  which  is 
being  sent  to  these  organs  in  excess.  These  are  more  apt  to  be  sim- 
ple cases  of  congestion,  soon  to  recover,  yet  they  maj^  1)ecome  true 
cases  of  laminitis. 

(5)  Why  it  is  that  certain  kinds  of  grain  will  cause  laminitis  does 
not  seem  to  be  clearl}'  understood.  Certainl}^  they  possess  no  specific 
action  upon  the  lamina^,  for  all  animals  are  not  alike  affected,  neither 
do  they  always  produce  these  results  in  the  same  animal.  Some  of 
these  foods  cause  a  strong  tendency  to  indigestion,  and  the  consequent 
irritation  of  the  alimentary  canal  may  be  so  great  as  to  warrant  the 
belief  that  the  lamin?e  are  affected  through  sympathy.  In  other 
instances  there  is  no  apparent  interference  Avith  digestion  nor  evidence 
of  any  irritation  of  the  mucous  membranes,  yet  the  disease  is  in 
some  manner  dependent  upon -the  food  for  its  inception.  Barley, 
wheat,  and  sometimes  corn  are  the  grains  most  apt  to  cause  this  dis- 
ease. With  some  horses  there  appears  to  be  a  particular  suscepti- 
bility to  this  influence  of  corn,  and  the  use  of  this  grain  is  followed  by 
inflammation  of  the  feet,  lasting  from  a  few  daj^s'  to  two  weeks'  time. 
In  these  animals,  to  all  appearances  healthy,  the  corn  neither  induces 
colic,  indigestion,  nor  purging,  and  apparently  no  irritation  whatever 
of  the  alimentary  canal. 

(6)  Fortunately  purgative  medicines  rarely  cause  inflanunation  of 


DISEASES    OF    THE    EOESE.  4 IT 

the  larniiiffi.  That  it  is  then  the  result  of  sympathetic  action  is  no- 
doubt  more  than  hypothetical,  for  when  there  is  no  derangement  of 
the  alimentary  canal  a  dose  of  cathartic  medicine  will  at  times  bring: 
on  severe  laminitis. 

(7)  Most  all  the  older  authorities  were  agreed  that  metastatic  lami- 
nitis is  a  reality.  In  my  opinion  metastatic  laminitis  is  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  concurrent  laminitis,  and  presents  little  in  any  way  pecul- 
iar outside  the  imperfectly  understood  exciting  cause.  The  practi- 
tioner who  allows  the  acute  symptoms  of  the  laminitis  to  mislead  him^ 
simply  because  their  severity  has  overshadowed  those  of  the  primary- 
disease,  ma}^  lose  his  case  through  unguarded  subsequent  treatment. 
This  form  of  laminitis  is  by  no  means  commonl}^  met  with.  It  may  be^ 
found  in  conjunction  with  pneumonia,  according  to  Youatt  with  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels  and  ej^es,  and  according  to  Law  and  Williams 
sometimes  with  bronchitis. 

Si/mptoms.- — Laminitis  is  characterized  bj^  a  congregation  of  symp- 
toms so  well  marked  as  scarcely  to  be  misinterpreted  by  the  most 
casual  observer.  They  are  nearlj^  constant  in  their  manifeshitions, 
modified  by  the  number  of  feet  affected,  the  cause  which  has  induced" 
the  disease,  the  previous  condition  of  the  patient,  and  the  various  other- 
influences  which  operate  in  all  diseases  to  some  extent.  They  may  l)e- 
divided  into  general  sjmiptoms,  which  are  concomitants  of  all  cases  of 
the  disease,  subject  to  variations  in  degree  only,  and  special  sjauptoms, 
or  those  which  serve  to  determine  the  feet  affected  and  the  complications 
which  ma}^  arise. 

General  symjytoms. — Usuall}^,  the  first  sjmiptom  is  the  interference- 
with  locomotion.  Occasionally  the  other  symptoms  are  j^resented  firsts. 
As  the  lameness  develops  the  pulse  becomes  accelerated,  full,  hard^ 
and  strikes  the  finger  strongly;  the  temperature  soon  rises  several' 
degrees  above  the  normal,  reaching  sometimes  106°  F. ;  it  generally 
ranges  between  102.5°  and  105°  F.  The  respirations  are  rapid  and' 
panting  in  character,  the  nostrils  w  idely  dilated,  and  the  mucous  mem- 
branes highly  injected.  The  facial  expression  is  anxious  and  indicative- 
of  the  most  acute  suffering,  v/hile  the  bod}'^  is  more  or  less  bedewed' 
with  sweat.  At  first  there  may  bo  a  tendency  to  diarrhea;  or  it  may 
appear  later  as  the  result  of  the  medicines  used.  The  urine  is  high 
colored,  scant  in  quantitj^,  and  of  increased  specific  gravity,  ov/ing  ta 
the  water  being  eliminated  b}^  the  skin  instead  of  the  kidneys.  Ther 
appetite  is  impaired,  sometimes  entirely  lost,  but  thirst  is  greatly- 
increased.  The  affected  feet  are  hot  and  dry,  and  are  relieved  as  much 
as  possible  from  bearing  weight.  Rapping  them  with  a  hammer,  or 
compelling  the  animal  to  stand  upon  one  affected  member,  causes 
intense  pain.     The  artery  at  the  fetlock  throbs  beneath  the  finger. 

Special  symptoms.— \a9^\\\X,j  to  affection  varies  in  the  different  feet 
according  to  the  exciting  cause.     Any  one  or  more  of  the  feet  may 
14384—03 27 


418  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

become  the  subject  of  this  disease,  although  it  appears  more  often  in 
the  fore  feet  than  in  the  hind  ones.  This  is  due  to  the  difference  of 
function,  /.  e.,  that  the  fore  feet  are  the  bases  of  the  columns  of  sup- 
port, receiving  nearl^^  all  the  body  weight  during  progression  and  con- 
.sequently  most  of  the  concussion,  while  the  hind  feet  become  simply 
the  fulcra  of  the  levers  of  progression,  and  are  almost  exempt  from 
concussion. 

One  foot. — Injuries  and  excessive  functional  performance  are  the 
causes  of  the  disease  in  only  one  foot.  The  general  symptoms,  as  a 
rule,  are  not  severe,  there  being  often  no  loss  of  appetite  and  no  unu- 
sual thirst,  while  the  pulse,  temperature,  and  respiration  remain  about 
normal.  The  weight  of  the  bod}'  is  early  thrown  upon  the  opposite 
foot,  and  the  affected  one  is  extended,  repeatedly  raised  from  the  floor, 
and  then  carefully  replaced.  When  made  to  move  forward  the  lame 
foot  is  either  carried  In  the  air  while  progression  is  accomplished  by 
hopping  with  the  health}'  one,  or  else  the  heel  of  the  first  is  placed 
upon  the  ground  and  receives  little  weight  while  the  sound  limb  is 
quickly  advanced.  Progression  in  a  straight  line  is  more  easy  than 
turning  toward  the  lame  side. 

Both  fore  feet. — When  both  fore  feet  are  affected  the  sj-mptoms  are 
well  marked.  The  lameness  is  excessive  and  the  animal  almost 
immovable.  When  standing  the  head  hangs  low  down,  or  rests  upon 
the  manger  as  a  means  of  support  and  to  relieve  the  feet;  the  fore 
feet  are  well  extended  so  that  the  weight  is  thrown  upon  the  heels, 
where  the  tissues  are  least  sensitive,  least  inflamed,  and  most  capable 
of  relief  by  free  effusion.  The  hind  feet  are  brought  forward  beneath 
the  body  to  receive  as  much  weight  as  possible,  thereby  relieving  the 
diseased  ones.  If  progression  is  attempted,  which  rarely  happens  vol- 
untarily during  the  first  three  or  four  daj's,  it  is  accomplished  Avith 
very  great  pain  and  lameness  at  the  starting,  which  usually  subsides  to 
an  extent  after  a  few  minutes'  exercise.  During  this  exercise,  if  the 
animal  happens  to  step  upon  a  small  stone  or  other  hard  substance,  he 
stumbles  painfully  and  is  excossivel}^  lame  in  the  offended  member  for 
a  number  of  steps,  owing  to  the  acute  pain  which  pressure  upon  the 
sole  causes  in  the  tissues  beneath.  The  manner  of  the  progression  is 
pathognomonic  of  the  complaint.  Sometimes  the  affected  feet  are 
simultaneously  raised  from  the  ground  (the  hind  ones  sustaining  the 
weight),  then  advanced  a  short  distance  and  carefully  replaced;  at 
almost  the  same  moment  the  hind  ones  are  quickly  shuffled  forward 
near  to  the  center  of  gravitation. 

In  other  instances  one  foot  at  a  time  is  advanced  and  placed  with  the 
heel  upon  the  ground  in  the  same  careful  manner,  all  causes  of  con- 
cussion being  carefully  avoided.  In  attempting  to  back  the  animal  he 
is  found  to  l)e  almost  stationary",  simply  swaying  the  body  backward 
on  the  haunches  and  elevating  the  toes  of  the  diseased  feet  as  they 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  419 

rest  upon  their  heek.  In  attempting  to  turn  either  to  the  right  or 
left  he  allows  his  head  to  be  drawn  to  the  one  side  to  its  full  extent 
before  moving,  then  makes  his  hind  feet  the  axis  around  which  the 
forward  ones  describe  a  shuffling  circle. 

In  a  majoritj'^  of  cases  of  laminitis  in  the  fore  feet  the  animal  per- 
sists in  standing  until  he  is  nearly  recovered.  In  other  cases  he  as 
persistently  lies,  standing  onl}^  when  necessity  seems  to  compel  it, 
and  then  for  as  short  a  time  as  possible.  If  the  recumbent  position  is 
once  assumed,  the  relief  experienced  tempts  the  patient  to  seek  it 
again;  and  so  we  often  find  him  down  a  greater  part  of  the  time.  But 
this  is  not  true  of  all  cases;  sometimes  he  will  make  the  experiment, 
then  cautiously  guard  against  a  repetition.  Even  in  cases  of  enforced 
recumbenc}^  he  ofttimes  takes  advantage  of  the  first  opportunitj^  and 
gets  upon  his  feet,  doggedly  remaining  there  until  again  laid  upon  his 
side.  How  to  explain  this  diversity  of  action  I  do  not  know;  theo- 
retically the  recumbent  position  is  the  only  appropriate  one,  except 
when  complications  exist,  and  the  one  Vv'hich  should  give  the  most  com- 
fort, yet  it  is  rejected  by  very  man}^  patients  and,  no  doubt,  for  some 
good  reason.  It  has  been  suggested  as  an  explanation  that  when  the 
animal  gets  upon  his  feet  after  lying  for  a  time  the  suffering  is  so 
greatly  augmented  that  the  memory  of  this  experience  deters  him 
from  an  attempted  repetition.  If  this  were  true,  the  horse  with  the 
first  attack  must  necessarily  make  the  experiment  before  knowing 
the  after  effects  of  lying  down,  yet  many  remain  standing  without 
even  an  attempt  at  gaining  this  experimental  knowledge. 

The  most-favored  position  of  the  animal  when  down  is  on  the  broad- 
side, with  the  feet  and  legs  extended.  While  in  this  position  the  gen- 
eral sj^mptoms  greatly  subside;  the  respirations  and  pulse  become 
almost  normal;  the  temperature  falls  and  the  perspiration  dries.  It 
is  Avith  difliculty  that  he  is  made  to  arise.  When  he  attempts  it  he 
gets  up  rapidly  and  "all  of  a  heap,'"  as  it  were,  shifting-  quickly  from 
one  to  the  other  foot  until  the}'  become  accustomed  to  the  weight 
thrown  upon  them.  Occasionally  a  patient  will  get  up  like  a  cow, 
rising  upon  the  hind  feet  first.  Although  enforced  exercise  relieves, 
to  some  extent,  the  soreness,  it  is  but  temporary,  for,  after  a  few 
minutes'  rest,  it  returns  with  ail  its  former  severity. 

Both  hind  feet. — When  only  both  hind  feet  are  affected,  they  are, 
while  standing,  maintained  in  the  same  position  as  when  only  the  fore 
ones  are  the  subjects  of  the  disease,  but  with  an  entirely  different 
object  in  view.  Instead  of  being  there  to  receive  weight,  they  are  so 
advanced  that  the  heels  only  may  receive  what  little  weight  is  neces- 
sarily imposed  cmi  them;  the  fore  feet  at  the  same  time  are  placed  well 
back  beneath  the  body,  where  the}'-  become  the  main  supports;  the 
animal  standing,  as  Williams  describes  it,  "  all  of  a  heap." 

Progression  is  even  more  difficult  now  than  when  the  disease  is 


420  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

confined  to  the  anterior  extremities.  The  fore  feet  are  dubiously 
advanced  a  short  distance  and  the  hind  ones  brought  forward  with  a 
sort  of  kangaroo  hop,  that  results  in  an  apparent  loss  of  equilibrium 
wliich  the  animal  is  a  few  moments  in  regaining.  The  general  symp- 
toms, or,  in  other  words,  the  degree  of  suffering,  seem  more  severe 
than  where  the  disease  affects  the  fore  feet  alone.  The  standing  posi- 
tion is  not  often  maintained,  the  patient  seeking  relief  in  recumbenc3^ 
This  fact  is  easily  understood  when  we  consider  how  cramped  and 
unnatural  is  the  position  he  assumes  while  standing,  and,  if  it  were 
maintained  for  any  considerable  length  of  time,  would,  no  doubt, 
excite  the  disease  in  the  fore  feet,  as  explained  b}^  D'Arboval. 

All  four  feet. — Laminitis  of  all  four  feet  is  but  uncommonly  met 
with.  The  author  has  seen  but  three  such  cases.  In  all  these  the  posi- 
tion assumed  was  nearly  normal.  All  the  feet  were  slightly  advanced, 
and  fii'st  one,  then  another,  momentarily  raised  from  the  ground  and 
carefully  replaced,  this  action  being  kept  up  almost  continually  during 
the  time  the  animal  remained  standing.  The  suffering  is  most  acute, 
the  appetite  lost,  and,  although  the  patient  lies  most  of  the  time,  the 
temperature  remains  too  high.  The  pulse  and  respirations  are  greatly 
accelerated,  the  body  covered  with  sweat,  and  bed  sores  are  unpleasant 
accompaniments. 

Course. — The  course  which  laminitis  takes  varies  greatly  in  different 
cases,  being  influenced  more  or  less  by  the  exciting  cause,  the  animal's 
previous  condition,  the  acutcness  of  the  attack,  and  the  subsequent 
treatment.  The  first  S3^mptoms  rarely  exhibit  themselves  while  the 
animal  is  at  his  work,  although  we  occasionally  see  the  gait  impaired 
by  stumbling,  the  body  covered  with  a  profuse  sweat,  and  the  respi- 
ration become  blowing  in  character  as  premonitions  of  the  oncoming 
disease;  but,  as  a  rule,  nothing  is  noted  amiss  with  the  animal  until  he 
has  stood  for  some  time  after  coming  in  from  work,  when,  in  attempt- 
ing to  move  him,  he  is  found  very  stiff.  Like  all  congestions,  the  early 
symptoms  usually  develop  rapidly;  yet  this  is  not  always  the  case, 
for  often  there  appears  to  be  no  well-defined  period  of  congestion,  the 
disease  seemingl}'-  commencing  at  a  point  and  gradually  spreading 
until  a  large  territory  is  involved  in  the  morbid  process. 

Simple  congestion. — Those  cases  of  simple  congestion  of  the  lamina^ 
which  we  erroneously  call  laminitis,  are  rapidl3'  developed,  the  symp- 
toms are  but  moderately  severe,  and  but  one  to  three  days  required 
for  recovery.  There  are  no  structural  changes  and  but  a  moderate 
exudate.  This  is  rapidly  reabsorbed,  leaving  the  parts  in  the  same 
condition  as  they  were  previous  to  the  attack.  If  the  congestion  has 
been  excessive,  a  rupture  of  some  of  the  capillaries  -will  be  found,  a 
condition  more  apt  to  obtain  where  the  animal  is  made  to  continue  work 
after  a  development  of  symptoms  has  begun. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  421 

True,  the  majority  of  these  last-described  cases  prove  to  be  the  lam- 
initis  in  fact,  yet  the  congestion  may  pass  awa}^  and  the  extravasated 
blood  be  absorbed  without  inflammation  sufficient  to  warrant  calling  it 
laminitis.  The  seat  of  greatest  congestion  will  always  be  found  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  toe,  because  of  the  increased  vascularity  of 
that  part,  and,  although  at  times  it  is  limited  to  the  podophyllons 
tissue  alone,  any  or  all  parts  of  the  keratogenous  membrane  may  be 
affected  by  the  congestion  and  followed  finally  by  inflammation. 

Acute. — In  the  acute  form  of  laminitis  the  symptoms  may  all  develop 
rapidly,  or  it  may  commence  by  the  appearance  of  a  little  soreness  of 
the  feet  which  in  twent3'-four  or  forty-eight  hours  develops  into  a 
well-marked  case.  This  peculiarity  of  development  is  due  to  one  of 
two  causes.  Either  the  congestion  is  general,  but  takes  place  slowly, 
or  else  it  begins  in  one  or  more  points  and  gradually  spreads  through- 
out the  lamina.  These  acute  cases  generally  run  their  course  in  from 
one  to  two  weeks.  Usually  a  culmination  of  the  symptoms  is  reached, 
if  the  patient  is  properly  treated,  in  from  three  to  five  days;  then 
evidences  of  recovery  are  discernible  in  favorable  cases.  The  lame- 
ness improves,  the  other  symptoms  graduallj^  subside,  and  eventually 
health  is  regained.  It  is  in  these  cases  that  a  strong  tendency  to  dis- 
organization of  a  destructive  character  exists,  hence  it  is  we  see  so 
many  recover  imperf  ectl}"  with  marked  structural  changes  permanently 
remaining. 

Siibacute. — Subacute  laminitis  is  most  often  seen  as  a  termination  of 
the  acute  form,  although  it  may  exist  independent  of  or  precede  an 
acute  attack.  It  is  characterized  by  the  mildness  of  its  symptoms, 
slow  course,  and  modertite  tissue  changes.  It  may  be  present  a  long 
time  before  an}^  pathological  lesions  result  other  than  those  found  in 
the  acute  form,  and  when  these  changes  do  take  place  they  should 
rather  be  viewed  as  complications. 

Chronic. — Chronic  laminitis  is  a  term  used  by  many  to  designate 
any  of  the  sequel83  of  the  acute  and  subacute  forms  of  this  disease. 
Pure  chronic  inflammation  of  the  laminae  is  not  very  commonly  met 
with  but  is  most  frequent  in  horses  that  have  long  done  fast  track  work. 
They  have  "fever  in  the  feet"  at  all  times  and  are  continually  sore; 
both  conditions  being  aggravated  by  work.  Like  chronic  inflamma- 
tion of  other  parts,  there  is  a  strong  tendency  to  the  development  of 
new  connective  tissue,  which,  by  its  pressure  upon  the  blood  vessels, 
interferes  with  nutrition.  Wasting  of  the  coffinbone  and  inflamma- 
tion of  its  covering  with  caries  is  not  unusual.  The  continued  fever 
and  impaired  function  of  secretion  resvilt  in  the  production  of  a  horn 
deficient  in  elasticitj^,  somewhat  spongy  in  character,  and  inclined  to 
crumble.  In  some  cases  of  "soreness"  in  horses  used  to  hard  or  fast 
work,  there  is  evident  weakness  of  the  coats  of  the  vessels  brought  on 


42 ii  BUREAU    OF    A^■IMAL    INDUSTKY. 

by  repeated  functional  exhaustion.  Here  slight  work  brings  on  con- 
gestion, which  results  in  serous  effusion  and  temporar}^  symptoms 
similar  to  those  of  chronic  laminitis. 

Complications. — Complications  concurrent  with  or  supervening 
upon  laminitis  are  frequent  and  varied,  and  are  often  dependent  upon 
causes  not  fully  understood. 

Excessive  purgation  is  one  of  the  simplest  of  these,  and  not  usually 
attended  with  dangerous  consequences.  It  rarely  occurs  unless  induced 
by  a  purgative,  and  the  excessive  action  of  the  medicine  is  probablj^  to 
be  explained  upon  the  theory  that  the  mucous  membrane  sympathizes 
with  the  diseased  lamina?,  is  irritable,  and  readih^  becomes  overexcited. 
The  discharges  are  thin  and  watery,  sometimes  offensively  odorous, 
and  occasionally  persist  in  spite  of  treatment.  It  may  prove  disas- 
trous to  the  welfare  of  the  patient  by  the  rapid  exhaustion  which  it 
causes,  preventing  resolution  of  the  laminitis,  and  may  even  cause 
death. 

Septicemia  and  j!>_j/t>m/«. — Septicemia  and  pyemia  are  unusual  com- 
plications and  are  seen  only  in  the  most  severe  cases,  where  bed  sores 
are  present  or  suppuration  of  the  laminas  results.  They  die,  as  a  rule, 
within  three  days  after  showing  signs  of  the  complication. 

Pnewnonia — the  so-called  metastatic — needs  no  special  considera- 
tion, for  in  its  lesions  and  s^aiiptoms  it  does  not  differ  from  ordinary 
pneumonia,  although  it  may  be  overlooked  cntirel}^  by  the  practitioner. 
Examinations  of  the  chest  should  be  made  ever}'"  da}',  so  as  to  detect 
the  disease  at  its  onset  and  render  proper  aid. 

Sidebones. — A  rapid  development  of  sidebones  is  one  of  the  compli- 
cations, or,  perhaps  better,  a  sequel  of  laminitis  not  often  met  with  in 
practice.  Here  the  inflammatory  process  extends  to  the  lateral  carti- 
lages, with  a  strong  tendency  to  calcification.  The  deposition  of  the 
lime  salts  is  sometimes  most  rapid,  so  that  the  "  bones"  are  developed 
in  a  few  weeks;  in  other  instances  they  are  deposited  slowly  and  their 
growth  is  not  noted  until  long  after  the  subsidence  of,  the  laminitis,  so 
that  the  exciting  cause  is  not  suspected.  This  change  in  the  cartilages 
may  commence  as  early  as  the  first  week  of  the  laminitis;  and  although 
the  trouble  in  the  lamina?  is  removed  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight  the 
symptoms  do  not  entirely  subside,  the  animal  retains  the  shuffling- 
gait,  the  sidebones  continue  to  grow  and  the  patient  usually  remains 
quite  lame.  This  alteration  of  the  cartilages  generally  prevents  the 
patient  recovering  his  natural  gait,  and  the  practitioner  receives  luijust 
censure  for  a  condition  of  affairs  he  could  neither  forsee  nor  prevent. 

The  laminitic  process  occasionally  extends  to  the  covering  of  the 
coronet  bone,  or  at  least  concurrent  with  and  subsequent  to  laminitis 
the  development  of  "low  ringbone"  is  seen,  and  it  is  apparently 
dependent  upon  the  disease  of  the  lamina?  for  its  exciting  cause.  The 
impairment  of  function  and  consequent  symptoms  are  much  less  marked 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  423 

here  than  in  siclebones.  The  coronet  remains  hot  and  sensitive  and 
somewhat  thickened  after  the  laminitis  subsides,  and  a  little  lameness 
is  present.  This  lameness  persists  and  the  deposits  of  new  bone  may 
readily  be  detected. 

Sujppu7xi.tion  of  the  sensitive  membrane  is  a  somewhat  common  com- 
plication, and  even  when  present  in  its  most  limited  form,  is  always  a 
serious  matter;  but  when  it  becomes  extensive,  and  especially  where 
the  suppurative  process  extends  to  the  periosteum,  the  results  are  apt 
to  ])e  fatal.  When  suppuration  occurs  the  exudation  does  not  appear 
to  be  excessive.  It  is  rich  in  leucocytes  and  seems  to  have  caused 
detachment  of  the  sensitive  tissues  from  the  horn  prior  to  the  forma- 
tion of  pus  in  some  instances;  in  others  the  tissues  are  still  attached 
to  the  horn  and  the  suppuration  takes  place  in  the  deeper  tissues. 

Limited  suppuration  may  take  place  in  any  part  of  the  sensitive 
tissues  of  the  foot  during-  laminitis,  and  may  ultimately  be  reabsorbed 
instead  of  being  discharged  upon  the  surface,  but  g'enerally  the  process 
begins  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  toe  and  spreads  backward  and  upward 
towards  the  coronet,  finally  separating  the  horn  from  the  coronary 
band  at  the  quarters.  At  the  same  time  it  spreads  over  the  sole  and 
eventually  the  entire  hoof  is  loosened  and  sloughs  awaj-,  leaving  the 
tissues  beneath  entirely  unprotected.  In  other  instances,  and  these 
are  generally  the  cases  not  considered  unusuall}^  severe,  the  suppura- 
tion begins  at  the  coronary  band;  it  extends  hut  a  short  distance  into 
the  tissues,  yet  destroys  the  patient  by  separating  the  hoof  from  the 
coronary  band,  upon  which  it  depends  for  support  and  growth.  This 
form  of  the  suppurative  process  usuall}'  begins  in  front;  for  it  is  this 
part  of  the  coronary  band  that  is  always  most  actively  affected  with 
inflammation,  and  consequentl}'  it  is  here  that  impairments  first  occur. 
Suppuration  of  the  sensitive  sole  is  more  common  than  of  the  sensi- 
tive lamina3  and  coronary  band.  It  is  present  in  the  majority  of  cases 
where  there  is  a  dropping  of  the  coffinbone,  and  in  other  instances 
where  the  effusion  at  this  point  is  so  great  as  to  arrest  the  production 
of  horn  and  uncover  the  sensitive  tissues.  Except  when  the  result  of 
injury  it  begins  at  the  toe  and  spreads  backward,  and,  if  not  relieved 
by  opening  the  sole,  escapes  at  the  heel.  Suppuration  of  the  sole  is 
much  less  serious  than  in  other  parts  of  the  foot. 

If  the  acute  constitutional  symptoms  developed  from  sloughing  of 
the  foot  do  not  result  in  death,  a  new  hoof  of  ver}^  imperfect  horn 
may  be  developed  after  a  time;  but  unless  the  animal  is  to  be  kept  for 
breeding  purposes  alone  the  foot  will  ever  be  useless  for  work  and 
death  should  relieve  the  suffering.  When  only  the  sole  sloughs 
recovery  takes  place  with  proper  treatment. 

Peditis. — This  is  the  term  that  Williams  applies  to  that  serious 
complication  of  laminitis  where  not  only  the  lamina?,  but  the  perios- 
teum and  the  coffinbone  also  are  subjects  of  the  inflammator}-  process. 


42i  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

Neither  is  this  nil;  for  in  some  of  these  cases  of  pcditis  acute  inflam- 
mation of  the  coflin  joint  is  present,  and  occasionally  suppuration  of 
the  joint.  A  mild  form  of  periostitis,  in  which  the  exudation  is  in 
the  outer  layer  of  the  periosteuni  onh',  is  a  more  common  condition 
than  is  recoy;nized  by  practitioners  generally.  Intimate  contiguity  of 
structures  is  the  predisposing  cause,  for  the  disease  either  spreads  from 
the  original  seat  or  the  complication  occurs  as  one  of  the  primary 
results  of  the  exciting  cause.  In  the  severer  cases  where  the  exudate 
separates  the  periosteum  from  the  bone,  suppuration,  gangrene,  and 
superlicial  caries  are  common  results.  If  intiltration  of  the  bone  tissues 
is  rapid  the  blood  supply  is  cut  off  by  pressure  upon  the  vessels  and 
death  of  the  collinbone  follows.  Grave  constitutional  S3''mptoms  mark 
these  changes,  which  soon  prove  fatal. 

In  the  mild  cases  of  periostitis  it  is  by  no  means  easy  to  determine 
its  presence  positively,  for  there  are  no  special  symptoms  by  which  it 
ma}'  be  distinguished  from  pure  laminitis.  In  a  majority'  of  acute 
cases,  though,  which  show  no  signs  of  improvement  bj^  the  fifth  to 
seventh  daj^,  it  is  safe  to  suspect  periostitis,  particularly  if  the  coro- 
nets are  very  hot,  the  pulse  full  and  hard,  and  the  lameness  acute. 
In  the  fortunately  rare  cases  ^vhere  the  bone  is  affected  W'ith  inflam- 
mation and  suppuration,  the  agony  of  the  patient  is  intense;  he  occu- 
pies the  recumbent  position  almost  continually,  never  standing  for 
more  than  a  few  minutes  at  a  time;  suffers  from  the  most  careful 
handling  of  the  affected  feet;  maintains  a  rapid  pulse  and  respiration, 
high  temperature,  loss  of  appetite,  and  great  thirst.  It  is  in  these 
cases  the  patient  continualh'  grows  worse,  and  the  appearance  of  sup- 
puration at  the  top  of  the  hoof  in  about  two  weeks  after  the  inception 
of  the  disease  proves  the  inefficiency  of  any  treatment  which  may  have 
been  used  and  the  hopelessness  of  the  case.  These  patients  die  usually 
between  the  tenth  and  tAventieth  days  either  from  exhaustion  or 
P3^emic  infection. 

Gangrene  OQQ\Ui>  in  the  periosteum  as  the  result  of  excessive  detach- 
ment from  the  bone  and  compression  due  to  excessive  exudation. 
Other  parts  of  the  sensitive  tissues  are  subject  to  the  same  fate  occa- 
sionally, and  at  times  large  territories  Avill  be  found  dead. 

Pumiced  sole  is  that  condition  in  which  the  liorny  sole  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  toe  readily  crumbles  away  and  leaves  the  sensitive 
tissues  more  or  less  exposed.  It  is  not  a  complication  of  laminitis 
only,  for  it  is  seen  under  other  conditions.  Williams  has  described  the 
horny  tissue  of  pumiced  sole  as  "  weak,  cheesy,  or  spongy,  like  macer- 
ated horn,  or  even  grumous."  This  crumbling  horn,  when  criticall}'' 
examined,  shows  almost  an  entire  absence  of  the  cohesive  matter  which 
unites  the  healthy  libers,  while  the  fibers  themselves  are  irregular  and 
granular  in  appearance.     Pumiced  sole  depends  upon  an  impairment 


DISEASES    OE    THE    HOKSE.  425 

of  the  horn-secreting  powers  of  the  sensitive  sole,  or  upon  a  separation 
of  the  horny  from  the  soft  tissues  which  maintain  its  vitality. 

Punctured  wounds  of  the  foot,  accompanied  by  any  considerable 
destruction  of  the  soft  tissues,  present  the  same  peculiarities  of  horn 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  injury.  Bruises  of  the  sole  are 
followed  by  this  change  when  the  exudation  has  been  excessive  and 
has  separated  the  horn  from  the  living  tissues.  True,  in  these  cases 
we  rarely  see  the  soft  tissues  laid  bare,  for  the  reason  that  new  horn 
is  constantly  secreted  and  replaces  that  undergoing  disintegration. 

Laminitis  presents  three  dilferent  conditions  under  which  pumiced 
sole  may  appear:  First,  where  free  exudation  separates  the  horn  from 
the  other  tissues,  or  where  the  process  of  inflammation  arrests  the 
production  of  horn  by  impairing  or  destroying  the  horn-secreting 
membrane;  secondly,  where  depression  of  the  coffin  bone  causes  pres- 
sure upon  and  arrests  the  formation  of  horn;  and,  thirdl}^,  where  the 
elevation  of  the  sole  compresses  the  soft  tissues  against  the  pedal  bone 
and  induces  the  same  condition. 

Pumiced  sole,  from  simple  exudation  and  separation  of  tissues,  is 
of  little  importance,  for  the  reason  given  above  in  connection  with 
bruises;  but  when  suppuration  occurs  in  restricted  portions  of  the 
foot  in  conjunction  with  laminitis,  it  always  la3^s  bare  the  tissues 
beneath  and  impairs  the  animaPs  value  temporarily.  Recovery  takes 
place  after  a  few  weeks  b}'^  the  tissues  horning  over,  as  in  injuries 
attended  b}'  the  same  process.  Depression  of  the  coffinbone  is  not 
sufficient  within  itself  to  cause  pumiced  sole;  for,  if  the  relative 
change  in  the  bone  takes  place  slowl^',  or  if  the  horn  is  thin,  the  sole 
becomes  convex  from  gradual  pressure,  and  the  soft  tissues  adapt 
themselves  to  the  change  without  having  their  function  materially 
impaired.  But  when  the  dropping  is  sudden  and  the  soft  tissues  are 
destroyed,  the  horn  rapidl}^  crumbles  away  and  the  toe  of  the  bone 
com.es  through.  In  many  of  these  cases  the  soft  tissues  remain  uncov- 
ered for  months.  When  they  are  eventually  covered  it  is  A7ith  a  thin, 
slightl}^  adherent  horn  that  stands  but  little  or  no  wear.  The  sole 
being  now  convex,  the  diseased  tissues  bear  unusual  weight  by  coming 
in  contact  with  the  ground,  and  hence  it  is  that  these  animals  are  gen- 
erally incurable  cripples. 

In  the  majority  of  cases  where  the  sole  is  raised  to  meet  the  pedal 
bone  and  pumiced  sole  occurs,  it  is  due,  not  to  pressure  of  the  bone 
from  within  (for  the  tissues  are  capable  of  adapting  themselves  to  the 
gradual  change),  ])ut  to  impaired  vitality  of  the  sensitive  tissues  from 
the  inflammation,  and  to  the  constant  concussion  and  pressure  applied 
from  without  during  progression.  To  this  is  to  be  added  the  paring 
away  of  the  horn  b}'^  the  smith  when  apx^lying  the  shoe,  thereb}^  keep- 
ing the  sole  at  this  point  too  thin. 


426  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Turning  up  of  the  toe. — In  man}^  cases  of  laminitis  which  have  become 
chronic  it  is  found  that  the  toe  of  the  foot  turns  up;  that  the  heels 
are  longer  than  natural;  while  the  hoof  near  the  coronary  band  is 
i-ircled  with  ridges  like  the  horn  of  a  ram.  Even  in  cases  where  recover}'- 
has  taken  place,  and  in  other  diseases  than  laminitis,  these  ridges  may 
be  found,  in  the  wall  of  the  foot.  But  in  such  cases  the  ridges  are 
equally  distant  from  each  other  all  around  the  foot,  while  in  turning 
up  of  the  toe  the  ridges  are  wide  apart  at  the  heels  and  close  together 
in  front,  as  seen  in  the  figure  (Plate  XXXI,  fig.  4).  These  ridges  are 
produced  by  periods  of  interference  with  the  growth  of  horn  alternat- 
ing with  periods  during  which  a  normal  or  ncarlj' normal  growth  takes 
place.  When  the  toe  turns  up  it  is  because  the  coronary  band  in  front 
produces  horn  very  slowly,  while  at  the  heels  it  grows  much  faster, 
causing  marked  deformity. 

Animals  so  affected  alvvaj^s  place  the  abnormally  long  heel  first  upon 
the  ground,  not  alone  because  the  heel  is  too  long,  nor  as  in  acute  or 
subacute  laminitis  to  relieve  the  pain,  but  for  the  simple  reason  that 
the  toe  is  too  short  and  lifted  away  from  its  natural  position.  To 
bring  the  toe  to  the  ground  the  leg  knuckles  at  the  fetlock  joint. 

The  pain  and  impairment  of  function  in  these  cases  always  result  in 
marked  atroplu'  of  the  muscles  of  the  forearm  and  shoulder,  and  to 
some  extent  of  the  pectorals,  while  the  position  of  the  fore  legs 
advances  the  shoulder  joints  so  far  forward  as  to  cause  a  sunken 
appearance  of  the  breast,  which  the  lait}^  recognize  as  "chest  founder." 

The  lesions  of  turning  up  of  the  toe  are  permanent,  and  are  the  most 
interesting  pathologicall}'  of  all  the  complications  of  laminitis. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  laminitis  is  probably  more  varied 
than  in  any  other  disease,  and  yet  a  large  number  of  cases  recover  for 
even  the  poorest  practitioner. 

Prevention. — To  guard  against  and  prevent  disease,  or  to  render  an 
unpreventable  attack  less  serious  than  it  otherwise  would  be,  is  the 
highest  practice  of  the  healing  art.  In  a  disease  so  prone  to  result 
from  the  simplest  causes,  especially  when  the  soundest  judgment  may 
not  be  able  to  determine  the  extent  of  the  disease-resisting  powers  of 
the  tissues  which  are  liable  to  be  affected,  or  of  what  shall  in  every 
instance  constitute  an  overexcitement,  it  is  not  strange  that  horse 
owners  find  themselves  in  trouble  from  unintentional  transgression. 
If  the  disease  was  dependent  upon  specific  causes,  or  if  the  stability  of 
the  tissues  were  of  a  fixed  or  more  nearly  determinate  quality,  some 
measures  might  be  instituted  that  woul(i  prove  generally  preventive. 
But  the  predisposing  causes  are  common  conditions  and  often  can  not 
be  remedied.  That  which  is  gentle  work  in  one  instance  may  incite 
disease  in  another.  That  which  is  food  to-day  may  to-morrow  prove 
disastrous  to  health,  Finalh",  necessar}^  medical  interference,  no  mat- 
ter how  judicious,  may  cause  a  more  serious  complaint  than  that  which 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  427 

was  being  treated.  Notwithstanding-  these  difficulties  there  are  sonic 
general  rules  to  be  observed  that  will  in  part  serve  to  prevent  the 
development  of  an  unusual  number  of  cases.  First  of  all  the  predis- 
posing causes  must  be  removed  where  possible;  when  this  is  impossi- 
ble unusual  care  must  be  taken  not  to  bring  into  operation  an  exciting 
cause.  Fat  animals  should,  under  no  circumstances,  have  hard  Avork. 
If  the  weather  is  warm  or  the  variation  of  temperature  great,  all  horses 
should  have  but  slow,  gentle  labor  until  they  become  inured  to  it,  the 
tissues  hardened  and  their  excitability  reduced  to  a  minimum.  Green 
horses  should  have  moderate  work,  particularl}"  when  taken  from 
the  farm  and  dirt  roads  to  city  pavements;  for  increased  concussion, 
changed  hygienic  conditions,  and  artificial  living  readily  become  active 
causes  of  the  disease  under  these  circumstances.  Army  horses  just 
cut  of  winter  quarters,  track  horses  with  insufficient  preparation,  and 
farmers'  horses  put  to  work  in  the  spring  are  among  the  most  suscep- 
tible classes,  and  must  be  protected  by  work  that  is  easy  and  gradual. 
If  long  marches  or  drives  are  imperative,  the  incumbrances  must  be 
as  light  as  possible  and  the  journey  interspersed  with  frequent  rests, 
for  this  allows  the  laminae  to  regain  their  impaired  functional  activity 
and  to  withstand  much  more  work  without  danger.  Furthermore,  it 
permits  earl}'^  detection  of  an  attack,  and  prevents  working  after  the 
disease  begins,  which  renders  svibsequcnt  medication  more  effective  by 
cutting  the  process  short  at  the  stage  of  congestion. 

All  animals  when  resting  immediately  after  work  should  be  pro- 
tected from  cold  air  or  drafts.  If  placed  in  a  stable  that  is  warm 
and  without  draft,  no  covering  is  necessary;  under  opposite  conditions 
blankets  should  be  used  until  the  excitement  and  exhaustion  of  labor 
have  entirely  passed  away.  It  is  still  better  that  all  animals  coming 
in  warm  from  work  be  "cooled  out"  by  slow  walking  until  the  per- 
spiration has  dried  and  the  circulation  and  respiration  are  again 
normal.  Animals  stopped  on  the  road  even  for  a  few  moments  should 
always  be  protected  from  rapid  change  of  temperature  by  appropriate 
clothing.  If  it  can  be  avoided,  horses  that  are  working  should  never 
be  driven  or  ridden  through  water.  If  unavoidable,  they  should  be 
cooled  off  before  passing  through,  and  then  kept  moving  until  com- 
pletel}^  dried.  The  same  care  is  to  be  practiced  vath  washing  the  legs 
in  cold  water  when  just  in  from  work,  for  occasionally  it  proves  the 
cause  of  a  most  acute  attack  of  this  disease. 

Unusual  changes  in  the  manner  of  applying  the  shoe  should  not  be 
hastily  made.  If  a  plane  shoe  has  been  worn,  high  heels  or  toes  must 
not  be  substituted  at  once;  but  the  change,  if  necessary,  should 
gradually  be  made,  so  that  the  different  tissues  may  adapt  themselves 
to  the  altered  conditions.  If  radical  changes  are  imperative,  as  is 
sometimes  the  case,  the  work  must  be  so  reduced  in  quantity  and 
quality  that  it  can  not  excite  the  disease. 


428  BUEEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

Laminitis  from  the  effects  of  purgatives  can  scarcely  be  guarded 
against.  I  can  not  determine  from  the  cases  in  wbicli  1  have  seen  this 
result  that  there  arc  any  conditions  present  that  would  warn  us  of 
danger.  The  trouble  does  not  seem  to  depend  upon  the  size  of  the 
purgative,  the  length  of  time  before  purgation  begins,  or  the  activity 
and  severity  with  which  the  remedy  acts.  Medicines  known  to  have 
unusual  irritating  effects  on  the  alimentary  canal  should  be  used  only 
when  necessity  demands  it  and  then  in  moderate  doses. 

Experience  alone  will  determine  what  animals  are  liable  to  suffer 
from  this  disease  through  the  use  of  foods.  When  an  attack  can  be 
ascribed  to  any  particular  food  it  should  be  withheld,  unless  in  small 
quantities.  Horses  that  have  never  been  fed  upon  Indian  corn  should 
receive  but  a  little  of  it  at  a  time,  mixed  with  bran,  oats,  or  other  food, 
until  it  has  been  determined  that  no  danger  exists.  Corn  is  less  safe 
in  warm  than  in  cold  weather,  and  for  this  reason  it  should  always  be 
fed  with  caution  during  spring  and  summer  months. 

When  an  animal  is  excessively  lame  in  one  foot  the  shoe  of  the  oppo- 
site member  should  be  removed,  and  cold  water  frequently  applied  to 
the  well  foot.  At  the  same  time  use  the  slings  if  the  subject  remains 
standing.  Horses  should  under  no  circumstances  be  overworked;  to 
guard  against  this,  previous  work,  nature  of  roads,  state  of  weather, 
and  various  other  influences  must  be  carefully  considered.  Watering 
while  warm  is  a  pernicious  habit,  and,  unless  the  animal  is  accustomed 
to  it,  is  apt  to  result  in  some  disorder,  ofttimes  in  laminitis. 

Curative  measures. — In  cases  of  simple  congestion  of  the  lamina^  the 
body  should  be  warmly  clothed  and  warm  drinks  administered.  The 
feet  should  be  placed  in  a  warm  bath  to  increase  the  return  flow  of 
blood.  In  course  of  an  hour  the  feet  may  be  changed  to  cold  water 
and  kept  there  until  recovery  is  completed.  If  the  constitutional 
symptoms  demand  it,  diuretics  should  be  given.  Half-ounce  doses 
of  saltpeter,  three  times  a  day  in  the  water,  answer  the  purpose.  In 
cases  of  active  congestion  the  warm  footbaths  should  be  omitted  and 
cold  ones  used  from  the  commencement.  Subacute  laminitis  demands 
the  same  treatment,  with  laxatives  if  there  is  constipation,  and  the  addi- 
tion of  low-heeled  shoes.  The  diuretics  may  need  to  be. continued  for 
some  time  and  their  frequency  increased.  Regarding  acute  laminitis, 
what  has  been  called  the  "American  treatment"  is  simple  and  efficient. 
It  consists  solely  in  the  exhibition  of  large  doses  of  nitrate  of  potash 
and  the  continued  application  to  the  feet  and  ankles  of  cold  water. 

Three  to  4  ounces  of  saltpeter  in  a  pint  of  water,  repeated  every 
six  hours,  is  the  proper  dose.  The  laminitis  frequently  subsides 
within  a  week.  These  large  doses  may  be  continued  for  a  week  with- 
out danger;  under  no  circumstances  have  I  seen  the  kidneys  irritated 
to  excess  or  other  unfavorable  effects  produced. 

The  feet  should  be  kept  in  a  tub  of  water  at  a  temperature  of  45'-* 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  429 

to  50°  F.,  unless  the  animal  is  lying-  clown,  when  swabs  are  to  be  used 
and  wet  every  half  hour  with  the  cold  water.  The  water  keeps  the 
horn  soft  and  moist  and  acts  directly  upon  the  inflamed  tissues  by 
reducing  the  temperature.  Cold  maintains  the  vitality  and  disease- 
resisting  qualities  of  the  soft  tissues,  tones  up  the  coats  of  the  blood 
vessels,  diminishes  the  supply  of  blood,  and  limits  the  exudation. 
Furthermore,  cold  has  an  anesthetic  effect  upon  the  diseased  tissues 
and  relieves  the  pain. 

Aconite  may  be  given  in  conjunction  with  the  niter  where  the  heart 
is  greatly  excited  and  beats  strongly.  Ten-drop  doses,  repeated  every 
two  hours  for  twenty-four  hours,  are  sufficient. '  The  use  of  cathartics 
is  dangerous  for  they  may  excite  superpurgation.  Usuall}^  the  niter 
will  relieve  the  constipation,  yet  if  it  should  prove  obstinate,  laxatives 
may  be  carefully  given.  Bleeding,  both  general  and  local,  should  be 
guarded  against.  The  shoes  must  be  earl}"  removed  and  the  soles  left 
unpared. 

Paring  of  the  soles  presents  two  objections:  First,  while  it  ma}'- 
temporarih'  relieve  the  pain  by  relieving  pressure,  it  favors  greater 
exudation,  which  may  more  than  counterbalance  the  good  effects. 
Secondly,  it  makes  the  feet  tender  and  subject  to  bruises  when  the 
animal  again  goes  to  work.  The  shoes  should  be  replaced  when  con- 
valescence sets  in  and  the  animal  is  read}"  to  take  exercise.  Exercise 
should  never  be  enforced  until  the  inflammation  has  subsided;  for 
although  it  temporaril}^  relieves  the  pain  and  soreness,  it  maintains  the 
irritation,  increases  the  exudation,  and  postpones  recovery. 

If  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  or  sixth  day  prominent  symptoms  of 
recovery  are  not  apparent,  apply  a  stiff  blister  of  cantharides  around 
the  coronet  and  omit  the  niter  for  about  forty-eight  hours.  When  the 
blister  is  well  set,  the  feet  may  again  receive  wet  sv/abs.  If  one 
blister  does  not  remove  the  soreness  it  may  be  repeated,  or  the  actual 
cautery  applied.  The  same  treatment  should  be  adopted  v.here  side- 
bones  form  or  inflammation  of  the  coronet  bone  follows.  "When  the 
sole  breaks  through,  exposing  the  soft  tissues,  the  feet  must  be  care- 
fully shod  with  thin  heels  and  thick  toes  where  there  is  a  tendency 
to  walk  on  the  heels,  and  the  sole  must  be  well  protected  v/ith  appro- 
priate dressings  and  pressure  over  the  exposed  parts.  When  there  is 
turning  up  of  the  toe,  blistering  of  the  coronet,  myront  only,  some- 
tiraes  stimulates  the  growth  of  horn,  but  as  a  rule  judicious  shoeing  is 
the  only  treatment  that  will  enable  the  animal  to  do  light,  slow  work. 

Where  suppuration  of  the  laminae  is  profuse,  it  is  better  to  destroy 
your  patient  at  once  and  relieve  his  suffering;  but  if  the  suppuration 
is  limited  to  a  small  extent  of  tissue,  especially  of  the  sole,  treatment, 
as  in  acute  cases,  may  induce  recovery  and  should  always  be  tried.  If 
from  bed  sores  or  other  causes  septicemia  or  pyemia  is  feared,  the 
bisulphite  of  soda,  in  half -ounce  doses,  m.ay  be  given  in  conjunction 
with  tonics  and  such  other  treatment  as  is  indicated  in  these  diseases. 


430  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

As  to  enforced  recumbency  I  doubt  the  propriety  of  insisting  on  it 
in  the  majority  of  cases,  for  I  think  the  patient  usually  assumes  what- 
ever position  g-ives  most  comfort.  No  doubt  recumbency  diminishes 
the  amount  of  blood  sent  to  the  feet,  and  may  greatly  relieve  the  pain, 
so  that  forcing  the  patient  to  lie  down  ma}"-  be  tried,  3'et  should  not  be 
renewed  if  he  thereafter  persists  in  standing. 

AVhcre  the  animal  persistently  stands,  or  where  constant  lying  indi- 
cates it  (to  prevent  extensive  sores),  the  patient  should  be  placed  in 
slings.  When  all  four  feet  are  affected  it  may  be  impossible  to  use 
slings,  for  the  reason  that  the  patient  refuses  to  support  any  of  his 
weight  and  simply  hangs  in  them.  Lastly,  convalescent  cases  must 
not  be  returned  to  work  too  early,  else  permanent  recover}^  ma}^  never 
be  effected. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  SKIN. 

By  James  Law,  F.  R.  C.  S.  V.  S., 
Professor  of  Veterinary  Science,  etc.,  Cornell  University. 

[Revised  in  1903  by  the  author.] 

As  we  find  them  described  in  systematic  works,  the  diseases  of  the 
skin  are  very  numerous  and  complex,  which  may  be  largely  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  the  cutaneous  covering  is  exposed  to  view  at  all 
points,  so  that  shades  of  dilference  in  inflammator}'  and  other  diseased 
processes  are  easily  seen  and  distinguished  from  one  another.  In  the 
horse  the  hairy  covering  serves  to  some  extent  to  mask  the  sj'mptoms, 
and  hence  the  nonprofessional  man  is  tempted  to  apply  the  terra 
"mange"  to  all  alike,  and  it  is  only  a  step  further  to  appl}^  the  same 
treatment  to  all  these  widely  different  disorders.  Yet  CA^en  in  the 
hair}^  quadruped  the  distinction  can  be  made  in  a  way  which  can  not 
be  done  in  disorders  of  that  counterpart  and  prolongation  of  the  skin — 
the  mucous  membrane,  which  lines  the  air  passages,  the  digestive 
organs,  the  urinarj'-  and  generative  apparatus.  Diseased  processes, 
therefore,  which  in  these  organs  it  might  be  difficult  or  impossible  to 
distinguish  from  one  another,  can  usually  be  separated  and  recognized 
when  appearing  in  the  skin. 

Nor  is  this  differentiation  unimportant.  The  cutaneous  covering 
presents  such  an  extensive  surface  for  the  secretion  of  cuticular  scales, 
hairs,  horn,  sebaceous  matter,  sweat,  and  other  excretory  matters,  that 
any  extensive  disorder  in  its  functions  may  lead  to  serious  internal 
disease  and  death.  Again,  the  intimate  nervous  sympath3^  of  different 
points  of  the  skin  with  particular  internal  organs  renders  certain  skin 
disorders  causative  of  internal  disease  and  cei'tain  internal  diseases 
causative  of  affections  of  the  skin.  The  mere  painting  of  the  skin 
with  an  impermeable  coating  of  glue  is  speedil}'^  fatal;  a  cold  draft 
striking  on  the  chest  causes  inflammation  of  the  lungs  or  pleura;  a 
skin  eruption  speedily  follows  certain  disorders  of  the  stomach,  the 
liver,  the  kidneys,  or  even  the  lungs;  simple  burns  of  the  skin  cause 
inflammations  of  internal  organs,  and  inflammations  of  such  organs 
cause  in  their  turn  eruptions  on  the  skin.  The  relations — nervous, 
secretor}^,  and  absorptive — between  the  skin  and  internal  organs  are 
most  extensive  and  varied,  and  therefore  a  visible  disorder  in  the  skin 
may  point  at  once  and  specificall}^  to  a  particular  fault  in  diet,  to  an 

431 


432  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

iujudicious  use  of  cold  water  when  the  system  is  heated,  to  a  fault  in 
drainage,  ventilation,  or  lighting  of  the  stables,  to  indigestion,  to  liver 
disease,  to  urinar}^  disorder,  etc. 

STKUCTURE    OF    THE    SKIN. 

The  skin  consists  primarily  of  two  parts:  (1)  The  superficial  non- 
vascidar  (without  blood  vessels)  layer,  the  cuticle,  or  epidermis;  and 
(2)  the  deep  vascular  (with  blood  vessels)  layer,  the  corium,  dermis, 
or  true  skin. 

The  cuticle  is  made  up  of  cells  placed  side  b}'  side  and  more  or  less 
modified  in  shape  by  their  mutual  compression  and  by  surface  evapo- 
ration and  drying.  The  superficial  stratum  consists  of  the  cells  dried 
in  the  form  of  scales,  which  fall  off  continuall}^  and  form  dandruff. 
The  deep  stratum  (the  mucous  layer)  is  formed  of  somewhat  rounded 
cells  with  large  central  nuclei,  and  in  colored  skin  containing  numer- 
ous pigment  granules.  These  cells  have  prolongations,  or  branches,  b}^ 
which  they  communicate  with  one  another  and  with  the  superficial  layer 
of  cells  in  the  true  skin  beneath.  Through  these  prolongations  thc-y 
receive  nutrient  liquids  for  their  growth  and  increase,  and  pass  on 
liquids  absorbed  by  the  skin  into  the  vessels  of  the  true  skin  beneath. 
The  living  matter  in  the  cells  exercises  an  equally  selective  power 
on  what  the}^  .shall  take  up  for  their  own  nourishment  and  on  what 
they  shall  admit  into  the  circulation  from  without.  Thus,  certain 
agents,  like  iodine  and  belladonna,  are  readil}?^  admitted,  whereas 
others,  like  arsenic,  are  excluded  by  the  sound,  unbroken  epidermis. 
Between  the  deep  and  superficial  layers  of  the  epidermis  there  is  a 
thin  translucent  layer  (septum  lucidum)  consisting  of  a  double  stratum 
of  cells,  and  forming  a  medium  of  transition  from  the  deep  spheroidal 
to  the  superficial  scaly  cuticle. 

The  true  skhi,  or  dermis^  has  a  framework  of  interlacing  bundles  of 
white  and  yellow  fibers,  large  and  coarse  in  the  deeper  layers,  and 
fine  in  the  superficial,  where  they  approach  the  cuticle.  Between  the 
fibrous  bundles  are  left  interspaces  which,  like  the  bundles,  become 
finer  as  they  approach  the  surface,  and  inclose  cells,  vessels,  nerves, 
glands,  gland  ducts,  hairs,  and  in  the  deeper  layers  fat. 

The  superficial  layer  of  the  dermis  is  formed  into  a  series  of  minute 
conical  elevations,  or  papilla,  projecting  into  the  deep  portion  of  the 
cuticle,  from  which  they  are  separated  by  a  very  fine  transparent 
membrane.  This  papillary  layer  is  veiy  richly  supplied  with  capil- 
lary blood  vessels  and  nerves,  and  is  at  once  the  scat  of  acute  sensa- 
tion and  the  point  from  which  the  nutrient  lic^uid  is  supplied  to  the 
cells  of  the  cuticle  above.  It  is  also  at  this  point  that  the  active 
changes  of  inflammation  arc  especiall}^  concentrated;  it  is  the  immedi- 
ately superposed  cell  layers  (mucous)  that  become  morbidly  increased 
in  the  early  stages  of  inflammation;  it  is  on  the  surface  of  the  papillary 


DISEASES    OV    THE    HORSE.  43S- 

layer  that  the  liquid  is  thrown  out  which  raises  the  cuticle  in  the- 
form  of  a  blister,  and  it  is  at  this  point  mainly  that  pus  forms  iit 
the  ordinary  pustule. 

The  fibrous  bundles  of  the  true  skin  contain  plain  muscular  fibers., 
which  are  not  controlled  by  the  will,  but  contract  under  the  influence 
of  cold  and  under  certain  nervous  influences,  as  in  some  skin  dis- 
eases and  in  the  chill  of  a  fever,  and  lead  to  contraction,  tightening-,^ 
or  corrugation  of  the  skin,  contributing  to  produce  the  "hidebound"'" 
of  the  horseman.  Other  minute  muscular  filaments  are  extended' 
from  the  surface  of  the  dermis  to  the  hair  follicle  on  the  side  to  which- 
the  hair  is  inclined,  and  under  the  same  stimulating  influences  pro- 
duce that  erection  of  the  hair  which  is  familiarl}^  known  as  "staring- 
coat."  Besides  these,  the  horse's  skin  is  furnished  with  an  expansion 
of  red  voluntarj^  muscle,  firmly  attached  to  the  fibrous  bundles,  and' 
by  which  the  animal  can  not  only  dislodge  insects  and  other  irritants^ 
but  even  shake  off  the  harness.  This  fleshy  envelope  covers  the  sides 
of  the  trunk  and  the  lower  portions  of  the  neck  and  head,  the  parts 
unprotected  b\^  the  mane  and  tail,  and  serves  to  throw  the  skin  of 
these  parts  into  puckers,  or  ridges,  in  certain  irritating  skin  diseases.. 

The  hairs  are  cuticular  products  growing  from  an  enlarged  papilla 
lodged  in  the  depth  of  a  follicle  or  sac,  hollowed  out  in  the  skin  and 
extending  to  its  deepest  la3^ers.  The  hair  follicle  is  lined  b}-  cells  of 
epidermis,  which  at  the  bottom  are  reflected  on  the  papilla  and  become 
the  root  of  the  hair.  The  hair  itself  is  formed  of  the  same  kind  of 
cells  firmly  adherent  to  each  other  by  a  tough  intercellular  substance,. 
and  overlapping  each  other  like  slates  on  a  roof  in  a  direction  towards^ 
the  free  end. 

The  sebaceous  glands  are  branching  tubes  ending  in  follicles  or  sacs- 
and  opening  into  the  hair  follicles,  lined  by  a  very  vascular  fibrous 
network  representing  the  dermis,  and  an  internal  laj^er  of  cells  repre-  . 
senting  the  mucous  layer  of  the  cuticle.  The  oily  secretion  gives  gloss 
to  the  hair  and  prevents  its  becoming  dry  and  brittle,  and  keeps  the- 
skin  soft  and  supple,  protecting  it  at  once  against  undue  exhalation  of 
water  and  undue  absorption  when  immersed  in  that  medium.  Besides 
those  connected  with  the  hair  follicles  there  are  numerous  isolated 
sebaceous  glands,  opening  directl}'  on  the  surface  of  the  skin,  produc- 
ing a  somewhat  thicker  and  more  odorous  secretion.  These  are  found 
in  large  numbers  in  the  folds  of  the  skin,  where  chafing  would  be 
likely  if  the  surface  were  dr}",  as  on  the  sheath,  scrotum,  mammary 
glands,  and  inner  side  of  the  thigh,  around  the  anus  and  vulva,  in  the- 
hollow  of  the  heel,  beneath  the  fine  horn  of  the  frog,  on  the  inner  side 
of  the  elbow,  on  the  lips,  nostrils,  and  eyelids.  When  closed  by  dried 
secretion  or  otherwise  these  glands  ma}''  become  distended  so  as  to 
form  various-sized  swellings  on  the  skin,  and  when  inflamed  they  may 
14384—0?, 28 


434  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

throw  out  offensive  liquid  discharj^es,  as  in  "grease,"  or  produce  red, 
tender  fungus  growths  ("'grapes"). 

The  .sweat  glands  of  the  horse,  like  those  of  man,  are  composed  of 
simple  tubes,  which  extend  down  through  the  cuticle  and  dermis  in  a 
spiral  manner,  and  are  coiled  into  balls  in  the  deejx^r  layer  of  the  true 
skin.  In  addition  to  their  importance  in  throwing  offensive  waste 
products  out  of  the  system,  these  glands  tend  to  cool  the  skin,  and  the 
entire  economj'of  the  animal  through  the  evaporation  of  their  waterj- 
secretion.  Their  activity  is  therefore  a  matter  of  no  small  moment, 
as  besides  regulating  the  animal  heat  and  excreting  impurities,  they 
iiiiluence  largeh"  the  internal  organs  through  the  intimate  sympathy 
maintained  between  them  and  the  skin. 

Diseases  of  the  skin  may  be  conveniently  divided,  according  to  their 
most  marked  features,  into — 

(1)  Those  in  which  congestion  and  inflannnat Ion  are  the  most  marked 
features,  varying  according  to  the  grade  or  form  into  {a)  congestion 
with  simple  redness,  dryness,  and  heat,  but  no  eruption  {erythema)^ 

(b)  injlarmnation  with  red-pointed  elevations,  but  no  blisters  {paj)ules\) 

(c)  infiaimnat'ion  with  fine  conical  elevations,  each  surmounted  by  a 
minute  blister  {vesicle)',  (cl)  {nfla}nmation  with  a  similar  eruption  but 
with  larger  blisters,  like  half  a  pea  and  upwards  (hulla?);  (<?)  inflamma- 
tion with  a  similar  eruption,  but  with  a  small  sac  of  white  creamy  pus 
on  the  summit  of  each  elevation  {pnstules)-,  {/)  the  formation  of  pus- 
tules implicating  the  superficial  layer  of  the  true  skin,  a  small  portion 
of  which  dies  and  is  thrown  off  as  a  slough,  or  "core"  {hoils)\  (g)  the 
formation  of  round,  nodular,  transient  swellings  in  the  true  skin 
{tubercles);  and  (A)  the  excessive  production  of  scales,  or  dandruff', 
{scaly  or  squamous  affections). 

(2)  Diseases  in  which  there  are  only  deranged  sensations  of  itching, 
heat,  tenderness,  etc.  {neurosis). 

(3)  Diseased  growths,  such  as  warts,  callosities,  horny  growths, 
cancer,  etc. 

(4)  Diseases  due  to  parasites,  animal  and  vegetable. 

(5)  Diseases  connected  with  a  specific  poison,  such  as  horsepox, 
erysipelas,  anthrax,  farcy,  or  cutaneous  glanders,  etc. 

(6)  Physical  injuries,  like  wounds,  burns,  scalds,  etc. 

CONGESTION  (red    EFFLORESCENCE,  OI^  ERYTHEMA). 

This  is  a  congested  or  slightly  inflamed  condition  of  the  skin,  unat- 
tended by  any  eruption.  The  part  is  slightly  swollen,  hot,  tender  or 
itchy,  and  dry,  and  if  the  skin  is  white  there  is  redness.  The  redness 
is  effaced  by  pressure,  but  reappears  instantly  when  the  pressure  is 
removed.  Unless  in  transient  cases  the  hairs  are  liable  to  be  shed. 
It  may  be  looked  on  as  the  first  stage  of  inflammation,  and  therefore 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  435 

when  it  becomes  ag-grtiva-ted  it  ma}'  merge  in  part  or  in  whole  into  a 
papular,  vesicular,  or  pustular  eruption. 

Erj'tbema  may  arise  from  a  variet}'  of  causes,  and  is  often  named  in 
accordance  with  its  most  prominent  cause.  Thus  the  chilling,  or  par- 
tial freezing,  of  a  part  will  give  rise  to  a  severe  reaction  and  conges- 
tion. Where  snowy  or  ic}^  streets  have  been  salted  this  may  extend 
to  severe  inflammation  with  vesicles,  pustules,  or  even  sloughs  of 
circumscribed  portions  of  the  skin  of  the  pastern  (chillblain,  frost- 
bite). Heat  and  burning  have  a  similar  effect,  and  this  often  comes 
from  exposure  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun.  The  skin  that  does  not 
perspire  is  the  most  subject,  and  lience  the  white  face  or  wJilte  liml) 
of  a  horse  becoming  dried  by  the  intensity  of  the  sun's  rays  often 
suffers  to  the  exclusion  of  the  rest  of  the  body  {white  face  and  foot 
disease).  The  febrile  state  of  the  general  system  is  also  a  potent 
cause,  hence  the  white-skinned  horse  is  rendered  the  more  liable  if 
kept  on  a  heating  ration  of  buckwheat,  or  even  of  wheat  or  maize. 
Contact  of  the  skin  with  oil  of  turpentine  or  other  essential  oils,  with 
irritant  liquids,  vegetable  or  mineral,  with  rancid  fats,  with  the  acrid 
secretions  of  certain  animals,  like  the  irritated  toad,  with  pus,  sweat, 
tears,  urine,  or  liquid  feces,  will  produce  congestion  or  even  inflam- 
mation. Chafing  is  a  common  cause,  and  is  especially  liable  to  affect 
the  fat  horse  between  the  thighs,  by  the  side  of  the  sheath  or  scrotum, 
on  the  inner  side  of  the  elbow,  or  where  the  harness  chafes  on  the 
poll,  shoulder,  back,  breastbone,  and  under  the  tail.  The  accumula- 
tion of  sweat  and  dust  between  the  folds  of  the  skin  and  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  harness,  and  the  specially  acrid  character  of  the  sweat  in 
certain  horses  contribute  to  chafing  or  ''  intertrigo.'-  The  heels  often 
become  congested,  owing  to  the  irritation  caused  b}'  the  short  bristly 
hairs  in  clipped  heels.  Again,  congestion  maj'  occur  from  friction  b}' 
halter,  harness,  or  other  foreign  bodj'  under  the  pastern,  or  inside  the 
thigh  or  arm,  or  by  reason  of  blows  from  another  foot  (cutting,  inter- 
fering, overreach).  Finally,  erj^thema  is  especially  liable  to  occur  in 
spring  when  the  coat  is  being  shed,  and  the  hair  follicles  and  general 
surface  are  exposed  and  irritable  in  connection  with  the  dropping  of 
the  hairs. 

If  due  onh'  to  a  local  irritant,  congestion  will  usually  disappear  when 
such  cause  has  been  removed,  but  when  the  feeding  or  S3\stem  is  at 
fault  these  conditions  must  be  first  corrected.  While  the  coat  is 
being  shed  the  susceptibility  will  continue,  and  the  aim  should  be  to 
prevent  the  disease  developing  and  advancing  so  as  to  weaken  the 
skin,  render  the  susceptibility  permanent,  and  lay  the  foundation  of 
persistent  or  frequently  recurring  skin  disease.  Hence  at  such  times 
the  diet  should  be  nonstimulating;  anj''  excess  of  grain  and  above  all 
of  buckwheat,  Indian  corn,  or  wheat  being-  avoided.     A  large  grain 


436  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

ration  should  not  be  given  at  once  on  return  from  hard  work,  when 
the  general  system  and  stomach  are  unable  to  cope  with  it;  the  animal 
should  not  be  given  more  than  a  swallow  or  two  of  cold  water  when 
perspiring  and  fatigued;  nor  should  he  be  allowed  a  full  supply  of 
water  just  after  his  grain  ration;  he  should  not  be  overheated  or 
exhausted  bj^  work,  nor  should  dried  sweat  and  dust  be  allowed  to 
accumulate  on  the  skin  or  on  the  harness  pressing  on  it.  The  expo- 
sure of  the  affected  heels  to  damp,  mud,  and  snow,  and,  above  all,  to 
melting  snow,  should  be  guarded  against;  light,  smooth,  well-litting 
harness  must  be  secured,  and  where  the  saddle  or  collar  irritates  an 
incision  shoukl  be  made  in  them  above  and  below  the  part  that  chafes, 
and,  the  padding  between  having  been  removed,  the  lining  should  be 
beaten  so  as  to  make  a  hollow.  A  zinc  shield  in  the  upper  angle  of 
the  collar  will  often  prevent  chafing  in  front  of  the  withers. 

Treatment. — Wash  the  chafed  skin  and  apply  salt  water  (one-half 
ounce  to  the  quart),  extract  of  witchhazel,  a  weak  solution  of  oak  bark, 
or  camphorated  spirit.  If  the  surface  is  raw  use  bland  powders,  such 
as  oxide  of  zinc,  lycopodium,  starch,  or  smear  the  surface  with  vase- 
line, or  with  1  ounce  vaseline  intimately  mixed  with  one-half  dram 
each  of  sugar  of  lead  and  opium.  In  cases  of  chafing  rest  must  be 
strictly  enjoined.  Where  there  is  constitutional  disorder  or  acrid 
sweat,  1  ounce  cream  of  tartar  or  a  teaspoonful  of  bicarbonate  of  soda 
may  be  given  twice  daih^ 

CONGESTION,  W^ITH    SMALL    PIMPLES,    OR   PAltJLES. 

In  this  affection  there  is  the  general  blush,  heat,  etc.,  of  erythema, 
together  with  a  crop  of  elevations  from  the  size  of  a  poppy  seed  to  a 
coffee  bean,  visible  when  the  hair  is  reversed  or  to  be  felt  with  the 
finger  where  the  hair  is  scanty.  In  white  skins  thc}^  var}'  from  the 
palest  to  the  darkest  red.  All  do  not  retain  the  papular  type,  but 
some  go  on  to  form  blisters  (eczema,  bullie),  or  pustules,  or  dry  up 
into  scales,  or  break  out  into  open  sores,  or  extend  into  larger  swellings 
(tubercles).  The  majority,  however,  remaining  as  pimples,  charac- 
terize the  disease.  When  very  itch}'-  the  rubbing  breaks  them  open, 
and  the  resulting  sores  and  scales  hide  the  true  nature  of  the  eruption. 

The  general  and  local  causes  may  be  the  same  as  for  erythema,  and 
in  the  same  subject  one  portion  of  the  skin  may  have  simple  conges- 
tion and  another  adjacent  papules.  As  the  inflammator}^  action  is 
more  pronounced,  so  the  irritation  and  itching  are  usuall}^  greater, 
the  animal  rubbing  and  biting  himself  severely.  This  itching  is  espe- 
cially severe  in  the  forms  which  attack  the  roots  of  the  mane  and.  tail, 
and  there  the  disease  is  often  so  persistent  and  troublesome  that  the 
horse  is  rendered  virtually  useless. 

The  bites  of  insects  often  produce  a  papular  eruption,  but  in  many 
such   cases  the  swelling   extends  wider  into  a  button-like  elevation, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  437 

one-half  to  an  inch  in  diameter.     The  same  remarks  appl}'  to  the  effects 
of  the  poison  ivy  and  poison  sumac. 

Treatment.— In  papular  eruption  first  remove  the  cause,  then  apply 
the  same  general  remedies  as  for  simple  congestion.  In  the  more 
inveterate  cases  use  a  lotion  of  one-half  ounce  sulphide  of  potassium 
in  2  quarts  water,  to  which  a  little  Castile  soap  has  been  added;  or  use 
a  wash  with  one-half  ounce  oil  of  tar,  2  ounces  Castile  soap,  and  20 
ounces  water. 

I^'FLAMMATION   WITH    BLISTERS,    OK    ECZEMA. 

In  this  the  skin  is  congested,  thickened,  warm  (white  skins  are  red- 
dened), and  shows  a  thick  crop  of  little  blisters  formed  by  effusions  of 
a  straw-colored  fluid  between  the  true  skin  and  the  cuticle.  The  blis- 
ters may  be  of  any  size  from  a  millet  seed  to  a  pea,  and  often  crack 
open  and  allow  the  escape  of  the  fluid,  which  concretes  as  a  slightly 
3'ellowish  scab  or  crust  around  the  roots  of  the  hairs.  This  exudation 
and  incrustation  are  especiall}^  common  where  the  hairs  are  long,  thick, 
and  numerous,  as  in  the  region  of  the  pastern  of  heavy  draft  horses. 
The  term  eczema  is  now  applied  very  generally  to  eruptions  of  all 
kinds  that  depend  on  internal  disorders  or  constitutional  conditions, 
and  that  tend  to  recurrences  and  inveteracy.  Eczema  may  appear  on 
an}''  part  of  the  body,  but  in  horses  it  is  cspecialh^  common  on  the  heels 
and  the  lower  parts  of  the  limbs,  and  less  frequently  on  the  neck, 
shoulder,  and  abdomen.  The  limbs  appear  to  be  especially  liable 
because  of  their  dependent  position,  all  blood  having  to  return  from 
them  against  the  action  of  gravity,  and  congestions  and  swellings  being 
common,  because  of  the  abundance  of  blood  vessels  in  this  part  of  the 
skin,  and  because  of  the  frequent  contact  with  the  irritant  dung  and 
urine  and  their  ammoniacal  emanations.  The  legs  further  suffer  from 
contact  with  wet  and  mud  when  at  work,  from  snow  and  ice,  from 
drafts  of  cold  air  on  the  wet  limbs,  from  washing  with  caustic  soaps,  or 
from  the  relaxing  effects  of  a  too  deep  and  abundant  litter.  Among 
other  causes  may  be  named  indigestion  and  the  presence  of  irritant 
matters  in  the  blood  and  sweat,  the  result  of  patent  medicated  foods 
and  condition  powders  (aromatics,  stimulants),  green  food,  new  hay, 
new  oats,  buckwheat,  wheat,  maize,  diseased  potatoes,  smut,  or  ergot, 
in  grains,  decomposing  green  food,  brewers'  grains,  or  kitchen  gar- 
bage. The  excitement  in  the  skin,  caused  by  shedding  the  coat,  lack 
of  grooming,  hot  weather,  hot  boiled  or  steamed  food,  conduces  to  the 
eruption.     Lastly,  any  sudden  change  of  food  ma}^  induce  it. 

The  blisters  may  in  part  go  on  to  suppuration  so  that  vesicles  and 
pustules  often  appear  on  the  same  patch,  and  when  raw  from  rubbing 
the  true  nature  of  the  eruption  may  be  completely  masked.  In  high- 
fed  horses,  kept  in  close  stables  with  little  work,  eczema  of  the  limbs 
may  last  for  months  and  years.  It  is  a  \q\'j  troublesome  affection  in 
draft  stallions. 


4Hb  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

Treatment . — Thi.s  disease  is  so  often  the  result  of  indigestion  that  a 
laxative  of  1  pound  Glauber's  salts  in  3  or  4  quarts  water  or  1^  pints 
olive  oil  is  often  demanded  to  clear  away  irritants  from  the  alimentar}' 
canal.  Following  this,  in  recent  and  acute  cases,  give  2  drams  of  ace- 
tate or  bicarbonate  of  potash  twice  a  day  in  the  drinking  water.  If 
the  bowels  still  become  costive,  give  daily  1  ounce  sulphate  of  soda  and 
20  grains  powdered  nux  vomica.  In  del)ilitated  horses  combine  the 
nux  vomica  with  one-half  ounce  powdered  gentian  root.  As  a  wash 
for  the  skin  use  1  dram  bicarbonate  of  soda  and  1  dram  carbolic  acid 
in  a  quart  of  water,  after  having  cleansed  the  surface  with  tepid  Avater. 
Employ  the  same  precautions  as  regards  feeding,  stfibling,  and  care  of 
harness  as  in  simple  congestion  of  the  skin. 

Ill  the  more  inveterate  forms  of  eczema  more  active  treatment  is 
required.  Soak  the  scabs  in  fresh  sweet  oil,  and  in  a  few  hours  remove 
these  with  tepid  w^ater  and  Castile  soap;  then  apply  an  ointment  of 
sulphur  or  iodide  of  sulphur  day  b}'-  day.  If  this  seems  to  be  losing 
its  effect  after  a  week,  change  for  mercurial  ointment  or  a  solution 
of  sulphide  of  potassium,  or  of  hyposulphite  of  soda,  3  drams. to  the 
quart  of  water.  In  these  cases  the  animal  ma}-  take  a  course  of 
sulphur  (1  ounce  dailj^),  bisulphite  of  soda  (one-half  ounce  daily),  or 
of  arsenic  (5  grains  daily)  mixed  with  1  dram  bicarbonate  of  soda, 

INFLAMMATION    WITH    PUSTULES. 

In  this  affection  the  individual  elevations  on  the  inflamed  skin  show 
in  the  center  a  small  sac  of  white,  creamy  pus,  in  place  of  the  clear 
liquid  of  a  blister.  They  vary  in  size  from  a  millet  seed  to  a  hazel- 
nut. The  pustules  of  glanders  (farcy  buds)  are  to  be  distinguished 
by  the  watery  contents  and  the  cord-like  swelling,  extending  from  the 
pustules  along  the  line  of  the  veins,  and  those  of  boils  by  the  inflam- 
mation and  sloughing  out  of  a  core  of  the  true  skin.  The  hair  on  the 
pustule  stands  erect,  and  is  often  shed  with  the  scab  which  results. 
When  itching  is  severe  the  parts  become  excoriated  by  rubbing,  and, 
as  in  the  other  forms  of  skin  disease,  the  character  of  the  eruption 
may  become  indistinct.  Old  horses  suffer  mainly  at  the  root  of  the 
mane  and  tail  and  about  the  heels,  and  suckling  foals  around  tiie  mouth, 
on  the  face,  inside  the  thighs,  and  under  the  tail. 

Pustules  like  eczema  are  especially  liable  to  result  from  unwhole- 
some food  and  indigestion,  from  a  sudden  change  of  food — above  all, 
from  dry  to  green  food.  In  foals  it  may  result  from  overheating  of 
the  mare  and  allowing  the  first  milk  after  she  returns,  or  b}'  milk  ren- 
dered unwholesome  by  faulty  feeding  of  the  dam.  If  a  foal  is  brought 
up  by  hand  the  souring  and  other  decompositions  in  the  milk  derange 
the  digestion  and  cause  such  eruption.  Vetches  and  other  plants 
affected  with  honeydew  and  buckwheat  have  been  the  cause  of  these 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  439 

eruptions  on  white  portions  of  the  skin.     Disorders  of  the  kidne3's  or 
liver  are  common  causes  of  this  aii'ection. 

Treatrrient. — Apply  soothing  ointments,  such  as  benzoated  oxide  of 
zinc,  or  vaseline  with  1  dram  oxide  of  zinc  in  each  ounce.  Or  a  wash 
of  1  dram  sugar  of  lead  or  2  drams  hyposulphite  of  soda  in  a  quart  of 
w^ater  may  be  freely  applied.  If  the  skin  is  already  abraded  and 
scabby,  smear  thickly  y>^ith  vaseline  for  some  hours,  then  wash  with 
soapsuds  and  apply  the  above  dressings.  When  the  excoriations  are 
indolent  they  may  be  painted  with  a  solution  of  lunar  caustic,  2  grains 
to  1  ounce  of  distilled  water.  Internally  counteract  costiveness  and 
remove  intestinal  irritants  bj^  the  same  means  as  in  eczema,  and  fol- 
low this  with  one-half  ounce  doses  daily  of  hyposulphite  of  soda,  and 
one-half  ounce  doses  of  gentian.  Inveterate  cases  may  often  be  bene- 
fited by  a  course  of  sulphur,  bisulphite  of  soda,  or  arsenic.  In  all,  the 
greatest  care  must  be  taken  with  regard  to  food,  feeding,  watering, 
cleanliness,  and  work.  In  wet  and  cold  seasons  predisposed  animals 
should,  so  far  as  possible,  be  protected  from  wet,  mud,  snow,  and 
melted  snow — above  all,  from  that  which  has  been  melted  by  salt. 

BOILS,    OR    FURUNCLES. 

These  ma\*  appear  on  any  part  of  the  skin,  but  are  especially  com- 
mon on  the  lower  parts  of  the  limbs,  and  on  the  shoulders  and  back 
where  the  skin  is  irritated  by  accmnulated  secretion  and  chafing  with 
the  harness.  In  other  cases  the  cause  is  constitutional,  or  attended 
by  unwholesome  diet  and  overwork  with  loss  of  general  health  and 
condition.  Thej'  also  follow  on  weakening  diseases,  notably  strangles, 
in  which  irritants  are  retained  in  the  system  from  overproduction  of 
poisons  and  effete  matters  during  fever,  and  imperfect  elimination. 
There  is  also  the  presence  of  a  pyogenic  bacterium,  by  which  the 
disease  may  be  maintained  and  propagated. 

While  boils  are  pus-producing,  they  differ  from  simple  pustule  in 
afl'ecting  the  deepest  la3'ers  of  the  true  skin,  and  even  the  superficial 
laj-ers  of  the  connective  tissues  beneath,  and  in  the  death  and  slough- 
ing out  of  the  central  part  of  the  inflamed  mass  (core).  The  depth  of 
the  hard,  indurated,  painful  swelling,  and  the  formation  of  this  central 
mass  or  cor%  which  is  bathed  in  pus  and  slowly  separated  from  sur- 
rounding parts,  serve  to  distinguish  the  boil  alike  from  the  pustule, 
from  the  farcy  bud,  and  from  a  superficial  abscess. 

Treatment.— To  treat  very  painful  boils  a  free  incision  with  a  lancet 
in  two  directions,  f  ollov.ed  b}-  a  dressing  with  one-half  an  ounce  carbolic 
acid  in  a  pint  of  water,  l)ound  on  with  cotton  wool  or  lint,  may  cut  them 
short.  The  more  common  course  is  to  apply  a  warm  poultice  of  lin- 
seed meal  or  wheat  bran,  and  renew  daily  until  the  center  of  the  boil 
softens,  when  it  should  be  lanced  and  the  core  pressed  out. 

If  the  boil  is  smeared  with  a  blistering  ointment  of  Spanish  flies  and 


440  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

a  poultice  put  over  it,  the  formation  of  matter  and  separation  of  the 
core  is  often  hastened.  A  mixture  of  sugar  and  soap  hiid  on  the  boil 
is  equally  good.  Cleanliness  of  the  skin  and  the  avoidance  of  all 
causes  of  irritation  are  important  items,  and  a  teaspoonful  of  bicar- 
bonate of  soda  onco  or  twice  a  day  "will  sometimes  assist  in  Marding  off 
a  new  crop. 

XETTLERASH  (sURFEIT,  OR   URTICARIA). 

This  is  an  eruption  in  the  form  of  cutaneous  nodules,  in  size  from 
a  hazelnut  to  a  hickory  nut,  transient,  with  little  disposition  to  the 
formation  of  either  blister  or  pustule,  and  usuall}'^  connected  with 
shedding  of  the  coat,  sudden  changes  of  weather,  and  unwholesome- 
ness  or  sudden  change  in  the  food.  It  is  most  frequent  in  the 
spring  and  in  young  and  vigorous  animals  (good  feeders).  The  swell- 
ing eml) races  the  entire  thickness  of  the  skin  and  terminates  b}'-  an 
abrupt  margin  in  place  of  shading  off  into  surrounding  parts.  When 
the  individual  swellings  run  together  there  are  formed  extensive 
patches  of  thickened  integument.  These  may  appear  on  an}'  part  of 
the  bod}',  and  may  be  general;  the  eyelids  may  be  closed,  the  lips 
rendered  immovable,  or  the  nostrils  so  thickened  that  breathing 
becomes  difficult  and  snuffling.  It  may  be  attended  by  constipation 
or  diarrhea  or  by  colicky  pains.  The  eruption  is  sudden,  the  whole 
skin  being  sometimes  covered  in  a  few  hours,  and  it  may  disappear 
with  equal  rapidity  or  persist  for  six  or  eight  days. 

Treatment. — This  consists  in  clearing  out  the  bowels  by  5  drams 
Barbados  aloes,  or  1  pound  Glauber's  salts,  and  follow  the  operation 
of  these  by  daily  doses  of  one-half  ounce  powdered  gentian  and  1  ounce 
Glauber's  salts.  A  weak  solution  of  alum  may  be  applied  to  the 
swellings. 

SCALY    SKIX    DISEASE,  OR   PITYRIASIS. 

This  affection  is  characterized  by  an  excessive  production  and  detach- 
ment of  dry  scales  from  the  surface  of  tlie  skin  (dandruff).  It  is  usually 
dependent  on  some  fault  in  digestion  and  an  imperfect  secretion  from 
the  sebaceous  glands,  and  is  most  common  in  old  horses  with  spare 
habit  of  body.  Williams  attributes  it  to  food  rich  in  saccftarine  matter 
(carrots,  turnips)  and  to  the  excretion  by  the  skin  of  oxalic  acid.  He 
has  found  it  in  horses  irregularly  worked  and  w^ell  fed,  and  advises  the 
administration  of  pitch  for  a  length  of  time,  and  the  avoidance  of  sac- 
charine food.  Otherwise  the  horse  may  take  a  laxative  followed  by 
dram  doses  of  carbonate  of  potash,  and  the  affected  parts  may  be 
bathed  with  soft  tepid  water  and  smeared  with  an  ointment  made  with 
vaseline  and  sulphur.  In  obstinate  cases  sulphur  may  be  given  daily 
in  the  food. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  441 

NERYOUS    IRRITATIOX    OF   THE    SKIN,  OR   TRURITUS. 

This  is  seen  in  horses  fed  to  excess  on  grain  and  hay,  kept  in  close 
stables,  and  worked  irreg-ularl}'.  Though  most  common  in  summer 
it  is  often  severe  in  hot,  close  stables  in  winter.  Pimples,  vesicles, 
and  abrasions  maj^  result,  but  as  the  itching  is  quite  as  severe  on  other 
parts  of  the  skin,  these  may  be  the  result  of  scratching  mereh\  It  is 
especially'  common  and  inveterate  about  the  roots  of  the  mane  and  tail. 

Ti-eatment  consists  in  a  purgative  (Glauber's  salts,  1  pound),  restricted, 
laxative  diet,  and  a  wash  of  water  slightly  soured  with  oil  of  vitriol 
and  rendered  sweet  by  carbolic  acid.  If  obstinate,  give  dail}^  1  ounce 
of  sulphur  and  20  grains  nux  vomica.  If  the  acid  lotion  fails,  2  drams 
carbonate  of  potash  and  2  grains  of  cyanide  of  potassium  in  a  quart  of 
water  will  sometimes  benefit.  If  due  to  pinworms  in  the  rectum,  the 
itching  of  the  tail  may  be  remedied  by  an  occasional  injection  of  a  quart 
of  water  in  which  chips  of  quassia  wood  have  been  steeped  for  tA^elve 
hours. 

HERPES. 

This  name  has  been  applied  to  a  disease  in  which  there  is  an  erup- 
tion of  minute  vesicles  in  circular  groups  or  clusters,  with  little  tend- 
ency to  burst  but  rather  to  dry  up  into  fine  scabs.  If  the  vesicles 
break  they  exude  a  slight  gummy  discharge  which  concretes  into  a 
small,  hard  scab.  It  is  apparently  noncontagious  and  not  appreciably 
connected  with  any  disorder  of  internal  organs.  It  sometimes  accom- 
panies or  follows  specific  fevers,  and  is,  on  the  whole,  most  frequent  at 
the  seasons  of  changing  the  coat — spring  and  autumn.  It  is  seen  on 
the  lips  and  pastern,  but  may  appear  on  an}'  part  of  the  hody.  The 
duration  of  the  eruption  is  two  weeks  or  even  more,  the  tendency 
being  to  spontaneous  recover3^  The  affected  part  is  very  irritable, 
causing  a  sensitiveness  and  a  disposition  to  rub  out  of  proportion  to 
the  extent  of  the  eruption. 

Treatment. — It  may  be  treated  b}'  oxide  of  zinc  ointment,  and  to 
relieve  the  irritation  a  solution  of  opium  or  belladonna  in  water,  or  of 
sugar  of  lead  or  oil  of  peppermint.  A  course  of  bitters  (one-half  an 
ounce  Peruvian  bark  daih'  for  a  week)  may  be  serviceable  in  ])raeing 
the  sj'stem  and  producing  an  indisposition  to  the  eruption. 

BLEEDING    SKIN    ERUrTIONS,    OR    DERMATORRHAOIA    RAKASITICA. 

In  China,  Hungary,  Spain,  and  other  countries  horses  frequently 
suffer  from  the  presence  of  a  threadworm  {Filar ia  hmmorrhagica, 
Railliet:  F.  multijmjyillosa.^  Condamine  &  Drouilly)  in  the  subcuta- 
neous connective  tissue,  causing  effusions  of  blood  under  the  scurf 
skin  and  incrustations  of  dried  blood  on  the  surface.  The  eruptions, 
which  appear  mainly  on  the  sides  of  the  trunk,  but  ma}-  cover  any 


4^2  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    liN^DUSTEY. 

part  of  the  ])od3%  are  rounded  elevations  alx)ut  the  size  of  a  small  pea, 
containing  1)lood  which  bursts  through  the  scurf  skin  and  concretes 
like  a  reddish  scab  around  the  erect,  rigid  hairs.  These  swellings 
appear  in  groups,  which  remain  out  for  several  days,  gradually 
diminishing  in  size;  new  groups  appear  after  an  interval  of  three  or 
four  weeks,  the  manifestation  being  confined  to  three  or  four  months 
of  spring  and  disappearing  in  winter.  A  horse  will  suffer  for  several 
3-ears  in  succession,  and  then  permanently  recover.  A  fatal  issue  is 
not  unknown.  To  find  the  worm  the  hair  is  shaved  from  the  part 
where  the  elevations  are  felt,  and  as  soon  as  a  bleeding  point  is  shown 
the  superficial  layer  is  laid  open  with  the  knife,  when  the  parasite 
will  be  seen  drawing  itself  back  into  the  parts  beneath.  The  worm  is 
about  2  inches  long  and  like  a  stout  thread,  thicker  towai-ds  the  head 
than  towards  the  tail,  and  with  numerous  little  conical  elevations 
(papilhr)  around  the  head.  The  young  worms  are  numerous  in  the 
body  of  the  adult  female  worm.  The  worm  has  become  conmion  in 
given  localities,  and  probably  enters  the  sj'stem  with  food  or  water. 

Treatment  is  not  satisfactory,  but  the  affected  surface  should  be 
kept  clean  by  sponging,  and  the  pressure  of  harness  on  any  affected 
part  must  be  avoided.  Thus  rest  may  become  essential.  The  part  may 
be  frequently  washed  with  a  strong  solution  of  sulphide  of  potassium. 

SUMMER    SOEES    FROM    FILARIA    IRRITANS. 

The  summer  sores  of  horses  [Dermatitis  granulosa^  boils)  have  been 
traced  to  the  presence  in  the  skin  of  another  parasite,  3  millimeters 
in  length  and  extremely  attenuated  {Filaria  irrltans  Railliet).  The 
sores  may  be  seen  as  small  as  a  millet  seed,  but  more  frequently  the 
size  of  a  pea,  and  may  become  an  inch  in  diameter.  They  may  appear 
on  any  point,  but  arc  especially  obnoxious  where  the  harness  presses 
or  on  the  lower  |>art  of  the  limbs.  They  cause  intense  and  insupport- 
able itching,  and  the  victim  rubs  and  bites  the  part  until  extensive  raw 
surfaces  are  produced.  Aside  from  such  friction  the,  sore  is  covered 
by  a  brownish  red,  soft,  pulpy  material  with  -cracks  or  furrows  filled 
with  serous  pus.  In  the  midst  of  the  softened  mass  are  small,  firm, 
rounded  granulations,  fibrinous,  and  even  caseated,  and  when  the  soft 
pultaceous  material  has  been  scraped  off,  the  surface  bears  a  resem- 
blance to  the  fine  yellow  points  of  miliar}'  tuberculosis  in  the  lung. 
The  worm  or  its  debris  is  found  in  the  center  of  such  masses.  These 
sores  are  very  obstinate,  resisting  treatment  for  months  in  summer, 
and  even  after  apparent  recovery  during  the  cold  season  they  may 
appear  anew  the  following  summer.  In  bad  cases  the  rubbing  and 
biting  may  cause  exposure  of  synovial  sacs  and  tendons,  and  cause 
irremediable  injury.  Even  in  winter,  however,  when  the  diseased 
process  seems  arrested,  there  remains  the  hard,  firm,  resistant  patches 


DISExiSES    OF    THE    HORSE.  443 

of  the  skin  with  points  in  which  the  diseased  product  has  become  soft- 
ened like  cheese. 

The  apparent  subsidence  of  the  disease  in  winter  is  attributed  to  the 
coldness  and  comparative  bloodlessness  of  the  skin,  whereas  in  sum- 
mer, with  high  temperature,  active  circulation,  and  rapid  cell  growth, 
inflammation  is  increased,  itching  follows,  and  from  the  animal  rub- 
bing the  part  the  irritation  is  persistentlj^  increased.  The  hotter  the 
climate  the  more  troublesome  the  disease. 

The  life  histor}^  of  the  parasite  is  unknown,  ])ut  it  probably  enters 
the  system  with  the  food  or  water. 

Treatment  consists,  first,  in  placing  the  animal  in  a  cool  place  and 
showering  the  surface  with  cold  water.  The  parasite  m^y  be  destro^^ed 
hj  rubbing  the  surface  of  the  wound  with  iodoform  and  covering  it 
with  a  layer  of  collodion,  and  repeating  the  applications  e^-ery  twenty- 
four  hours  for  fifteen  daj's,  or  until  the  sores  heal  up.  Ether  or  chlo- 
roform may  bo  used  in  place  of  iodoform,  being  poured  on  cotton 
wool  and  applied  to  the  sore  for  two  minutes  before  painting  it  with 
collodion. 

CRACKED    HEELS    (SCRATCHES,    OR   CHAPS    ON    KNEE    AND    HOCK). 

This  usuall}'  sets  in  with  swelling,  heat,  and  tenderness  of  the  hollow 
of  the  heel,  with  erections  of  the  hairs  and  redness  (in  white  skins), 
with  stiif  ness  and  lameness,  which  may  be  extreme  in  irritable  horses. 
Soon  slight  cracks  appear  transversely,  and  ma}"  gain  in  depth  and 
width,  and  may  even  suppurate.  More  frequent!}^  they  become  cov- 
ered at  the  edges  or  throughout  by  firm  incrustations  resulting  from 
the  dr3^ing  of  the  liquids  thrown  out,  and  the  skin  becomes  increasingly 
thick  and  rigid.  A  similar  condition  occurs  behind  the  knee  and  in 
front  of  the  hock  (raalanders  and  salanders),  and  may  extend  from 
these  points  to  the  hoof,  virtually  incasing  that  side  of  the  limb  in  a 
permanent  incrusting  sheath. 

Causes. — Besides  a  heavy  lymphatic  constitution,  which  predisposes 
to  this  affection,  the  causes  are  overfeeding  on  grain,  unwholesome 
fodder,  close,  hot,  dirt}^  stables,  constant  contact  with  dung  and  urine 
and  their  emanations,  working  in  deep,  irritant  mud;  above  all,  in 
limestone  districts,  irritation  hy  dry  limestone  or  sandy  dust  in  dry 
weather  on  dirt  roads,  also  cold  drafts,  snow  and  freezing  mud,  washing 
the  legs  with  caustic  soap,  wrapping  the  wet  legs  in  thick  woolen 
bandages  which  soak  the  skin  and  render  it  sensitive  when  exposed 
next  day,  clipping  the  heels,  weak  heart  and  circulation,  natural  or 
supervening  on  overwork,  imperfect  nourishment,  impure  air,  lack  of 
sunshine,  chronic,  exhausting,  or  debilitating  diseases,  or  functional  or 
structural  diseases  of  the  heart,  liver,  or  kidneys.  These  last  induce 
dropsical  swelling  of  the  limbs  (stocking),  w'eaken  the  parts,.and  induce 
cracking.     Finally  the  cicatrix  of  a  preexisting  crack,   v/eak,  rigid. 


444  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

and  unyielding-,  is  liable  to  reopen  under  any  severe  exertion,  hence 
rapid  paces  and  heav}^  draft  are  active  causes. 

Treatment. — In  treatment  the  first  step  is  to  ascertain  and  remove 
the  cause  vrhenever  possible.  If  there  is  much  local  heat  and  inflam- 
mation, a  laxative  (.5  drams  aloes  or  1  pound  Glauber's  salts)  ma}'  be 
given,  and  for  the  pampered  animal  the 'grain  should  be  reduced  or 
replaced  altogether  bj'  bran  mashes,  flaxseed,  and  other  laxative,  non- 
stimulating  food.  In  the  debilitated,  on  the  other  hand,  nutritious  food 
and  bitter  tonics  may  be  given,  and  even  a  course  of  arsenic  (5  grains 
arsenic  with  1  dram  bicarbonate  of  soda  4^11}^).  When  the  legs  swell, 
exercise  on  dry  roads,  hand  rubbing,  and  evenly  applied  bandages  are 
good,  and  mild  astringents,  like  extract  of  witchhazel,  may  be  applied 
and  the  part  subsequently  rubbed  dry  and  bandaged.  If  there  is  much 
heat  but  unbroken  skin,  a  lotion  of  2  drams  sugar  of  lead  to  1  quart  of 
water  ma}^  be  applied  on  a  thin  bandage,  covered  in  cold  weather  with 
a  dry  one.  The  same  ma}-  be  used  after  the  cracks  appear,  or  a  solution 
of  sulphurous  acid  1  part,  gl3'cerin  1  part,  and  water  1  part,  applied  on 
cotton  and  well  covered  by  a  bandage.  In  case  these  should  prove 
unsuitable  to  the  particular  case,  the  part  may  be  smeared  with  vaseline 
1  ounce,  sugar  of  lead  1  dram,  and  carbolic  acid  10  drops. 

INri.AM]VIATIOX  OF  THK  HEELS  WITH  SEBACEOUS  SECRETION  (gREASE,  OR 

canker). 

This  is  a  specific  affection  of  the  heels  of  horses  usually  associated 
with  the  growth  of  a  parasitic  fungus,  an  offensive  discharge  from  the 
numerous  sebaceous  glands,  and,  in  bad  cases,  the  formation  of  red,  raw 
excrescences  (grapes)  from  the  surface.  It  is  to  be  distinguished  (1) 
from  simple  inflammation  in  which  the  special  fetid  discharge  and  the 
tendencj^to  the  formation  of  "  grapes"  are  absent;  (2)  from  horsepox, 
in  which  the  abundant  exudate  forms  a  firmycllov>^  incrustation  around 
the  roots  of  the  hair,  and  is  embedded  at  intervals  in  the  pits  formed 
by  the  individual  pocks,  and  in  which  there  is  no  vascular  excrescence; 
(3)  from  foot  scabies  (mange),  in  which  the  presence  of  an  acarus  is 
distinctive;  (4)  from  lymphangitis,  in  which  the  swelling  appears  sud- 
denly extending  around  the  entire  limb  as  high  as  the  hock,  and  on 
the  inner  side  of  the  thigh  along  the  line  of  the  vein  to  the  groin,  and 
in  which  there  is  active  fever,  and  (5)  from  erysipelas,  in  which  there 
is  active  fever  (wanting  in  grease),  the  implication  of  the  deeper  layers 
of  the  skin  and  of  the  parts  beneath  giving  a  boggy  feeling  to  the  parts, 
the  absence  of  the  fetid,  greasy  discharge,  and  finally  a  tendency  to 
form  pus  loosely  in  the  tissues  without  any  limiting  membrane  as  in 
abscess.  Another  distinctive  feature  of  grease  is  its  tendency  to  impli- 
cate the  skin  which  secretes  the  bulbs  or  heels  of  the  horny  frog  and 
in  the  cleft  of  the  frog,  constituting  the  disease  known  as  canker. 

Causes. — The  predisposing  causes  of  grease  are  essentially  the  same 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  445 

as  those  of  simple  inflammation  of  the  heel,  so  that  the  reader  may 
consult  the  preceding  article,  and  though  a  specific  fungus  and  bacteria 
of  diiierent  kinds  are  present,  they  tend  mainly  to  aggravation  of  the 
disease,  and  are  not  proved  to  he  essential  factors  in  causation. 

Symj)toms. — The  s^'mptoms  vary  according  to  whether  the  disease 
comes  on  suddenly  or  m.ore  tardily.  In  the  first  case  there  is  a  sudden 
swelling  of  the  skin  in  the  heel,  with  heat,  tenderness,  itching,  and 
stiffness,  which  is  lessened  during  exercise.  In  the  slower  forms  there 
is  only  seen  a  slight  svv^elling  after  rest,  and.  with  little  heat  or  inflam- 
mation for  a  week  or  more.  Even  at  this  earlj-  stage  a  slight  serous 
oozing  may  be  detected.  As  the  swelling  increases,  extending  up 
toward  the  hock  or  knees,  the  hairs  stand  erect,  and  are  bedewed  by 
moisture  no  longer  clear  and  odorless,  but  grayish,  milky,  and  fetid. 
The  fetor  of  the  discharge  draws  attention  to  the  part  whenever  one 
enters  the  stable,  and  the  swollen  pastern  and  wet,  matted  hairs  on 
the  heel  draw  attention  to  the  precise  seat  of  the  malady.  If  actively 
treated,  the  disease  may  not  advance  further,  but  if  neglected  the 
tense,  tender  skin  cracks  open,  leaving  open  sores  from  which  vascular 
bleeding  growths  grow  up,  constituting  the  "grapes."  The  hair  is 
shed,  and  the  heel  may  appear  but  as  one  mass  of  rounded,  red,  angry 
excrescences  which  bleed  on  handling  and  are  covered  with  the  now 
repulsively  fetid  decomposing  discharge.  During  this  time  there  is 
little  or  no  fever,  the  animal  feeds  v>^ell,  and  but  for  its  local  troul^le  it 
might  continue  at  work.  When  the  malad}^  extends  to  the  frog,  there 
is  a  fetid  discharge  from  its  cleft  or  from  the  depressions  at  its  sides, 
and  this  gradualh^  extends  to  its  whole  surface  and  upon  the  adjacent 
parts  of  the  sole.  The  horn  meanwhile  becomes  soft,  whitish,  and 
flesh}'  in  aspect,  its  constituent  tubes  being  greatly  enlarged  and  losing 
their  natural  cohesion;  it  grows  rapidlj^  above  the  level  of  the  sur- 
rounding horn,  and  when  pared  is  found  to  be  penetrated  to  an  unusual 
depth  b}'  the  secreting  papilla,  and  that  at  intervals  these  have  bulged 
out  into  a  vascular  fungous  mass  comparable  to  the  "grapes." 

Treatment. — In  treatment  hygienic  measures  occupy  a  front  rank, 
but  are  in  themselves  insufficient  to  establish  a  cure.  All  local  and 
general  conditions  which  favor  the  production  and  persistence  of  the 
disease  must  be  guarded  against.  Above  all,  cleanliness  and  purity 
of  the  stable  and  air  must  be  secured;  also  nourishing  diet,  regular  exer- 
cise, and  the  avoidance  of  local  irritants — septic,  muddy,  chilling,  etc. 
At  the  outset  benzoated  oxide  of  zinc  ointment  may  be  used  with 
advantage.  A  still  better  dressing  is  made  with  1  ounce  vaseline,  2 
drams  oxide  of  zinc,  and  20  drops  iodized  phenol.  If  the  surface  is 
much  swollen  and  tender,'  a  flaxseed  poultice  may  be  applied  over  the 
surface  of  which  has  been  poured  some  of  the  following  lotion:  Sugar 
of  lead,  one-half  ounce;  carbolic  acid,  1  dram;  water,  1  quart.  All 
the  astringents  of  the  pharmacopeia  have  been  employed  with  more 


446  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

or  less  advantage,  and  some  particular  one  seems  to  suit  particular 
cases  or  patients.  To  destroy  the  grapes,  they  may  he  rubbi'd  daily 
with  strong  caustics  (copperas,  bluestone,  lunar  caustic),  or  each  may 
be  tied  round  its  neck  by  a  stout  waxed  thread,  or  finally  and  more 
speedil}'  they  may  l)e  cut  off  by  a  blacksmith's  shovel  heated  to  red- 
ness and  applied  with  its  sharp  edge  toward  the  neck  of  the  excres- 
cence, over  a  cold  shovel  held  between  it  and  the  skin  to  protect  the 
skin  from  the  heat.  The  cold  shovel  must  be  kept  cool  by  frequent 
dipping  in  water.  After  the  removal  of  the  grapes  the  astringent 
dressing  must  be  persistently  applied  to  the  surface.  When  the  frog  is 
affected,  it  must  be  pared  to  the  quick  and  dressed  with  dry  caustic 
powders  (quicklime,  copperas,  bluestone)  or  carbolic  acid  and  subjected 
to  pressure,  the  dressing  being  renewed  every  daj^  at  least. 

EllTSIPELAS. 

This  is  a  specific  contagious  disease,  characterized  by  spreading 
dropsical  inflammation  of  the  skin  and  subcuUincous  tissues,  attended 
by  general  fever.  It  differs  from  most  specific  diseases  in  the  absence 
of  a  definite  period  of  incubation,  a  regular  (^ourse  and  duration,  and 
a  conferring  of  immunity  on  the  subject  after  recovery.  On  the  con- 
trary, one  attack  of  erysipelas  predisposes  to  another,  partly,  doubt- 
less, by  the  loss  of  tone  and  vitality  in  the  affected  tissues,  but  also, 
perhaps,  because  of  the  survival  of  the  infecting  germ. 

Cause. — It  is  no  longer  to  be  doubted  that  the  microbes  found  in  the 
inflammatory  product  are  the  true  cause  of  erysipelas,  as  the  disease 
can  be  successfully  transferred  from  man  to  animals  and  from  one  ani- 
mal to  another  by  their  means.  This  transition  may  be  direct  or 
through  the  medium  of  infected  buildings  or  other  articles.  Yet  from 
the  varying  severity  of  erysipelas  in  different  outbreaks  and  localities 
it  has  been  surmised  that  various  different  microbes  are  operative  in 
this  disease,  and  a  perfect  knowledge  of  these  might  perhaps  enable  us 
to  divide  erysipelas  into  two  or  more  distinct  aifcctions.  At  present 
we  must  recognize  it  as  a  specific  inflammation  due  to  a  bacterial  poison 
and  closely  allied  to  septicemia.  Erysipelas  was  formerh*  known  as 
surgical  when  it  spread  from  a  wound  (through  which  the  germ  had 
gained  access)  and  medical.,  or  idiapnthic.,  when  it  started  independently 
of  any  recognizable  lesion.  Depending  as  it  does,  however,  upon  a 
germ  distinct  from  the  body,  the  disease  must  be  looked  upon  as  such, 
no  matter  by  what  channel  the  germ  found  an  entrance.  Erysipelas 
which  follows  a  wound  is  usually  much  more  violent  than  the  other 
form,  the  difference  being  doubtless  partly  due  to  the  lowered  vitality 
of  the  wounded  tissues  and  to  the  oxidation  and  septic  changes  which 
are  invited  on  the  raw,  exposed  surface.  As  apparently  idiopathic 
cases  may  be  due  to  infection  through  bites  of  insects,  the  small 
amount  of  poison  inserted  maj^  serve  to  moderate  the  violence. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  447 

This  affection  may  attack  a  wound  on  any  part  of  the  horse's  body, 
while  apart  from  wounds  it  is  most  frequent  about  the  head  and  the 
hind  limbs.  It  is  to  be  distinguished  from  ordinary  intlammations 
by  its  gradual  extension  from  the  point  first  attacked,  b}-  the  abun- 
dant liquid  exudation  into  the  affected  part,  by  the  tension  of  the  skin 
over  the  affected  part,  by  its  soft  boggy  feeling,  allowing  it  to  be 
deeply  indented  by  the  linger,  by  the  abrupt  line  of  limitation  betwieen 
the  diseased  and  healthy  skin,  the  former  descending  suddenly  to  the 
healthy  level  instead  of  shading  off  slowly  toward  it,  by  the  tendency 
of  the  inflammation  to  extend  deeply  into  the  subjacent  tissues  and 
into  the  muscles  and  other  structures,  b}'-  the  great  tendency  to  death 
and  sloughing  of  portions  of  skin  and  of  the  structures  beneath,  by 
the  formation  of  pus  at  various  different  points  throughout  the 
diseased  parts  without  an}'  surrounding  sac  to  protect  the  surround- 
ing structures  from  its  destructive  action,  and  without  the  usual  dis- 
position of  pus  to  advance  harmlessly  toward  the  surface  and  escape; 
and,  tinalh',  by  a  low  prostrating  type  of  fever,  with  elevated  tem- 
perature of  the  body,  coated  tongue,  excited  breathing,  and  loss  of 
appetite.  The  pus  when  escaping  through  a  lancet  wound  is  grayish, 
brownish,  or  reddish,  with  a  heav}'  or  fetid  odor,  and  intermixed  with 
shreds  of  broken-down  tissues.  The  most  destructive  form,  however, 
is  that  in  which  pus  is  deficient  and  gangrene  and  sloughing  more 
speedy  and  extensive. 

Treatment  resolves  itself  mainh'  into  the  elimination  from  the  system 
of  the  poisonous  products  of  the  bacteria  by  laxatives  and  diuretics, 
the  sustaining  of  the  failing  vitality  by  tonics  and  stimulants,  above 
all  those  of  the  nature  of  antiferments,  and  the  local  application  of 
astringent  and  antiseptic  agents.  Internal  treatment  ma}^  consist  in  4 
drams  tincture  of  muriate  of  iron  and  one-half  dram  muriate  of 
ammonia  or  chlorate  of  potash,  given  in  a  pint  of  water  every  two 
hours.  To  this  maj^  be  added,  liberall}-,  whisk}^  or  Ijrand}-  when  the 
prostration  is  very  marked.  Locally  a  strong  solution  of  iron,  alum, 
or  of  sulphate  of  iron  and  laudanum  ma}^  be  used;  or  the  affected  part 
ma}'  be  painted  with  tincture  of  muriate  of  iron  or  with  iodized  phenol. 
In  mild  cases  a  lotion  of  4  drams  sugar  of  lead  and  2  ounces  laudanum 
in  a  quart  of  water  may  be  applied.  It  is  desirable  to  avoid  the  for- 
mation of  wounds  and  the  consequent  septic  action,  yet  when  pus  has 
formed  and  is  felt  by  fluctuation  under  the  finger  to  be  approaching 
the  surface  it  should  ])e  freely  opened  with  a  clean,  sharp  lancet,  and 
the  wound  thereafter  disinfected  dail}'  with  carbolic  acid  1  part  to 
water  10  parts,  with  a  saturated  solution  of  hyposulphite  of  soda,  or 
with  powders  of  iodoform  or  salol. 

HORSEi'OX,  ANTHR^VX,  AND    CUTANEOUS   GLANDERS  (fARCY). 

These  subjects  will  come  more  properly  under  the  head  of  conta- 
gious diseases. 


448  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    I2iDUSTBY. 

CALLOSITIES. 

These  are  simple  thickening  and  induration  of  the  cuticle  by  reason 
of  continued  pressure,  notably  in  lying  down  on  a  hard  surface.  Being 
devoid  of  hair,  they  cause  blemishes;  hence  smooth  floors  and  good 
bedding  should  be  secured  as  preventives. 

HORNY    SLOUr.HS    (siTFASTs),  OR    SLOUGHING    CALLOSITIES. 

These  are  circumscribed  sloughs  of  limited  portions  of  the  skin,  the 
result  of  pressure  by  bad!}'  fitting  harness  or  by  irritating  masses  of 
dirt,  sweat,  and  hairs  under  the  harness.  The}"  are  most  common 
under  the  saddle,  but  may  be  found  under  collar  or  breeching  as  well. 
The  sitfast  is  a  piece  of  dead  tissue  which  would  be  thrown  off  but 
that  it  has  formed  firm  connections  with  the  fibrous  skin  beneath,  or 
even  deeper  with  the  fibrous  layers  (fascia)  of  the  muscles,  or  with 
the  bones,  and  is  thus  bound  in  its  place  as  a  persistent  source  of  irri- 
tation. The  horn-like  slough  may  thus  involve  the  superficial  part  of 
the  skin  only,  or  the  whole  thickness  of  the  skin,  and  even  of  some  of 
the  structures  beneath.  The  first  object  is  to  remove  the  dead  irri- 
tant by  disjecting  it  oft'  with  a  sharp  knife,  after  which  the  sore  maj'' 
be  treated  with  simple  wet  cloths  or  a  weak  carbolic  acid  lotion,  like  a 
common  wound.  If  the  outline  of  the  dead  mass  is  too  indefinite,  a 
linseed-meal  poultice  will  make  its  outline  more  evident  to  the  opera- 
tor. If  the  fascia  or  bone  has  become  gangrenous  the  dead  portion 
must  be  removed  with  the  horn-like  skin.  During  and  after  treat- 
ment the  horse  must  be  kept  at  rest  or  the  harness  must  be  so  adjusted 
that  no  pressure  can  come  near  the  affected  parts. 


These  are  essentially  a  morbid  overgrowth  of  the  superficial  papil- 
lary layer  of  the  skin  and  of  the  investing  cuticular  layer.  They  are 
mostly  seen  in  young  horses,  about  the  lips,  ej^elids,  cheeks,  ears, 
beneath  the  belly,  and  on  the  sheath,  but  may  develop  anywhere. 
The  smaller  ones  ma}'  be  clipped  off  with  scissors  and  the  raw  surface 
cauterized  with  bluestone.  The  larger  may  be  sliced  off  with  a  sharp 
knife,  or  if  with  a  narrow  neck  they  may  be  twisted  off  and  then  cau- 
terized. If  very  vascular  they  may  be  strangled  by  a  wax  thread  or 
cord  tied  around  their  necks,  at  least  three  turns  being  made  round  and 
the  ends  being  fixed  by  passing  them  beneath  the  last  preceding  turn 
of  the  cord,  so  that  they  can  be  tightened  day  by  day  as  they  slacken 
by  shrinkage  of  the  tissues.  If  the  neck  is  too  broad  it  may  be  trans- 
fixed several  times  with  a  double-threaded  needle  and  then  be  tied  in 
sections.  Very  broad  warts  that  can  not  be  treated  in  this  way  may 
be  burned  down  to  beneath  the  surface  of  the  skin  with  a  soldering 
bolt  at  a  red  heat,  and  any  subsequent  tendency  to  overgrowth  kept 
down  bv  bluestone. 


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JULIUS  BIEts 


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IM^A'l'l-.   XXXX'I. 


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JULIUS  BIEN  &.  CO-I 


MITKS   THA'l-  INFKST   THJ<:    IKIIISI- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  449 

BLACK    PIGMENT   TUMORS,  OR   MELANOSIS. 

These  are  common  in  gray  and  in  white  horses  on  the  naturally  black 
parts  of  the  skin  at  the  root  of  the  tail,  around  the  anus,  vulva,  udder,, 
sheath,  eyelids,  and  lips.  They  are  readily  recognized  by  their  inky- 
black  color,  which  extends  throughout  the  whole  mass.  They  may 
appear  as  simple  pea-like  masses,  or  as  multiple  tumors  aggregating 
many  pounds,  especially  around  the  tail.  In  the  horse  these  ara 
usually  simple  tumors,  and  may  be  removed  with  the  knife.  In  excep- 
tional cases  they  prove  cancerous,  as  they  usually  are  in  man. 

EPITHELIAL   CANCER,  OR    EPITHELIOMA. 

This  sometimes  occurs  on  the  lips  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  and' 
elsewhere  in  the  horse.  It  begins  as  a  small  wart-like  tumor,  which, 
grows  slowly  at  first,  but  finally  bursts  open,  ulcerates  and  extends 
laterally  and  deeply  in  the  skin  and  other  tissues,  destroying  them  as 
it  advances  (rodent  ulcer).  It  is  made  up  of  a  fibrous  framework  and 
numerous  round,  ovoid,  or  cylindrical  cavities,  lined  with  masses  of 
epithelial  cells,  which  may  be  squeezed  out  as  a  fetid  caseous  material. 
The  most  successful  treatment  is  earl}^  and  thorough  removal  with  the-, 
knife. 

VEGETABLE    PARASITES    OF   THE    SKIN. 

Parasite:  Trichophyton  tonsxirans.  Malady:  Tinea  tonsurans,  or 
Circinate  ringtoorni. — This  is  especially  common  in  young  horses^ 
coming  into  training  and  work,  in  low- conditioned  colts  in  winter  and 
spring  after  confinement  indoors  and  during  moulting,  in  Ij^mphatic 
rather  than  nervous  subjects,  and  at  the  same  time  in  se^^eral  animals 
that  have  herded  together.  The  disease  is  common  to  man,  and 
among  the  domestic  animals  to  horse,  ox,  goat,  dog,  cat,  and  in  rare, 
instances  to  sheep  and  swine.  Hence  it  is  common  to  find  animals  of 
different  species  and  their  attendants  suffering  at  once,  the  diseases^ 
having  been  propagated  from  one  to  the  other. 

Symjyto^ns. — In  the  horse  the  symptoms  are  the  formation  of  a  circu- 
lar scurfy  patch  where  the  fungus  has  established  itself,  the  hairs  of 
the  affected  spot  being  erect,  bristly,  twisted,  I)roken,  or  split  up  and 
dropping  off.  Later  the  spot  first  affected  has  become  entirely  bald., 
and  a  circular  row  of  hairs  around  this  are  erect,  bristly,  broken,  and 
split.  These  in  turn  are  shed  and  a  new  row  outside  passes  through 
the  same  process,  so  that  the  extension  is  made  in  more  or  less  circular 
outline.  The  central  bald  spot,  covered  with  a  grayish  scurf  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  circle  of  broken  and  split  hairs,  is  characteristic.  If  th& 
scurf  and  diseased  hairs  are  treated  with  caustic  potash  solution  and 
put  under  the  microscope  the  natural  cells  of  the  cuticle  and  hair  will 
be  seen  to  have  become  transparent,  while  the  groups  of  spherical  cells 
and  branching  filaments  of  the  fungus  stand  out  prominentlj^  in  the 
14384—03 29 


450  BUKEAU   OF    A2JIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

substance  of  both,  dark  and  uncLangod.  The  eruption  usualh^  appears 
on  the  back,  loins,  croup,  chest,  and  head.  It  tends  to  spontaneous 
recovery  in  a  month  or  two,  lea\ing  for  a  time  a  dappled  coat  from 
the  spots  of  short,  light-colored  hair  of  the  new  growth. 

The  most  effective  way  of  reaching  the  parasite  in  the  hair  follicles 
is  to  extract  the  hairs  individual!}-,  but  in  the  horse  the  mere  shaving 
of  the  affected  part  is  usuall}"  enough.  It  may  then  be  painted  with 
tincture  of  iodine  twice  a  day  for  two  weeks.  Germs  about  the  stable 
may  be  covered  up  or  destroyed  by  a  whitewash  of  freshly  burned 
quicklime,  the  harness,  brushes,  etc.,  may  be  washed  with  caustic 
soda,  and  then  smeared  with  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  one-half 
dram  and  water  1  pint.     The  clothing  may  be  boiled  and  dried. 

Parasite:  Acliorion  sclionlelni.  Malady:  Favus^  or  Honeycomb 
ringv:07Tn. — Megnin  and  Go3'au,  who  describe  this  in  the  horse,  say 
that  it  loses  its  characteristic  honej^eomb  or  cup-shaped  appearance, 
and  forms  onl}^  a  series  of  closely  aggregated,  dr}^,  j^ellowish  crusts 
the  size  of  hemp  seed  on  the  trunk,  shoulders,  flanks,  or  thighs. 
They  are  accompanied  by  severe  itching,  especially  at  night.  The 
cryptogam,  formed  of  spherical  cells  with  a  few  filaments  only, 
grows  in  the  hair  follicles  and  on  the  cuticle,  and  thus  a  crust  often 
forms  around  the  root  of  a  hair.  Like  the  other  cryptogams,  their 
color,  as  seen  under  the  microscope,  is  unaffected  b}'  acetic  acid, 
alcohol,  ether,  or  oil  of  turpentine,  while  the  cells  are  turned  bluish 
by  iodine.  For  treatment,  remove  the  hair  and  apply  tincture  of 
iodine  or  corrosive  sublimate  lotion,  as  advised  under  the  last  para- 
graph. 

Parasite:  Mlcro^-poron  fiirftir.  Malady:  Parasitic  jpitijrimu. — 
This  attacks  the  horse's  head  where  the  harness  presses,  and  leads  to 
dropping  of  the  hair,  leaving  bald  patches  covered  with  a  branlike 
scurf,  without  any  eruption,  heat,  tenderness,  swelling,  or  rigidity  of 
the  skin.  A  lotion  of  carbolic  acid  1  dram,  and  water  S^-  ounces,  is 
usuall}^  applied  to  effect  a  cure. 

AN'IMAL   parasites    OF   THE    SKIN. 

Acariasis^  or  mange. — This  affection  is  due  to  the  irritation  of  the 
skin,  caused  by  the  presence  of  a  nearly  microscopic  acarus,  or  mite. 
The  disease  varies,  however,  according  to  the  species  of  acarus  which 
infests  the  skin,  so  that  we  must  treat  of  several  different  kinds  of 
acariasis. 

Parasite:  Surcojytes  scahiei  equi.  Malady:  Sai'coptic  acariasis. — 
This  is  the  special  Sarcoptes  of  the  horse,  but  under  favorable  conditions 
it  can  be  transmitted  to  ass  and  mule,  and  even  to  man,  and  may  live 
indefinitely  on  the  human  skin.  The  mite  is  nearly  microscopical,  but 
may  be  detected  with  a  magnifying  lens  among  moving  scurf  taken 
from  the  infected  skin.     Like  all  Saixoptes,  it  burrows  little  galleries 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOKSE.  451 

in  and  beneath  the  scurf  skin,  where  it  hides  and  Laj^s  its  eggs  and 
where  its  joung  are  hatched.  It  is  therefore  often  difficult  to  find  the 
parasite  on  the  surface,  unless  the  skm  has  been  heated  by  a  tempo- 
rar}^  exposure  to  the  sun  or  in  a  warm  room.  Even  then  it  maj'  be 
needful  to  tie  the  scab  on  the  human  arm  till  a  pricking  is  felt,  when 
the  acarus  will  be  found  in  the  center  of  a  minute  papule  caused  by 
its  bite.  Like  other  acari,  this  is  wonderfully  prolific,  a  new  genera- 
tion of  fifteen  individuals  being  possible  every  fifteen  days,  so  that  in 
three  months  the  offspring  of  a  single  pair  may  produce  generations 
aggregating  1,500,000  young.  The  Sarcoptes  have  less  vitality  than 
the  nonburrowing  acari,  as  they  die  in  an  hour  when  kept  apart  from 
the  skin  in  dry  air  at  a  heat  of  145°  F.  They  live  twelve  to  fourteen 
days  apart  from  the  skin  in  the  damp  air  of  a  stable.  On  a  piece  of 
damp  hide  they  lived  till  the  twenty-fourth  day,  when  the}^  began  to 
die,  and  all  were  dead  on  the  twenty-eighth. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  are  an  incessant,  intolerable,  and  increas- 
ing itching  of  some  part  of  tlie  skin  (head,  mane,  tail,  back,  etc.),  the 
horse  inclining  himself  toward  the  hand  that  scratches  him,  and  mov- 
ing his  lips  as  if  himself  scratching.  The  hairs  maj^  be  broken  and 
rubbed  off,  but  the  part  is  never  entirely  bald  as  in  ringworm,  and 
tliere  may  be  papules  or  any  kind  of  eruption  or  open  sores  from  the 
energy  of  the  scratching.  Scabs  of  any  thickness  may  form,  but  the 
special  features  are  the  intense  itching  and  the  discovery  of  the  acarus. 

Treatment  consists  in  the  removal  of  the  scabs  by  soapsuds,  and,  if 
necessary,  a  brush  and  the  thorough  application  of  tobacco  1^  ounces 
and  water  2  pints,  prepared  b}^  boiling.  This  maj^  be  applied  more 
than  once,  and  should  always  be  repeated  after  fifteen  da3^s,  to  destroj^ 
the  new  brood  that  may  have  been  hatched  in  the  interval.  All  har- 
ness and  stable  utensils  should  be  similarly  treated;  blankets  and 
rubbers  may  be  boiled,  and  the  stalls  should  bo  covered  with  a  white- 
wash of  quicklime,  containing  one-fourth  pound  of  chloride  of  lime  to 
the  gallon. 

Parasite:  Sarcoj)te8  mutans.  Malady:  Sarcoptic  acar lasts  of 
folds. — This  parasite  belongs  to  chickens,  but  can  live  on  the  skin  of 
the  fox  and  horse  as  well.  A  troublesome  mange  may  therefore  at 
times  be  traceable  to  the  proximity  of  a  chicken  roost.  The  general 
symptoms  and  treatment  are  essentiallv  the  same  as  for  /Sareoptes 
scahiei  equl. 

Parasite:  Psoroptes  equl  {Dermatocoj^tes  equl.,  Dermatodedes  equl). 
Malady:  Psaroptic  acarlasls. — This  produces  the  most  frequent  mange 
in  horses,  and  as  the  parasite  only  bites  the  surface  and  lives  among 
the  crusts  under  the  shelter  of  the  hair,  it  is  very  easily  discovered. 
It  reproduces  itself  with  equal  rapidity,  and  causes  similar  symptoms 
to  those  produced  by  the  Sarcojdes.  The  same  treatment  Avill  suffice 
and  is  more  promptly  effectual.     The  purifying  of  the  stable  must  be 


452  BUKKAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

more  ihorouj^h,  as  the  Pmropt&s  will  survive  twenty  to  thirt}'  days  in 
the  moi.st  atmosphere  of  a  stable,  and  may  even  revive  after  six  or 
eight  weeks  when  subjected  to  moist  warmth.  Infested  pastures  will 
therefore  prove  dangerous  to  horses  for  that  length  of  time,  and,  with 
rubbing  posts,  etc.,  should  be  secluded. 

Faeasite:  CJioriojytes  hovis  {Symhiotes  cqui,  Dermatopliagxis  equl, 
Clwriojptes  spathiferus).  Malady:  Foot  mange. — This  acarus  attacks 
the  heels  and  lower  parts  of  the  legs,  especially  the  hind  ones,  and  may 
be  present  for  years  without  extending  upon  the  bod3^  Like  the 
Psoroptes^  it  lives  on  the  surface,  on  the  hairs,  and  among  the  scabs. 
It  gives  rise  to  great  itching,  stamping,  rubbing  of  the  one  leg  with 
the  other,  and  the  formation  of  papules,  wounds,  ulcerous  sores,  and 
scabs.  The  intense  itching  will  always  suggest  this  parasite,  and  the 
discover}^  of  the  acarus  will  identify  the  disease.  The  treatment  is  the 
same  as  for  the  Sarcojptes,  but  may  be  confined  to  the  legs  and  the  parts 
with  which  the}^  come  in  contact. 

Parasite:  Dermanyssus  gaUinse,,  or  chlcl'en  acarl.  Malady: 
Poultry  acarlasis. — This  is  a  large-sized  acarus,  though  usually  mis- 
called "hen  louse," and  the  disease  "poultry-lousiness.''  The  mite 
lives  in  the  hen  manure  and  adjacent  woodwork,  but  temporarily 
passes  on  to  the  skin  of  man  and  of  the  horse  and  other  quadrupeds, 
when  occasion  serves.  It  causes  much  irritation,  with  the  eruption 
of  papules  or  vesicles  and  the  formation  of  sores  and  scabs.  The 
examination  of  the  skin  is  usually  fruitless,  as  the  attacks  are  mostly 
made  at  night  and  the  effects  only  may  be  seen  during  the  day. 
The  proximity  of  hen  manure  swarming  with  the  acari  explains  the 
trouble,  and  the  removal  of  this  and  a  whitewashing  with  quicklime, 
with  or  without  chloride  of  lime,  will  prevent  future  attacks.  The 
skin  may  .still  require  bland  ointments  or  lotions,  as  for  congestion. 

Parasite:  Larva  of  a  Tromhidium,  Leptiis  americatms^  or  harvest 
hug,  nnisnariied  jigger  {cldgoe).  Malady:  Autxunn  mange.— Ti^x^  para- 
site is  a  brick-red  acarus,  visible  to  the  naked  eye  on  a  dark  ground, 
and  living  on  green  vegetation  in  many  localities.  It  attacks  man,  and 
the  horse,  ox,  dog,  etc.,  burrowing  under  the  skin  and  giving  rise  to 
small  papules  and  intolerable  irritation.  This  continues  for  two  or 
three  daj's  only  if  no  fresh  acari  are  received,  but  will  last  until  cold 
weather  sets  in  if  a  fresh  colon}^  is  received  every  day.  Horses  at 
pasture  suffer  mainl}'^  on  the  lower  part  of  the  face.  If  kept  indoors 
the  disease  will  disappear,  or  if  left  at  pasture  a  weak  tar- water  or 
solution  of  tobacco  may  be  applied  to  the  face. 

Parasites:  Ganiainis  pteroptoides  &ndi  Cheyletus  live  in  musty  fod- 
ders and  are  found  on  the  horse. 

ticks. 

The  wood  ticks  are  familiar  to  inhabitants  of  uncultivated  lands,  and 
prove  troublesome  parasites  to  man  and  beast  alike.     The  tick  lives  on 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  453 

bushes,  and  attaches  itself  to  the  mammal  onl}^  to  secure  a  feast  of 
blood,  for  when  gorged  it  drops  off  to  sleep  off  its  debauch  on  the  soil. 
The  tick  produces  great  irritation  by  boring  into  the  skin  with  its 
armed  proboscis.  If  pulled  out,  the  head  and  thorax  are  often  left  in 
the  skin.  They  may  be  covered  with  oil  to  shut  out  the  air  from  their 
breathing  pores,  or  by  touching  them  with  a  hot  penknife  they  will  be 
impelled  to  let  go  their  hold. 

GRUBS   IN    SKIN. 

Parasite:  Uy^oclerma  silenus.  Malady:  Larvse,  {grubs)  under  the 
skin. — This  fly  deposits  its  embryo  on  or  in  the  skin  of  the  horse,  as 
its  congener  {Hypoderma  hovis)  does  in  the  ox,  and  the  resulting 
larvse  pass  the  winter  in  little  rounded  sacs  beneath  the  integument, 
furnished  with  a  central  opening,  through  which  the  mature  larva 
escapes  in  early  summer  and  develops  into  a  fly.  In  districts  where 
they  exist  the  grubs  should  be  pressed  out  of  the  skin  in  the  course 
of  the  winter  and  destroyed. 

LARViE  (grubs)  ON   THE    SKIN,  OR   FLYBLOW. 

The  following  flies,  among  others,  deposit  their  eggs  on  open  sores 
or  on  wet  filthy  parts  of  the  skin,  where  their  larvae  or  grubs  give  rise 
to  serious  trouble:  Lucilia  csesar  (bluebottle), ^Z^^ce'Zm  hominivm'ax 
(screw worm  fl}'^),  Musca  vomitoria  (meat  fly),  and  Sai'cojjJiaga  carnaria 
(flesh  fly).  To  prevent  their  attacks  wet,  filth}^  hair  should  be  removed 
and  wounds  kept  clean  and  rendered  antiseptic  by  a  lotion  of  carbolic 
acid  1  part,  water  50  parts,  or  by  a  mixture  of  1  ounce  oil  of  tar  in  20 
ounces  sweet  oil,  or  by  some  other  antiseptic.  If  the  grubs  are 
already  present  they  should  be  picked  off  and  one  of  these  dressings 
freel}^  applied. 


A  number  of  flies  attack  horses  and  suck  their  blood,  producing 
great  annoyance,  and  in  some  instances  death.  These  insects  not  only 
suck  the  blood,  but  also  often  instil  an  acid  poison  into  the  skin,  and 
in  exceptional  cases  transfer  infectious  germs  from  animal  to  animal 
bv  inoculation. 

Various  devices  are  resorted  to  to  prevent  the  attacks,  as  to  sponge 
the  skin  with  a  decoction  of  walnut  or  elder  leaves,  of  tobacco,  to  dust 
with  Persian  insect  powder,  to  keep  a  light  blanket  or  fly  net  on  the 
horse,  to  close  doors  and  windows  with  fine  screens  and  destroy  by 
pyrethrum  any  flies  that  have  gained  admission,  to  remove  all  manure 
heaps  that  would  prove  breeding  places  for  flies,  to  keep  the  stalls 
clean,  deodorize  by  gypsum  and  to  spread  in  them  trays  of  dry  chlo- 
ride of  lime.  For  the  poisoned  bites  apply  ammonia,  or  a  solution  of 
1  part  of  carbolic  acid  in  20  parts  of  sweet  oil  or  glycerin,  or  one- 


454  BUREAU    OF   ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

fourth  ounce  bicarbonate  of  soda  and  1  dram  of  carbolic  acid  in  a  quart 
of  water  may  be  used. 

STINGS   OF    BEES,   WASPS,  AND    HORNETS. 

Tliese  are  much  more  irritating  than  the  bites  of  flies,  partly  because 
the  barbed  sting  is  left  in  the  wound,  and  partly  because  of  the  amount 
and  quality  of  the  venom.  When  a  swarm  attacks  an  animal  the  result 
may  prove  fatal. 

Treatment  consists  in  the  application  of  wet  clay,  or  of  a  lotion  of 
soda  or  ammonia,  or  of  carbolic  acid,  or  permanganate  of  potash,  2 
grains  to  the  ounce,  or  of  sugar  of  lead  2  drams,  laudanum  1  ounce, 
and  water  1  pint.  The  embedded  stings  should  be  extracted  with  fine 
forceps  or  even  with  the  finger  nails. 

FLEA,  OR   rUXEX. 

The  flea  of  man  and  those  of  the  dog  and  cat,  when  numerous,  will 
bite  the  horse  and  give  rise  to  rounded  swellings  on  the  skin.  To  dis- 
pose of  them  it  is  needful  to  clear  the  surroundings  of  the  grub-like 
larvsB  as  well  as  to  treat  the  victim.  The  soil  may  be  sprinkled  with 
quicklime,  carbolic  acid,  coal  tar,  or  petroleum;  the  stalls  may  be 
deluged  with  boiling  water  and  afterwards  painted  with  oil  of  turpen- 
tine and  littered  with  fresh  pine  sawdust,  and  all  blankets  should  be 
boiled.  The  skin  may  be  sponged  Avith  a  solution  of  1  part  carbolic 
acid  in  50  parts  of  water.  Dogs,  cats,  and  pigs  should  be  dressed 
with  the  same  lotion,  or,  better,  removed  from  the  vicinity  of  the 
stable. 

The  chigoe  {Pidex  penetrans)  of  the  Gulf  coast  is  still  more  injuri- 
ous, because  it  burrows  under  the  surface  and  deposits  its  eggs  to  be 
hatched  out  slowly  with  much  irritation.  The  tumor  formed  by  it 
should  be  laid  open  and  the  parasite  extracted.  If  it  bursts  so  that  its 
eggs  escape  into  the  wound,  they  maj-  be  destroj^ed  by  introducing  a 
wire  at  a  red  heat. 

LICE,  OR    PEDICLXI. 

Two  kinds  of  lice  attack  the  horse,  one  of  which  is  furnished  with 
narrow  head  and  a  proboscis  for  perforating  the  skin  and  sucking  the 
blood,  and 'the  other — the  broad-headed  kind — with  strong  mandibles, 
by  which  it  bites  the  skin  only.  Of  the  bloodsuckers,  one  is  common 
to  horse  and  ass  and  another  to  horse  and  ox,  while  of  the  nonsucking 
lice  one  species  attacks  horse  and  ox  and  a  second  ox  and  ass.  The 
poor  condition,  itching,  and  loss  of  hair  should  lead  to  suspicion,  and 
a  close  examination  will  detect  the  lice.  They  may  be  destroyed  by 
rubbing  the  victhu  with  sulphur  ointment,  or  with  sulphuret  of  potas- 
sium 4  ounces,  water  1  gallon,  or  with  tar  water,  or  the  skin  may  be 
sponged  with  benzine.     The  application  should  be  repeated  a  week 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  455 

later  to  destroy  all  lice  hatched  from  the  nits  in  the  interval.     Build- 
iug-s,  clothes,  etc.,  should  be  treated  as  for  fleas. 

TARANTULA   AND    SCORPION. 

The  bite  of  the  first  and  the  stinp^  of  the  second  are  poisonous,  and 
may  be  treated  like  other  insect  venom,  by  carbolated  glycerin,  or  a 
strong  solution  of  ammonia,  or  permanganate  of  potash. 

SNAKE    BITES. 

These  are  marked  by  the  double  incision  caused  by  the  two  fang's, 
by  the  excessive  doughy  (dark  red)  swelling  around  the  wounds,  and 
in  bad  cases  by  the  general  S3^mptoms  of  giddiness,  weakness,  and 
prostration.  They  are  best  treated  bj^  enormous  doses  of  alcohol, 
whisky,  or  brandy,  or  by  aqua  ammonia  ver}^  largely  diluted  in  water, 
the  object  being  to  sustain  life  until  the  poison  shall  have  spent  its 
power.  As  local  treatment,  if  the  wound  is  in  a  limb,  the  latter  may 
have  a  handkerchief  or  cord  tied  around  it  above  the  injury  and 
drawn  tight  by  a  stick  twisted  into  it.  In  this  way  absorption  may  be 
checked  until  the  poison  can  be  destroyed  by  the  application  of  a  hot 
iron  or  a  piece  of  nitrate  of  silver  or  other  caustic.  A  poultice  of 
tobacco  leaves  is  a  favorite  remedy,  and  may  be  used  to  soothe  the  sore 
after  cauterization. 

BURNS   AND   SCALDS. 

For  scalds  the  surface  may  be  bathed  with  a  solution  of  bicarbonate 
of  soda,  sweetened  or  not  by  carbolic  acid,  or  a  weak  solution  of  sugar 
of  lead  ma}^  be  used;  or  the  surface  may  be  dusted  thickly  with  starch 
or  flour  and  covered  with  the  cotton  wool,  or  oil  of  turpentine  may  be 
applied  over  the  scalded  skin.  Burns  are  well  treated  by  liniment 
made  of  equal  parts  of  lime  water  and  linseed  oil  (Carron  oil).  For 
both  kinds  of  injuries,  cosmoline  10  parts,  and  carbolic  acid,  1  part, 
proves  an  excellent  dressing.  Blisters  should  be  pricked  with  a  needle 
and  emptied  to  prevent  their  rupture  and  the  exposures  of  the  raw 
surface. 

Severe  burns,  leading  to  destruction  of  very  extensive  patches  of 
skin,  usually  render  a  horse  useless  by  reason  of  the  contraction  of  the 
resulting  scar,  hence  the  treatment  of  such  is  rarely  advisable,  unless 
followed  b}'^  a  skillful  plastic  operation.  In  other  cases  a  skillful  trans- 
planting of  epidermis,  shaved  from  a  health}'"  surface  with  a  sharp 
razor,  will  secure  the  healing  of  a  granulating  wound  which  has  proved 
obstinate  to  all  other  measures.  In  cases  of  burns  with  mineral  acids 
(sulphuric,  nitric  or  h3^drochloric)  avoid  water,  as  that  will  develop 
heat,  and  cover  the  surface  with  dry  whiting  or  chalk,  and  only  when 
effervescence  has  ceased  wash  off  with  water.  When  the  caustic  has 
been  a  salt  (copperas,  bluestone,  chloride  of  zinc,  etc.)  apply  limewater 


456  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

or  white  of  egg.  If  the  irritant  has  been  caustic  potash,  soda  or 
ammonia,  vinegar  should  be  the  first  application.  If  sores  result  they 
may  be  treated  like  ordinar}-  wounds. 

WOUNDS   OF   THE    SKIN. 

These  are  divided  into  incised  {clean  cut)  wounds,  lacerated  (tot^n) 
wounds,  and  contused  (bruised)  and  'punctured  wounds. 

Incised  wounds  are  the  simplest,  and  the  sharper  the  instrument  and 
the  cleaner  the  cut,  the  greater  the  hope  of  spccd}^  healing.  Some- 
thing, however,  depends  on  the  seat  and  direction  of  the  wound;  thus 
one  running  from  before  backward  on  the  bod}^,  or  from  above  down- 
ward in  the  limb,  will  not  tend  to  be  drawn  open  and  gape  as  would 
one  running  transversely  on  the  body  or  liml).  Again  a  wound  on  a 
joint  and  running  across  the  limb  will  gape  when  the  joint  is  bent. 
Again,  a  clean-cut  wound  which  has  not  been  exposed  to  the  air,  and 
which  lodges  no  foreign  bod}'  and  no  septic  nor  infecting  germ,  will 
heal  readily  by  simple  adhesion,  whereas  those  that  have  been  exposed 
and  contain  matter  foreign  to  the  tissues  will  have  healing  delayed  or 
prevented  hj  the  disturbing  action  of  such  bodies. 

Healing  in  wounds  may  be  said  to  take  place  by  these  modes: 

(1)  By  primary  adhesion.,  in  which  case  the  spherical  {embryonic) 
cells,  and  the  stellate  connective  tissue  cells  thrown  out  on  the  surface 
of  the  wound,  rapidly  multiply  and  form  a  bond  of  union  between  the 
divided  lips.  Union  by  this  means  may  be  affected  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  the  wound  has  been  inflicted.  Of  all  domestic  ani- 
mals, however,  the  horse  is  the  least  prone  to  such  union,  being  more 
disposed  to  the  formation  of  pus. 

(2)  B}'  (jramdation.,  which  is  the  common  form  of  healing  in  raw, 
exposed  sores,  in  those  containing  foreign  bodies  and  septic  and 
infecting  ferments;  also  in  torn  and  contused  wounds.  In  this  form 
the  wound  becomes  covered  with  a  layer  of  embr3'onic  cells,  of  which 
the  superficial  ones  degenerate  into  pus  cells,  and  thus  the  surface  is 
kept  moist  by  a  layer  of  whitish,  cream}'  pus.  In  the  deeper  layer  of 
cells  minute  loops  of  capillary  blood  vessels  start  up,  causing  the  small 
rounded  elevations  known  as  granulations.  In  this  way  the  deeper 
layer  of  cells  receiving  a  blood  supply  is  transformed  into  connective 
tissue,  and  from  its  surface  new  loops  of  blood  vessels  start  into  the 
layer  above,  and  thus  layer  after  layer  of  new  tissue  is  formed,  and 
the  breach  caused  by  the  wound  is  gradually  filled  up.  The  new  tis- 
sue as  formed  undergoes  a  steady  contraction,  drawing  in  the  adjacent 
skin  over  the  wound,  and  hence  large  wounds  healed  in  this  way  have 
the  skin  more  or  less  puckered  around  them. 

(3)  By  secondary  adhesion.,  in  which  two  granulating  lips  of  a 
wound  having  been  brought  together  and  kept  in  apposition,  union 
takes  place  through  the  medium  of  the  cells,  as  in  primary  adhesion. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  457 

(4)  B}'  scabbing,  in  which  the  exudation  on  tne  surface  of  the  wound 
dries  up  into  a  firm  scab,  under  which  the  process  of  repair  goes  on 
by  the  development  of  tissue  from  the  deeper  cells,  as  in  adhesion. 

Treatment. — In  treating  clean,  incised  wounds,  attempts  should  be 
made  to  secure  healing  by  primary  adhesion,  even  in  the  horse. 
Bleeding  should  first  be  arrested,  or  nearly  so,  by  appljdng  a  cold 
or  hot  sponge,  or  by  tying  bleeding  vessels,  and  the  lips  of  the  wound 
should  then  be  closed  accurately,  without  any  twisting  or  overlapping. 
In  small  wounds  pieces  of  sticking  plaster  may  be  used,  the  lips  of 
the  wound  having  first  been  smoothly  shaved,  so  that  they  may 
adhere  firmly.  In  larger  wounds  the  wound  may  be  sewed  with  a 
curved  surgical  needle  and  a  silk  thread  dipped  in  a  solution  of 
carbolic  acid.  The  stitches  may  be  continued  from  end  to  end  of 
the  wound  and  the  thread  prevented  from  slipping  and  loosening 
by  a  knot  at  each  end;  or  the  stitches  may  be  independent,  the  two 
ends  being  tied  together  across  the  wound.  In  such  cases  they  may 
be  one-quarter  to  one-third  inch  apart;  or  the  lips  of  the  wound  may 
be  pinned  together,  the  pins  in  a  simple  skin  wound  being  inserted 
one-eighth  inch  from  the  edge,  and  when  both  lips  have  been  trans- 
fixed in  this  way  a  thread  (or  hair)  carried  successively  around  the 
two  ends  of  the  pin  and  made  to  describe  a  figure  8  will  hold  the 
wound  close.  When  the  stitching  is  not  continuous  from  end  to  end 
of  the  wound  the  apposition  of  the  edges  will  be  rendered  more  per- 
fect by  the  application  of  strips  of  sticking  plaster  in  the  intervals. 

When  efforts  at  primary  union  have  failed  and  pus  has  formed,  or 
fermentative  changes  have  occurred  on  the  raw  surfaces  and  the  lips 
gape  more  or  less,  some  antiseptic  dressing  will  be  required,  as  in  the 
case  of  lacerated  and  contused  wounds. 

In  cases  where  an  incised  wound  has 'had  foreign  bodies  or  septic 
ferments  introduced  into  it,  these  should  first  be  removed.  A  current 
of  water  that  has  been  boiled  and  cooled  is  one  of  the  best  methods  of 
cleansing  a  wound,  and  there  is  no  objection  to  the  addition  of  one- 
twentieth  of  its  amount  of  carbolic  acid,  as  this  will  tend  to  destroy 
anj^  germ  life  that  might  otherwise  prove  fatal  to  the  healing  process. 
Then  the  wound  may  be  stitched  up  as  if  it  had  been  clean,  and  a 
daily  dressing  of  carbolic  acid  1  part  and  sweet  oil  10  parts  may 
be  applied. 

For  a  wound  on  the  convex  surface  of  a  joint,  where  stitches  are 
not  suflicient  to  keep  the  lips  accurately  applied  to  each  other,  the 
movement  of  the  joint  may  be  temporarily  abolished  by  the  applica- 
tion of  a  splint  and  bandage,  and  in  any  such  case  the  bandage  shouM 
be  applied  uniformly  from  the  hoof  upward,  as  otherwise  the  limb 
below  the  bandage  is  liable  to  swell  or  even  die. 

The  treatment  of  contused^ 2^^^^^^'^'-'"''^^ ->  ^^^  lacerated  \SQ\n\(Sii  demands 
cleansing  and  antiseptic  applications  as  for  an  incised  wound,  but  as 


458  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

primary  adhesion  i.s  next  to  impossible,  the  same  accurate  apposition 
of  the  lips  by  stitching  is  not  so  essential.  If  portions  of  skin  or  other 
tissue  are  so  detached  or  crushed  that  they  can  not  possibly  live,  they 
may  be  cut  off,  but  if  there  is  any  doubt  on  this  matter  the  injured 
portion  should  be  left  and  ever}'-  attempt  should  be  made  to  preserve 
it.  Such  portions  of  the  wound  as  are  free  from  such  fatally  injured 
parts  may  be  disinfected  by  the  carbolic  lotion  referred  to  above,  and 
stitched  up  like  a  clean  wound.  The  severely'-  injured  parts  may  be 
left  open  to  discharge,  and  the  whole  may  be  dressed  daily  with  the 
carbolized  oil  or  with  a  solution  of  1  part  of  mercuric  chloride  in 
1,000  of  water. 

Granulating  wounds  may  be  irrigated  with  the  mercuric  chloride 
solution,  and  if  the  granulations  become  inflamed  (soft,  flabby,  exu- 
berant, rising  above  the  edges  of  the  wound),  thej'^  may  be  touched 
lightly  with  a  stick  of  lunar  caustic,  so  as  to  leave  them  covered  with  a 
white  film. 

In  all  wounds  that  fail  to  heal  by  primarj'  union  an  elaborate  anti- 
septic treatment  is  desirable,  but  the  difficult}^  of  applying  this  suc- 
cessfully to  the  horse  in  an  ordinary  stable  would  seem  to  forbid  a 
lengthy  description  in  a  book  of  this  kind. 


WOUNDS  AND  THEIR  TREATMENT. 

By  Cn.  B.  Michener,  V.  S.    . 

[Revised  in  1903  by  John  R.  Mohlcr,  V.  M.  D.,  A.  M.] 

DESCRIPTION    OF   WOUNDS. 

A  wound  is  an  injurj^  to  anj^  part  of  the  body,  involving  a  solu- 
tion of  continuity  or  disruption  of  the  affected  parts  and  is  caused,  by 
violence,  with  or  without  laceration  of  the  skin.  In  accordance  with 
this  definition  we  have  the  following  varieties  of  wounds:  Incised, 
punctured,  contused,  lacerated,  gunshot,  and  poisoned.  They  may 
further  be  classified  as  superficial,  deep,  or  penetrating,  and  also  as 
unclean,  if  hair,  dirt,  or  splinters  of  wood  are  present;  as  infected, 
when  contaminated  with  germs;  and  as  aseptic,  if  the  wound  does  not 
contain  germs. 

An  incised  wound  is  a  simple  cut  made  with  a  sharp  body,  like  a 
knife,  producing  merely  a  division  of  the  tissues.  The  duller  the  bod}'', 
the  more  force  is  required,  the  more  tissues  destroyed,  and  a  greater 
time  will  be  required  for  healing.  In  a  cut  wound  the  edges  are  even 
and  definite,  while  those  of  a  lacerated  wound  are  irregular  and  torn. 
Three  conditions  are  present  as  a  result  of  an  incised  wound:  (1)  Pain, 
(2)  hemorrhage,  (3)  gaping  of  the  wound.  The  first  pain  is  due  to  the 
crushing  and  tearing  of  the  nerve  fibers.  In  using  a  sharp  knife  and  by 
cutting  quickly,  the  animal  suffers  less  pain  and  healing  occurs  more 
rapidly.  The  secondary  pain  is  usuall}^  due  to  the  action  of  the  air 
and  inflammatory  processes.  When  air  is  kept  from  the  wound  pain 
ceases  soon  after  the  lesion  is  produced.  Hemorrhage  is  absent  only 
in  wounds  of  nonvascular  tissues,  as  the  cornea  of  the  eye,  the  carti- 
lage of  joints,  and  other  similar  structures.  Bleeding  may  be  from 
the  arteries,  veins,  or  capillaries.  In  the  latter  form  of  bleeding  the 
blood  oozes  from  the  part  in  drops.  Hemorrhage  from  the  veins  is 
dark  red  and  issues  in  a  steadj^  stream  without  spurting.  In  arterial 
bleeding  the  blood  is  bright  red  and  spurts  with  each  heart  beat.  This 
latter  variety  of  hemorrhage  is  the  most  dangerous,  and  should  be 
stopped  at  once  before  attempting  any  further  treatment.  Bleeding 
from  small  veins  and  capillaries  ceases  in  a  short  time  spontaneoush^, 
while  larger  vessels,  especiall}^  arteries,  require  some  form  of  treat- 
ment to  cause  complete  stoppage  of  the  hemorrhage. 

459 


460  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

HEMOSTASIA. 

B}^  this  term  is  meant  the  checking  of  the  flow  of  blood.  It  may  be 
accomplished  by  several  methods,  such  as  compress  bandages,  torsion, 
hot  iron,  and  ligatures.  The  heat  from  a  hot  iron  will  cause  the 
immediate  clotting  of  the  blood  in  the  vessels,  and  this  clot  is  further 
supported  by  the  production  of  a  scab,  or  crust,  over  the  portion 
seared.  The  iron  should  be  at  a  red  heat.  If  at  a  white  heat  the  tissue 
is  charred,  which  makes  it  brittle  and  the  bleeding  is  apt  to  be  renewed. 
If  the  iron  is  at  a  black  heat  the  tissue  will  stick  to  the  iron  and  will  pull 
away  from  the  surface  of  the  wound.  Cold  water  and  ice  bags  quickly 
stop  capillary  bleeding,  while  hot  water  is  preferable  in  more  excess- 
ive hemorrhages.  Some  drugs,  called  styptics,  possess  the  power  of 
contracting  the  w^alls  of  blood  vessels  and  also  of  clotting  the  blood. 
A  solution  of  the  chloride  of  iron  placed  on  a  wound  alone  ov  by 
means  of  cotton  drenched  in  the  liquid  produces  a  rapid  and  hard  clot. 
Tannic  acid,  alum,  acetic  acid,  alcohol,  and  oil  of  turpentine  are  all 
more  or  less  active  in  this  respect.  To  check  bleeding  from  large 
vessels  compression  may  be  adopted.  When  it  is  rapid  and  dangerous 
and  from  an  arter}-,  the  fingers  may  be  used  for  pressing  between  the 
wound  and  the  heart  (digital  compression),  but  if  from  a  vein,  the 
pressure  should  be  exerted  on  the  other  side  of  the  wound.  Tour- 
niquet may  also  be  used  by  passing  a  strap  around  the  part  and  tight- 
ening after  placing  a  pad  over  the  hemorrhage.  The  rubber  ligature 
has  now  replaced  the  tourniquet  and  is  bound  tightl}^  around  the  limb 
to  arrest  the  bleeding.  Tampons,  such  as  cotton,  tow,  or  oakum,  may 
be  packed  tightly  in  the  wound  and  then  sewed  up.  After  remaining 
there  for  twenty -four  or  forty-eight  hours  they  are  removed.  Bleed- 
ing may  sometimes  be  easily  checked  by  passing  a  pin  under  the  vessel 
and  by  taking  a  horse  hair  and  forming  a  figure  8  by  running  it 
above  and  below  the  pin,  thus  causing  pressure  on  the  vessel.  Tor- 
sion is  the  twisting  of  the  blood  vessel  until  the  walls  come  together 
and  form  a  barrier  to  the  flow  of  blood.  It  may  be  accomplished  by 
the  fingers,  forceps,  or  by  running  a  pin  through  the  vessel,  turning 
it  several  times,  and  then  running  the  point  into  the  tissue  to  keep  it 
in  a  fixed  position. 

Ligation  is  the  third  method  for  stopping  a  hemorrhage.  Seize  the 
blood  vessel  with  the  artery  forceps,  pass  a  clean  thread  of  silk  around 
it,  and  tie  about  one-half  inch  from  its  end.  The  silk  should  be  steril- 
ized by  placing  it  in  an  antiseptic  solution  so  as  not  to  impede  the 
healing  process  or  cause  blood  poisoning  or  lockjaw,  which  often  fol- 
lows the  ligation  of  a  vein  with  unsterilized  material.  Sometimes  it 
will  be  impossible  to  reach  the  bleeding  vessel,  so  it  is  necessary  to 
pass  the  ligature  around  a  mass  of  tissue  which  includes  the  blood 
vessel.     Ligation  is  the  most  useful  method  of  arresting  hemorrhage, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  461 

since  it  disturbs  healing  least  and  gives  the  greatest  security  against 
secondary  hemorrhage. 

SUTURES. 

After  the  bleeding  has  been  controlled  and  all  foreign  bodies 
removed  from  the  wound,  the  gaping  of  the  wound  is  noticeable.  It 
is  caused  b}^  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  and  elastic  fibers,  and  its 
degree  depends  on  the  extent,  direction,  and  nature  of  the  cut.  This 
gaping  will  hinder  the  healing  process  so  that  it  must  be  overcome  by 
bringing  the  edges  together  b}^  some  sort  of  sutures  or  pins,  or  by  a 
bandage  applied  from  below  upwards.  As  suture  material,  ordinary 
cotton  thread  is  good  if  well  sterilized,  as  is  also  horse  hair,  cat  gut,  silk, 
and  various  kinds  of  wire.  If  the  suture  is  made  too  tight,  the  subse- 
quent swelling  may  cause  the  stitch  to  tear  out.  In  order  to  make  a 
firm  suture  the  depth  of  the  stitch  should  be  the  same  as  the  distance 
the  stitch  is  from  the  edge  of  the  wound.  The  deeper  the  suture  the 
more  tissue  is  embraced  and  the  fewer  the  number  of  stitches  required. 
In  tying  a  suture  use  the  square  or  reef  knot.  Closure  of  wounds  by 
means  of  adhesive  plaster,  collodion,  and  metal  clamps  is  not  practiced 
to  any  great  extent  in  veterinary  practice. 

PROCESS    OF   HEALING. 

In  those  cases  where  perfect  stoppage  of  bleeding,  perfect  coapta- 
tion of  the  edges  of  the  wound,  and  perfect  cleanliness  are  obtained, 
healing  occurs  within  three  days,  without  the  formation  of  granula- 
tions, pus,  or  proud  flesh  by  what  is  termed  Jirsi  intention.  If  wounds 
do  not  heal  in  this  manner  they  will  gap  somewhat  and  become  warm 
and  painful.  Healing  then  occurs  by  granulation  or  suppuration, 
which  is  termed  healing  by  second  intention.  The  sides  of  the  wound 
become  covered  with  granulation  tissue  which  may  fill  the  wound  and 
sometimes  overlap  the  lips  forming  a  fungoid  growth  called  proud 
flesh.  Under  favorable  conditions  the  edges  of  the  wound  appear  to 
grow  together  by  the  end  of  the  first  week,  and  the  whole  surface 
gradually  becomes  dry,  and  finally  covered  with  pigmented  skin,  when 
the  wound  is  healed.  The  cause  of  pus  formation  in  wounds  is  usually 
due  to  the  presence  of  germs.  For  this  reason  the  utmost  care  should 
be  adopted  to  keep  clean  wounds  aseptic,  or  free  from  germs,  and  to 
make  unclean  wounds  antiseptic  by  using  antiseptic  fluids  to  kill  the 
microbes  present  in  the  wound.  The  less  the  injurious  action  of  this 
fluid  on  the  wound,  and  the  greater  its  power  to  kill  germs,  the  more 
valuable  it  becomes.  All  antiseptics  are  not  equall}^  destructive,  and 
some  germs  are  more  susceptible  to  one  antiseptic  than  to  another. 
The  most  important  are  (1)  bichloride  of  mercury,  which  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred on  horses.  It  becomes  weakened  in  its  action  if  placed  in  a. 
wooden  pail  or  on  an  oily  or  greasy  surface.     It  is  used  in  the  strength 


4G2  BUKEAU    OF    A^'IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

of  1  part  of  bichloride  to  1,000  to  5,000  parts  of  water,  according  to 
the  delicacy  of  the  tissue  to  which  it  is  applied.  (2)  Carbolic  acid  in 
from  2  to  5  per  cent  solution  is  used  on  infected  wounds  and  for  clean- 
ing instruments,  dressings,  and  sponges.  It  unites  well  with  oil  and 
is  preferred  to  the  bichloride  of  merciay  on  a  greasj'  surface.  A  5 
per  cent  solution  in  oil  is  often  used  under  the  name  of  carbolized  oil. 
(3)  Aluminum  acetate  is  an  efficient  and  cheap  antiseptic,  and  is  com- 
posed of  1  part  alum  and  5  parts  acetate  of  load,  mixed  in  20  parts  of 
water.  (4)  Boracic  acid  is  good  in  a  2  to  -i  per  cent  solution  to  cleansi^ 
wounds  and  wash  cj-es.  Creolin  and  Ij'sol  maj^  be  used  in  a  2  to  5  per 
cent  solution  in  water.  Iodoform  is  one  of  the  most  used  of  the  anti- 
septics and  it  also  acts  as  an  anodj-ne,  stimulates  granulation,  and 
checks  wound  secretion.  A  ver}^  efficacious  and  inexpensive  powder 
is  made  bj'  taking\5  parts  of  iodoform  and  05  i:>arts  of  sugar,  making 
what  is  called  iodoform  sugar.  Tannic  acid  is  a  useful  drug  in  the 
treatment  of  wounds,  in  that  it  arrests  hemorrhage,  checks  secre- 
tion, and  favors  the  formation  of  a  scab.  A  mixture  of  1  part  tannic 
acid  and  3  parts  iodoform  is  good  in  suppurating  wounds.  lodol, 
white  sugar,  ground  and  roasted  coffee,  and  powdered  charcoal  are  all 
used  as  protectives  and  absorbents  on  suppurating  surfaces.  More 
depends  on  the  care  and  the  method  of  application  of  the  drug  than  on 
the  drug  itself.  On  aseptic  wounds  use  onl}"  those  antiseptics  that  do 
not  irritate  the  tissue.  If  care  is  used  in  the  application  of  the  anti- 
septic, corrosive  sublimate  or  carbolic  acid  is  to  be  recommended, 
but  in  the  hands  of  irresponsible  parties  lysol  or  creolin  is  safer.  In 
order  to  keep  air  from  the  wound  and  to  absorb  all  wound  secretions 
rapidly,  a  dressing  should  be  applied.  If  the  wound  is  aseptic,  the 
dressing  should  be  likewise,  such  as  cotton  gauze,  sterile  cotton, 
oakum,  or  tow.  This  dressing  should  be  applied  with  uniform  pres- 
sure at  all  times  and  secured  by  a  bandage.  Allow  it  to  remain  for  a 
week  or  ten  days  if  the  wound  is  aseptic  or  if  the  dressing  does  not 
become  loose  or  misplaced  or  become  drenched  with  secretions  from  the 
wound,  or  if  pain,  fever,  or  loss  of  appetite  does  not  develop.  The 
dressing  should  then  be  removed,  the  wound  treated  antiseptically, 
and  a  sterilized  dressing  applied. 

HEALING    UNDER   A    SCAB. 

This  often  occurs  in  small  superficial  wounds  that  have  been  kept 
aseptic.  In  order  for  a  scab  to  form,  the  wound  must  not  gap, 
secrete  freely,  or  become  infected  with  germs.  The  formation  of  scab 
is  favored  by  astringents  and  styptics,  such  as  tannic  acid,  iodoform, 
and  5  per  cent  solution  of  zinc  chloride.  In  case  of  large  hollow 
wounds  that  can  not  be  dressed,  such  as  fistulous  withers,  open  joints, 
etc.,  antisepsis  ma}'  be  obtained  by  warm  water  irrigation  with  or 
without  an  antiseptic  fluid.     It  should  continue  day  and  night,  and 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  463 

never  be  interrupted  for  more  than  eight  hours,  for  germs  will  then 
have  gained  headway  and  will  be  difficult  to  remove.  Four  or  five 
days  of  irrigation  will  be  sufficient,  for  granulations  will  then  have 
formed  and  pus  will  remain  on  the  outside  if  it  forms.  For  perma- 
nent irrigation  the  stream  should  be  very  small,  or  drop  by  drop,  but 
should  play  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  wound.  It  is  alwaj^s  better 
to  heal  an  infected  wound  under  a  scab,  or  treat  it  as  an  open  wound, 
than  it  is  to  suture  the  wound,  thus  favoring  the  growth  of  the  inclosed 
germs  and  retarding  ultimate  healing.  In  the  latter  case  pus  may 
develop  in  the  wound,  form  pockets  by  sinking  into  the  tissues,  and 
cause  various  complications.  Such  pockets  should  be  well  drained, 
either  through  incisions  at  the  bottom  or  b}^  drainage  tubes  or  setons. 
They  should  then  be  frequently  syringed  out  or  continuousl}"  irrigated. 
In  case  proud  flesh  appears  it  should  be  kept  down  either  b}^  pressure 
or  by  caustics,  as  powdered  bluestone,  silver  nitrate,  chloride  of 
antimony,  or  by  astringents,  such  as  burnt  alum.  If  they  prove 
resistant  to  this  treatment  they  may  be  removed  b}^  scissors  or  the 
knife  or  b}^  searing  with  the  hot  iron.  The  following  rules  for  the 
treatment  of  wounds  should  be  followed:  (1)  See  that  the  wound  is 
clean,  removing  all  foreign  bodies.  (2)  For  this  purpose  use  a  clean 
finger  rather  than  a  probe.  (3)  Arrest  all  hemorrhage  before  closing 
the  wound.  (4)  Antiseptics  should  only  be  used  if  you  suspect  the 
wound  to  be  infected.  (5)  When  pus  is  present  treat  without  closing 
the  wound.  (6)  This  may  be  accomplished  by  drainage  tubes,  absorb- 
ent dressings,  setons,  or  continuous  irrigations.  (7)  Protect  the  Avound 
against  infection  while  healing. 

LACERATED  AND  CONTUSED  WOUNDS. 

Lacerated  and  contused  wounds  may  be  described  together,  although 
there  is,  of  course,  this  difference,  that  in  contused  wounds  there  is  no 
break  or  laceration  of  the  skin.  Lacerated  wounds,  however,  are,-  as 
a  rule,  also  contused — the  surrounding  tissues  are  bruised  to  a  greater 
or  lesser  extent.  While  such  wounds  may  not  appear  at  first  sight  to 
be  as  serious  as  incised  wounds,  they  are  commonly  very  much  more 
so.  Lacerations  and  contusions,  when  extensive,  are  alwa^^s  to  be 
regarded  as  dangerous.  Many  horses  die  from  septic  infection  or 
mortification  as  a  result  of  these  injuries.  We  find  in  severe  contu- 
sions an  infiltration  of  blood  into  the  surrounding  tissues;  disorgani- 
zation and  mortification  follow,  and  involve  often  the  deeper  seated 
structures.  Abscesses,  single  or  multiple,  maj^  also  result  and  call  for 
special  treatment. 

In  wounds  that  are  lacerated  the  amount  of  hemorrhage  is  mostly 
inconsiderable;  even  very  large  blood  vessels  may  be  torn  apart  with- 
out inducing  a  fatal  result.  The  edges  of  the  wound  are  ragged  and 
uneven.     These  wounds  are  produced  by  barbed  wire  or  some  blunt 


464  BUREAU    OF    AI^IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

object,  as  where  a  horse  runs  against  fences,  board  piles,  the  corners 
of  buildings,  or  where  he  is  struck  hj  the  pole  or  shafts  of  another 
team,  falling  on  rough  irregular  stones,  etc. 

Contused  wounds  are  caused  by  blunt  instruments  moving  with  suf- 
ficient velocity  to  bruise  and  crush  the  tissues,  as  running  against 
objects,  kicks,  or  falling  on  large,  hard  masses. 

Treatment. — In  lacerated  wounds  great  care  must  at  first  be  exer- 
cised in  examining  or  probing  to  the  ver}^  bottom  of  the  rent  or  tear, 
to  see  if  an}^  foreign  body  be  present.  Ver}'  often  splinters  of  wood 
or  bits  of  stone  or  dirt  are  thus  lodged,  and  unless  removed  prevent 
the  wound  from  healing;  or  if  it  should  heal  the  wound  soon  opens 
again,  discharging  a  thin,  gluey  matter  that  is  characteristic  of  the 
presence  of  some  object  in  the  parts.  After  a  thorough  exploration 
these  wounds  are  to  be  carefully  and  patiently  fomented  with  Avarm 
water,  to  which  has  been  added  carbolic  acid  in  the  proportion  of  1 
part  to  100  of  water.  Rarely,  if  ever,  are  stitches  to  be  inserted  in 
lacerated  wounds.  The  surrounding  tissues  and  skin  are  so  weakened 
in  vitality  and  structure  by  the  contusions  that  stitches  will  not  hold; 
they  onl}^  irritate  the  parts.  It  is  better  to  endeavor  to  secure  coap- 
tation by  means  of  bandages,  plasters,  or  collodion.  One  essential  in 
the  treatment  of  lacerated  wounds  is  to  secure  a  free  exit  for  the  pus. 
If  the  orifice  of  the  wound  is  too  high,  or  if  pus  is  found  to  be  bur- 
rowing in  the  tissues  beneath  the  opening,  we  must  then  make  a 
counter  opening  as  low  as  possible.  This  will  admit  of  the  wound 
being  thoroughly  washed  out,  at  first  with  warm  water,  and  afterwards 
injected  with  some  mild  astringent  and  antiseptic  wash,  as  chloride  of 
zinc,  1  dram  to  a  pint  of  water.  A  dependant  opening  must  be  main- 
tained until  the  wound  ceases  to  discharge.  Repeated  hot  fomenta- 
tions over  the  region  of  lacerated  wounds  afford  much  relief  and  should 
be  persisted  in. 


Bruises  are  nothing  but  contused  wounds,  where  the  skin  has  not 
been  ruptured.  There  is  often  considerable  solution  of  continuity  of 
the  parts  under  the  skin,  subcutaneous  hemorrhage,  etc.;  which  may 
result  in  local  death  (mortification)  and  slough  of  the  bruised  parts.  If 
the  bruise  or  contusion  is  not  so  severe,  many  cases  are  quickly  cured 
by  constant  fomentation  with  hot  water  for  from  two  to  four  hours. 
The  water  should  be  allowed  about  this  time  to  gradually  become  cool 
and  then  cold.  Cold  fomentation  must  then  be  kept  up  for  another 
hour  or  two.  Dry  the  parts  thoroughl}"  and  quickly,  and  bathe  them 
freely  with  camphor  1  ounce,  sweet  oil  8  ounces,  or  with  equal  parts 
of  lead  water  and  laudanum.  A  dry^,  light  bandage  should  then  be 
applied,  the  horse  allowed  to  rest,  and  if  necessary  the  treatment  may 
be  repeated  each  da}^  for  two  or  three  days.     If,  however,  the  wound 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  465 

is  SO  severe  that  sloughing  must  ensue,  we  should  encourage  this  by- 
poultices  made  of  linseed  meal,  wheat  bran,  turnips,  onions,  bread  and 
milk,  or  hops.  Charcoal  is  to  be  sprinkled  over  the  surface  of  the 
poultice  when  the  wound  is  bad  smelling.  After  the  sl(>igh  has  fallen 
off  the  wound  is  to  be  dressed  with  warm  antiseptic  washes  of  carbolic 
acid,  chloride  of  zinc,  permanganate  of  potash,  etc.  If  granulating 
(filling  up)  too  fast,  use  burnt  alum  or  air-slaked  lime.  Besides  this 
local  treatment,  we  find  that  the  constitutional  symptoms  of  fever  and 
inflammation  call  for  measures  to  prevent  or  control  them.  This  is 
best  done  by  placing  the  injured  animal  on  soft  or  green  food.  A 
physic  of  Barbados  aloes,  1  ounce,  should  be  given  as  soon  as  possible 
after  the  accident.  Sedatives,  such  as  tincture  of  aconite  root,  15  drops 
three  times  a  day,  or  ounce  doses  of  saltpeter  every  four  hours,  may  also 
be  administered.  When  the  symptoms  of  fever  are  abated,  and  if  the 
discharges  from  the  wound  are  abundant,  the  strength  of  the  patient 
must  be  supported  by  good  food  and  tonics.  One  of  the  best  tonics  is 
as  follows:  Powdered  sulphate  of  iron,  powdered  gentian,  and  pow- 
dered ginger,  of  each  4  ounces.  Mix  thoroughly  and  give  a  heaping 
tablespoonf ul  twice  a  day,  on  the  feed  or  as  a  drench. 

PUNCTURED    WOUNDS. 

Punctured  wounds  are  produced  by  the  penetration  of  a  sharp  or 
blunt-pointed  substance,  such  as  a  thorn,  fork,  nail,  etc.,  and  the 
orifice  of  these  wounds  is  always  small  in  proportion  to  their  depth. 
In  veterinary  practice  punctured  wounds  are  much  more  common  than 
the  others.  They^  involve  the  feet  most  frequently,  next  the  legs, 
and  often  the  head  and  face  from  nails  protruding  through  the  stalls 
and  trough.  They  are  not  only  the  most  frequent,  but  they  are  also 
the  most  serious,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  thorough  disin- 
fection. Another  circumstance  rendering  them  so  is  the  lack  of 
attention  that  they  at  first  receive.  The  external  wound  is  so  small 
that  but  little  or  no  importance  is  attached  to  it,  yet  in  a  short  time 
swelling,  pain,  and  acute  inflammation,  often  of  a  serious  character,  are 
manifested. 

Considering  the  most  common  of  the  punctured  wounds,  we  must 
give  precedence  to  those  of  the  feet.  Horses  worked  in  cities,  about 
iron  works,  around  building  places,  etc.,  are  most  likely  to  receive 
"nails  in  the  feet."  The  animal  treads  upon  nails,  pieces  of  iron 
or  screws,  and  forces  them  into  the  soles  of  the  feet.  If  the  nail,  or 
whatever  it  is  that  has  punctured  the  foot,  is  fast  in  some  large  or 
heavy  body,  and  is  withdrawn  as  the  horse  lifts  his  foot,  lameness 
may  last  for  only  a  few  steps;  but  unless  properly  attended  to  at  once 
he  will  be  found  in  a  day  or  two  to  be  very  lame  in  the  injured  mem- 
ber. If  the  foreign  bod}-  remains  in  the  foot,  he  gradually  grows 
worse  from  the  time  of  puncture  until  the  cause  is  discovered  and 
1-1384—03 30 


466  BUEEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUbTRY. 

removed.  If,  when  shoeing,  a  nail  is  driven  into  the  "quick"  (sensi- 
tive laminte)  and  allowed  to  remain,  the  horse  gradually  evinces  more 
pain  I'j-om  day  to  day;  but  if  the  nail  has  at  once  been  removed  b}'  the 
smith,  lamenofes  does  not,  as  a  rule,  show  itself  for  some  days;  or,  if 
the  nail  is  simply  driven  "too  close,"  not  actually  pricking  the  horse, 
he  may  not  show  any  lameness  for  a  week  or  even  much  longer.  At 
this  point  it  is  due  the  blacksmith  to  sa}'  that,  considering  how  thin 
the  walls  of  some  feet  are,  the  uneasiness  of  many  horses  Avhile  shoe- 
ing, the  ease  with  which  a  nail  is  diverted  from  its  course  by  striking 
an  old  piece  of  nail  left  in  the  wall,  or  from  the  nail  itself  splitting, 
the  wonder  is  not  that  so  many  horses  are  pricked  or  nails  driven  "too 
close,"  but  rather  that  man}'^  more  are  not  so  injured.  It  is  not  always 
carelessness  or  ignorance  on  the  part  of  the  smith,  by  any  means,  that 
is  to  account  for  this  accident.  Bad  and  careless  shoers  we  do  meet 
•with,  but  let  us  be  honest  and  say  that  the  rarity  of  these  accidents 
points  rather  to  the  general  care  and  attention  given  b}^  these  much- 
abused  mechanics. 

From  the  construction  of  the  horse's  foot  (being  incased  in  an  imper- 
meable horny  box),  and  from  the  elasticity  of  the  horn  closing  the 
orifice,  punctured  wounds  of  the  feet  are  almost  always  productive 
of  lameness.  Inflammation  results,  and  as  there  is  no  relief  afforded 
by  swelling  and  no  escape  for  the  product  of  inflammation,  this  matter 
must  and  does  burrow  between  the  sole  or  wall  and  the  sensitive  parts 
within  it  until  it  generally  opens  "between  hair  and  hoof."  "We  can 
thus  see  why  pain  is  so  much  more  severe,  why  tetanus  (lockjaw)  more 
frequently  follows  wounds  of  the  feet,  and  why,  from  the  extensive, 
or  at  times  complete,  separation  and  "casting"  of  the  hoof,  these 
wounds  must  alwaj^s  be  regarded  with  grave  apprehension. 

Symptoms  and  treatment. — A  practice  which,  if  never  deviated 
from — that  of  picking  up  each  foot,  cleaning  the  sole,  and  thoroughly 
examining  the  foot  each  and  every  time  the  horse  comes  into  the 
stable — will  enable  us  to  reduce  the  serious  consequences  of  punctured 
wounds  of  the  feet  to  the  minimum.  If  the  wound  has  resulted  from 
pricking,  lameness  follows  soon  after  shoeing;  if  from  the  nails  being 
driven  too  close,  it  usually  appears  from  four  to  five  days  or  a  week 
after  receiving  the  shoe.  We  should  always  inquire  as  to  the  time  of 
shoeing,  examine  the  shoe  carefully,  and  see  whether  it  has  been  par- 
tially pulled  and  the  horse  stepped  back  upon  some  of  the  nails  or  the 
clip.  The  pain  from  these  wounds  is  lancinating;  the  horse  is  seen 
to  raise  and  lower  the  limb  or  hold  it  from  the  ground  altogether;  often 
ho  points  the  foot,  flexes  the  leg,  and  knuckles  at  the  fetlock.  Swell- 
ing of  the  fetlock  and  back  tendons  is  also  frequently  seen  and  is  apt 
to  mislead  us.  The  foot  must  be  carefully  examined,  and  this  can  not 
be  properl}^  done  without  removing  the  shoe.  The  nails  should  be 
drawn  separately-  and  carefull}'  examined.     If  there  is  no  escape  of 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  467 

pus  from  the  nail  holes,  or  if  the  nails  themselves  are  not  moist,  we 
must  continue  our  examination  of  the  foot  by  carefully  pinching  or 
tapping  it  at  all  parts.  With  a  little  practice  we  can  detect  the  spot 
where  pain  is  the  greatest  or  discover  the  delicate  line  or  scar  left  at 
the  point  of  entrance  of  the  foreign  body.  The  entire  sole  is  then  to 
be  thinned,  after  which  we  are  to  carefully  cut  down  upon  the  point 
where  pain  is  greatest  upon  pressure,  and,  final!}',  through  the  sole  at 
this  spot.  When  the  matter  has  escaped,  the  sole,  so  far  as  it  was 
undermined  by  pus,  is  to  be  removed.  The  foot  must  now  be  poulticed 
for  one  or  two  days  and  afterwards  dressed  with  a  compress  of  oakum 
saturated  with  carbolic-acid  solution  or  other  antiseptic  dressing. 

If  we  discover  a  nail  or  other  object  in  the  foot,  the  principal  direc- 
tion, after  having  removed  the  offending  body,  is  to  cut  away  the 
sole,  in  a  funnel  shape,  down  to  the  sensitive  parts  beneath.  This  is 
imperative,  and  if  a  good  free  opening  has  been  made  and  is  main- 
tained for  a  few  days,  hot  fomentations  and  antiseptic  dressings 
applied,  the  cure  is  mostly  easy,  simple,  quick,  and  permanent.  The 
horse  should  be  shod  with  a  leather  sole  under  the  shoe,  first  of  all 
applying  tar  and  oakum  to  prevent  any  dirt  from  entering  the  wound. 
In  some  instances  nails  m.ay  puncture  the  fiexor  tendons,  the  coffin- 
bone,  or  enter  the  cofiin  joint.  Such  injuries  are  always  serious,  their 
recovery  slow  and  tedious,  and  the  treatment  so  varied  and  difficult 
that  the  services  of  a  veterinarian  will  be  necessarj-. 

PUNCTURED   WOUNDS   OF    JOINTS,    OR   OPEN   JOINTS. 

These  wounds  are  more  or  less  frequent.  The}^  are  always  serious, 
and  often  result  in  anchylosis  (stiffening)  of  the  joint  or  death  of  the 
animal.  The  joints  mostly  punctured  are  the  hock,  fetlock,  or  knee, 
though  other  joints  may,  of  course,  suffer  this  injury.  As  the  symp- 
toms and  treatment  are  much  the  same  for  all,  only  the  accident  as  it 
occurs  in  the  hock  joint  will  be  described.  Probably  the  most  com- 
mon mode  of  injury  is  from  the  stab  of  a  fork,  but  it  may  result  from 
the  kick  of  another  horse  that  is  newly  shod,  or  in  many  other  ways. 
At  first  the  horse  evinces  but  slight  pain  or  lameness.  The  owner 
discovers  a  small  wound  scarcely  larger  than  a  pea,  and  paj's  but  little 
attention  to  it.  In  a  few  daj^s,  however,  the  pain  and  lameness  become 
excessive;  the  horse  can  no  longer  bear  any  weight  upon  the  injured 
leg;  the  joint  is  very  much  swollen  and  painful  upon  pressure;  there 
are  well-marked  symptoms  of  constitutional  disturbance — quick  pulse, 
hurried  breathing,  high  temperature,  103^  to  106^  F.,  the  appetite  is 
lost,  thirst  is  present,  the  horse  reeks  with  sweat,  and  shows  by  an 
anxious  countenance  the  pain  he  suffers.  He  may  lie  down,  though 
mostl}^  he  persists  in  standing,  and  the  opposite  limb  becomes  greatly 
swollen  from  bearing  the  entire  weight  and  strain  for  so  long  a  time. 
The  wound,  which  at  first  appeared  so  insignificant,  is  now  constantly 


468  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

discharging  a  thin  whitish  or  yellowish  fluid — joint  oil  or  water,  which 
becomes  coagulated  about  the  mouth  of  the  wound  and  adheres  to  the 
part  in  clots  like  jelly,  or  resembling  somewhat  the  white  of  an  egg. 
Not  infrequently  the  joint  opens  at  different  places,  discharging  at 
first  a  thin  bloody  fluid  that  soon  assumes  the  character  above 
described. 

Treatment  of  these  wounds  is  most  difficult  and  unsatisfactory.  We 
can  do  much  to  prevent  this  array  of  S3^mptoms  if  the  case  is  seen 
early — within  the  first  twenty-four  or  fort3'-eight  hours  after  the 
injury;  but  when  inflammation  of  the  joint  is  once  fairl}-  established 
the  case  becomes  one  of  grave  tendencies.  Whenever  a  punctured 
wound  of  a  joint  is  noticed,  even  though  apparently  of  but  small 
moment,  we  should,  without  the  least  delaj-,  appl}^  a  strong  canthar- 
ides  blister  over  the  entire  joint,  being  even  careful  to  fill  the  orifice 
of  the  wound  with  the  blistering  ointment.  This  treatment  is  almost 
always  effectual.  It  operates  to  perform  a  cure  in  two  ways — first, 
the  swelling  of  the  skin  and  tissues  underneath  it  completelv  closes 
the  wound  and  prevents  the  ingress  of  air;  second,  by  the  superficial 
inflammation  established  it  acts  to  check  and  abate  all  deep-seated 
inflammation.  In  the  great  majorit}^  of  instances,  if  pursued  soon 
after  the  accident,  this  treatment  performs  a  cure  in  about  one  week, 
but  should  the  changes  described  as  occurring  later  in  the  joint  have 
alread}^  taken  place,  we  must  then  treat  by  cooling  lotions  and  the 
application  to  the  wound  of  chloride  of  zinc,  10  grains  to  the  ounce  of 
water,  or  a  paste  made  up  of  flour  and  alum.  A  bandage  is  to  hold 
these  applications  in  place,  which  is  only  to  be  removed  when  swelling 
of  the  leg  or  increasing  febrile  symptoms  demand  it.  In  the  treat- 
ment of  open  joints  our  chief  aim  must  be  to  close  the  orifice  as  soon 
as  possible.  For  this  reason  repeated  probing  or  even  injections  are 
contraindicated.  The  only  probing  of  an  open  joint  that  is  to  l>e 
sanctioned  is  on  our  first  visit,  when  we  should  carefully  examine  the 
wound  for  foreign  bodies  or  dirt,  and  after  removing  them  the  prol)e 
must  not  again  be  used.  The  medicines  used  to  coagulate  the  synovial 
discharge  are  best  simpl}'  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  wound,  on 
pledgets  of  tow,  and  held  in  place  by  bandages.  Internal  treatment 
is  also  indicated  in  those  cases  of  open  joints  where  the  suffering  is 
great.  At  first  we  should  administer  a  light  physic  and  follow  this 
up  with  sedatives  and  anodynes,  as  directed  for  contused  wounds. 
Later,  however,  we  should  give  quinine,  or  salicylic  acid  in  1-dram 
doses  tv,-o  or  three  times  a  day. 

WOUNDS    OF    THE    TENDON    SHEATHS. 

Wounds  of  tendon  sheaths  are  similar  to  open  joints  in  that  there  is 
an  escape  of  synovial  fluid,  "sinew  water."  Where  the  tendons  are 
simply  punctured  by  a  thorn,  nail,  or  fork,  we  must,  after  a  thorough 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE,  469 

exploration  of  the  wound  for  an}^  remaining  foreign  substance,  treat 
with  the  flour  and  alum  paste,  bandages,  etc.,  as  for  open  joint. 
Should  the  skin  and  tendons  be  divided  the  case  is  even  more  serious 
and  often,  incurable.  There  is  alwaj^s  a  large  bed  of  granulations 
(proud  flesh)  at  the  seat  of  injury,  and  a  thickening  more  or  less  pro- 
nounced remains.  When  the  back  tendons  of  the  leg  arc  severed  we 
should  apply  at  once  a  high-heel  shoe  (which  is  to  be  gradually  lowered 
as  healing  advances)  and  bandage  firml}^  with  a  compress  moistened 
Avith  a  10-grain  chloride  of  zinc  solution.  When  proud  flesh  appears 
this  is  best  kept  under  control  by  repeated  applications  of  a  red-hot 
iron.  Mares  that  are  valuable  as  brood  animals  and  stock  horses  should 
always  be  treated  for  this  injury,  as,  even  though  blemished,  their 
value  is  not  seriously  impaired.  The  length  of  time  required  and  the 
expense  of  treatment  will  cause  us  to  hesitate  in  attempting  a  cure,  if 
the  subject  is  old  and  comparatively  valueless. 

GUNSHOT   V/OUNDS. 

These  wounds  vary  in  size  and  character,  depending  on  the  size 
and  quality  of  the  projectile  and  also  the  tissue  injured.  They  are  so 
seldom  met  with  in  our  animals  that  an  extended  reference  to  them 
seems  unnecessary.  If  a  wound  has  been  made  hj  a  bullet  a  careful 
examination  should  be  made  to  ascertain  if  the  ball  has  passed  through 
or  ©ut  of  the  body.  If  it  has  not  we  must  then  probe  for  the  ball,  and 
if  it  can  be  located  it  is  to  be  cut  out  when  practicable  to  do  so.  Often- 
times a  ball  may  be  so  lodged  that  it  can  not  be  removed,  and  it  then 
may  become  encysted  and  remain  for  years  without  giving  rise  to  any 
inconvenience.  It  is  often  difBcult  to  locate  a  bullet,  as  it  is  very 
readily  deflected  by  resistances  met  with  after  entering  the  body. 

The  entering  wound  is  the  size  of  the  projectile,  the  edges  are 
inverted  and  often  scorched.  The  wound  produced  in  case  of  the 
bullet's  exit  is  larger  than  the  projectile,  the  edges  are  turned  out  and 
ragged.  A  bullet  heated  by  the  friction  of  the  barrel  or  air  often 
softens  and  becomes  flattened  on  striking  a  bone  or  other  tissue. 
Modern  bullets  that  have  an  outer  steel  layer  may  pass  through  bone 
without  splintering  it.  Leaden  bullets  ma}^  split,  producing  two  exit 
wounds.  Spent  bullets  may  oul}"  produce  a  bruise.  Should  bones  be 
struck  b}'  a^  ball  the}"  are  sometimes  shattered  and  splintered  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  warrant  us  in  having'  the  animal  destroj^ed.  A  gun- 
shot wound,  when  irreparable  injury  has  not  been  done,  is  to  be 
treated  the  same  as  punctured  wounds,  ^.  e.,  stop  the  hemorrhage, 
remove  the  foreign  body  if  possible,  and  appl}^  hot  fomentations  or 
poultices  to  the  wound  until  suppuration  is  fairly  established.  Anti- 
septic and  disinfectant  injections  may  then  be  used.  Should  pus 
accumulate  in  the  tissues,  openings  must  be  made  at  the  most  depend- 
ing parts  for  its  escape.     Wounds  from  shotguns  fired  close  to  the 


470  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTIIY. 

animal  arc  serious.  They  are  virtually  lacerated  and  contused 
wounds.  Remove  all  the  shot  possible  from  the  wound,  and  treat  as 
directed  for  contusions.  When  small  shot  strike  the  horse  from  a 
distance  the}'  stick  in  the  skin  or  onl}-  go  through  it.  The  shot  grains 
must  be  picked  out,  but  as  a  rule  this  "peppering"  of  the  skin 
amounts  to  but  little. 

rOISONKD    WOUNDS. 

These  injuries  are  the  result  of  bites  of  snakes,  rabid  dogs,  stings  of 
bees,  wasps,  etc.  A  single  sting  is  not  dangerous,  but  an  animal  is 
often  stung  by  a  swarm  of  insects,  when  the  chief  danger  occurs  from 
the  swelling  produced.  If  stung  about  the  head,  the  nostrils  may  be 
closed  as  a  result  of  the  swelling,  causing  labored  breathing  and  pos- 
sibly asphyxiation.  Intoxication  may  be  produced  by  the  absorption 
of  this  poison  and  is  manifested  by  staggering  gait,  spreading  of  the 
legs,  paral^^sis  of  the  muscles,  difficult  respiration,  and  a  rise  of  tem- 
perature.    Death  may  follow  in  five  to  ten  hours. 

Treatment. — Douse  animal  with  cold  water  and  apply  any  alkaline 
liquid,  such  as  soapsuds,  bicarbonate  of  soda,  or  weak  solution  of 
ammonia.  Internally  give  alcohol,  ether,  or  camphor  to  strengthen 
the  heart.  In  case  of  bites  by  rattlesnakes,  moccasin,  or  other  poi- 
sonous snakes,  a  painful  swelling  occurs  about  the  bitten  part,  which  is 
followed  by  labored  breathing,  weakness,  retching,  fever,  and  death 
from  collapse.  The  animal  usually  recovers  if  it  can  be  kept  "alive 
over  the  third  day.  In  treating  the  animal,  a  tight  ligature  should  be 
passed  about  the  part  above  the  wound  to  keep  the  poison  from  enter- 
ing the  general  circulation.  Wash  out  the  wound  thoroughly  with 
antiseptics  and  then  apply  a  caustic,  such  as  silver  nitrate,  or  burn 
with  a  hot  instrument.  A  subcutaneous  injection  of  one-fourth  dram 
of  1  per  cent  solution  of  chromic  acid  above  the  wound  is  also  benefi- 
cial. Cold  water  may  be  applied  to  the  wound  to  combat  the  inflam- 
mation. Bites  of  rabid  dogs  produce  an  infected  wound,  and  the  virus 
of  rabies  introduced  in  this  manner  should  be  removed  or  destroyed 
in  the  wound.  Therefore  produce  considerable  bleeding  by  incising 
the  wound,  wash  out  thoroughl}^  with  10  per  cent  solution  of  zinc 
chloride,  and  then  appl}^  caustics  or  the  actual  cauter3^ 

HARNESS   GALLS    (SITFASTS).  * 

Wounds  or  abrasions  of  the  skin  are  frequently  caused  by  ill-fitting 
Harness  or  saddles.  When  a  horse  has  been  resting  from  steady  work 
for  some  time,  particularly  after  being  kept  idle  in  a  stable  on  a  scant.y 
allowance  of  grain,  as  in  winter,  he  is  soft  and  tender  and  sweats 
easily  when  put  to  work  again.  In  this  condition  he  is  apt  to  sweat 
and  chafe  under  the  harness,  especially  if  it  is  hard  and  poorly  fitted. 
This  chafing  is  likel}'  to  cause  abrasions  of  the  skin,  and  thus  pave  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  471 

way  for  an  abscess,  or  for  a  chronic  blemish,  unless  attended  to  very 
promptly.  Besides  causing  the  animal  considerable  pain,  chafing,  if 
long  continued,  leads  to  the  formation  of  a  callosity.  This  may  be 
superficial,  involving  onlj^  the  skin,  or  it  may  be  deep-seated,  involv- 
ing the  subcutaneous  fibrous  tissue  and  sometimes  the  muscle  and 
even  the  bone.  This  causes  a  dry  slough  to  form,  which  is  both  incon- 
venient and  unsightly.  Sloughs  of  this  kind  are  commonly  called 
"sitfasts"  and,  while  thej^  occur  in  other  places,  are  most  frequently 
found  under  the  saddle. 

Treatment. — Abrasions  are  best  prevented  \>^  bringing  the  animal 
gradually  into  working  shape  after  it  has  had  a  prolonged  rest,  in 
order  that  the  muscles  will  be  hard  and  the  skin  tough.  The  harness 
should  be  well  fitted,  neither  too  large  nor  too  small,  and  it  should  be 
cleaned  and  oiled  to  remove  all  dirt  and  to  make  it  soft  and  pliable. 
Saddles  should  be  properly  fitted  so  as  to  prevent  direct  pressure  on 
the  spine,  and  the  saddle  blankets  should  be  clean  and  dry.  Parts  of 
the  horse  where  chafing  is  likely  to  occur,"  as  on  the  back  under  the 
saddle,  should  be  cleaned  and  brushed  free  of  dirt. 

The  remedies  for  simple  harness  galls  are  numerous.  Among  them 
may  be  mentioned  alcohol,  1  pint,  in  which  are  well  shaken  the  whites 
of  two  eggs;  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  10  grains  to  the  ounce  of 
water;  sugar  of  lead  or  sulphate  of  zinc,  20  grains  to  an  ounce  of  water; 
carbolic  acid,  1  part  in  15  parts  of  glycerin,  and  so  on  almost  with- 
out end.  Any  simple  astringent  wash  or  powder  will  efl:ect  a  cure, 
provided  the  sores  are  not  irritated  by  friction. 

If  a  sitfast  has  developed,  the  dead  hornlike  slough  must  be  care- 
fully dissected  out  and  the  wound  treated  carefully  with  antiseptics. 
During  treatment  it  is  always  best  to  allow  the  animal  to  rest,  but  if 
this  is  inconvenient  care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  injury  to  the 
abraded  or  wounded  surface  b}^  padding  the  harness  so  that  chafing 
can  not  occur. 

BURNS   AXD    SCALDS. 

These  wounds  of  domestic  animals  are  fortunatel}'  of  rare  occur- 
rence; however,  when  they  do  occur,  if  at  all  extensive,  they  prove 
quite  troublesome  and  in  many  cases  are  fatal.  According  to  the 
severity  of  the  burn  we  distinguish  three  degrees:  First  degree,  where 
there  is  a  simple  reddening  of  the  skin;  second  degree,  where  there  is 
a  formation  of  vesicles,  or  blisters;  third  degree,  where  there  is  a  com- 
plete destruction  of  vitality  of  the  tissues,  such  as  would  occur  in 
charring  from  direct  contact  with  flames  or  from  escaping  steam. 
Besides  the  burns  caused  by  flames  and  steam,  there  are  other  causa- 
tive agents,  such  as  chemicals  (caustic  alkalis  and  acids),  lightning 
stroke,  and  occasionalh^  the  broken  trolley  wires  of  electric  railways. 
When  a  large  surface  of  the  skin  is  burned  or  scalded,  the  animal  (if 


472  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

he  does  not  die  at  once  from  shock)  will  soon  show  signs  of  fever — 
shivering-,  coldness  of  the  extremities,  weakness,  restlessness,  quick 
and  feeble  pulse,  and  labored  breathing.  No  matter  which  agent  is  a 
'  factoi-  in  the  production  of  burns,  the  lesions  are  practically  of  the 
same  nature.  The  extent  and  site  of  the  burn  should  lead  one  in  the 
determination  and  course  of  treatment.  Burns  of  the  shoulder  and 
those  about  the  region  of  the  elbow  or  other  parts  where  there  is  much 
movement  of  the  tissues  arc  grave,  and,  if  at  all  extensive,  treatment 
should  not  be  attempted,  but  the  immediate  destruction  of  the  animal 
is  advised.  A  burn  of  the  third  degree,  where  there  is  a  destruction 
of  the  vitality  of  large  areas  of  tissue,  even  on  parts  not  subject  to 
much  motion,  is  extremely  tedious  to  treat;  in  fact,  it  is  questionable 
whether  the  treatment  and  keep  of  the  animal  will  ever  be  compensated 
for,  even  though  recovery  does  take  place,  which,  in  any  event,  will 
require  at  least  six  or  eight  weeks.  Those  due  to  lightning  stroke 
and  trollej"  wires  are  likely  to  occur  in  irregular  lines,  and,  unless 
death  occurs  at  once,  they  are  not  likely  to  prove  serious. 

Treatment.— Tvcatment  should  be  prompt  and  effective.  If  the 
burns  are  extensive  the  constitutional  symptoms  should  be  combated 
with  whisky  and  milk  and  eggs,  or  ammonium  carbonate,  strychnine, 
caffein,  and  other  stimulants  to  prevent  shock.  In  the  local  treatment, 
to  alleviate  pain,  the  application  of  cold  water  in  some  form  and  the 
hypodermic  injection  of  morphine  are  to  be  recommended.  In  burns 
of  the  first  degree,  where  there  is  only  a  superficial  inflammation,  lead 
carbonate  (white  lead)  ointment  is  very  good.  Carron  oil  (limewater 
and  linseed  oil,  equal  parts)  is  a  standard  remedy,  but  a  modification 
of  it  known  as  Stahl's  liniment  is  perhaps  better;  this  liniment  is  com- 
posed of  linseed  oil  and  limewater  each  200  parts,  bicarbonate  soda 
100  parts,  and  thymol  1  part.  This  liniment  should  be  applied  freely 
to  the  scorched  surface  and  covered  with  a  layer  of  borated  gauze  or 
absorbent  cotton  to  protect  it  from  the  air.  Renew  the  application 
frcqucntl}'.  Carbolated  vaseline  may  be  used  in  place  of  the  above. 
In  case  the  burn  is  more  extensive,  the  following  solution  may  be 
used:  Picric  acid  2  parts,  alcohol  40  parts,  water  400  parts.  The 
lesion  should  be  thoroughl}^  cleansed  with  this  solution  used  on  absorb- 
ent cotton.  The  vesicles,  if  any  appear,  should  be  opened  with  a 
clean  needle,  allowing  the  skin  to  remain.  Strips  of  gauze  or  absorb- 
ent cotton  saturated  with  the  solution  should  now  be  applied  and 
renewed  onh'^  occasionally.  In  burns  of  the  second  and  third  degrees 
more  satisfactory  results  maj^  be  obtained  with  uonpoisonous  drj-- 
dressing  powder,  such  as  is  used  in  ordinary  open  wounds,  as  tannic 
acid  8  parts  and  iodoform  1  part,  or  a  salve  made  of  this  powder  and 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  vaseline.  When  sloughing  of  the  tissues  takes 
place  the  wounds  should  be  cleansed  with  a  warm  3  per  cent  solution 
of  carbolic  acid,  all  loose  fragments  of  tissue  removed,  and  either  a 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  473 

dry  antiseptic  dressing  powder  or  carbolated  vaseline  ointment  applied 
to  exclude  the  air.  Granulation  tissue  (proud  flesh)  should  be  con- 
trolled by  the  application  of  silver  nitrate  in  the  form  of  a  caustic 
psncil. 

Burns  due  to  mineral  acids  may  be  first  treated  by  flushing  the 
parts  with  a  copious  quantity  of  cold  water  or  by  the  application  of 
whiting  or  chalk.  Either  use  a  large  quantity  of  water  at  the  start  or 
use  the  chalk  first,  then  wash  with  water.  If  the  irritant  has  been  a 
caustic  alkali,  such  as  potash,  lye,  ammonia,  or  soda,  then  vinegar 
should  be  the  first  application.  StahPs  liniment  is  probably  the  best 
general  application  for  all  burns  for  the  first  week;  then  this  should 
be  followed  by  the  ordinary  antiseptic  wound  dressings. 

GANGRENE. 

Gangrene,  or  mortification,  denotes  the  death  of  the  affected  part, 
and  is  mostly  found  attacking  soft  tissue  near  the  surface  of  the 
body.  Gangrenous  areas  may  occur  as  a  result  of  shutting  off  their 
blood  supply.  Constitutional  diseases,  such  as  ergotism,  anthrax,  and 
septicemia,  predispose  to  gangrene.  As  external  causes  we  have  acids 
and  alkalies,  freezing  and  burning,  contusions  and  continuous  pressure 
that  interrupt  the  circulation.  There  are  two  forms  of  gangrene — 
dry  and  moist.  Dry  gangrene  is  most  often  seen  in  horses  from  con- 
tinuous lying  down  (decubitus)  or  from  uneven  pressure  of  some  por- 
tion of  the  harness. 

Symjytoms. — There  is  a  lack  of  sensation  due  to  the  death  of  nerves. 
In  dry  gangrene  the  skin  is  leathery  and  harsh,  while  in  moist  gan- 
grene the  tissues  are  soft,  wrinkled,  and  friable;  the  hair  is  dis- 
turbed, and  the  skin  is  usually  moist  and  soapy  and  sometimes  covered 
with  blebs.  The  tissue  surrounding  the  moist  gangrenous  patch  is 
usuall}^  inflamed,  swollen,  and  hot,  but  this  is  less  noticeable  in  the 
case  of  divj  gangrene.  Moist  gangrene  often  spreads  and  involves 
deeper  tissue,  sheaths  of  tendons  and  joints  producing  septic  sjnio- 
vitis  or  septic  arthritis  leading  to  pyemia  and  death.  Dry  gangrene 
is  seldom  dangerous,  but  the  rapidity  of  its  spread  will  indicate  its 
virulence. 

Treatment. — The  preventive  treatment  consists  in  avoiding  all  the 
influences  that  tend  to  disturb  the  nutrition  of  the  tissues,  such  as 
excessive  cold  or  heat  or  continuous  pressure.  Gangrene  following 
decubitus  ma}^  be  prevented  b}^  using  soft  bedding  and  frequently 
turning  the  animal  from  one  side  to  the  other.  In  dry  gangrene  moist 
heat  in  the  form  of  poultices  or  anointing  the  tissue  with  oils  and 
fats  will  be  found  beneficial  in  hastening  the  dead  tissue  to  slough  off. 
When  the  outer  skin  begins  to  suppurate,  seize  it  with  a  pair  of  pincers 
and  draw  it  awa3^  After  this  treat  the  patch  as  an  open  wound.  In 
moist  gangrene  the  tissue  should  be  thoroughl}^  disinfected  with  creo- 


474  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

lin,  h'sol,  or  particularly  an  alcoholic  tincture  of  camphor.  Continu- 
ous irritation  with  antiseptic  fluids  prevents  the  accumulation  and 
absorption  of  poisonous  liquids.  Incisions  into  the  dead  tissue  may 
be  made,  and  when  sloughing  commences  the  tissue  should  be  removed 
with  forceps  and  the  resulting  wound  treated  as  in  dry  gangrene. 

ULCERATION. 

An  ulcer  is  a  circumscribed  area  of  necrosis  occurring  on  the  skin 
or  mucous  membrane  and  covered  with  graiuilation  tissue.  It  is  a 
process  of  destruction,  and  when  this  process  is  going  on  faster  than 
regeneration  can  take  place,  we  have  a  gnawing,  or  eating,  ulcer. 
When  such  an  ulcer  increases  rapidly  in  size  it  is  termed  a  phagedenic 
ulcer.  A  fungoid  ulcer  is  one  in  which  the  bottom  of  the  ulcer  pro- 
jects beyond  the  edge  of  the  skin.  These  ulcers  secrete  milky  or 
bloodv-whito  liquid  called  ichor.  When  the  ulcer  is  of  an  ashen  or 
leaden  color,  with  the  bottom  and  sides  formed  of  dense,  hard  connec- 
tive tissue  which  gives  but  little  discharge  and  is  not  sensitive,  it  is 
termed  callous,  torpid,  or  indolent  ulcer. 

Ccmses. — As  in  the  case  of  gangrene,  disturbances  of  circulation  are 
among  the  most  frequent  causes.  A  wound  to  a  tissue  with  slight 
recuperative  power  may  be  followed  by  ulceration,  as  in  tumors. 
Certain  germs  may  produce  ulcers,  as  the  glanders  bacilli,  which  cause 
the  ulcerations  on  the  nasal  septum  in  glanders. 

Treatment. — This  consists  in  removing  at  once  the  exciting  cause. 
The  secretions  of  the  ulcer  should  be  washed  off  with  antiseptic  solu- 
tions and  the  formation  of  granulation  tissues  stimulated  by  antiseptic 
'salves,  such  as  carbolated  vaseline,  lead  ointment,  or  by  dressings  of 
camphor.  Air  should  be  kept  from  the  ulcer  by  occlusive  dressings. 
Where  the  ulcers  are  inflamed,  w^arm  lead  water  or  .lead  water  and 
laudanum  will  be  found  efficacious.  Callous  ulcers  are  best  removed 
b}'  a  curet,  knife,  or  hot  iron  and  then  treated  like  a  common  wound. 
Mechanical  irritation  should  be  avoided. 

ABSCESSES. 

These  consist  of  accumulations  of  pus  within  circumscribed  walls, 
at  different  parts  of  the  body,  and  may  be  classed  as  acute,  and  cold, 
or  chronic,  abscesses. 

When  an  abscess  occurs  about  a  hair  follicle  it  is  called  a  boil  or 
furuncle;  when  several  hair  follicles  are  involved,  resulting  in  the  for- 
mation of  more  than  one  exit  for  the  inflammatory  products,  it  is  called 
a  carbuncle. 

ACUTK    ABSCEtiSES. 

Acute  abscesses  follow  as  the  result  of  local  inflammation  in  glands, 
muscular  tissue,  or  even  bones.     They  are  ver^^  common  in  the  two 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  475 

former.  The  abscesses  most  commonly  met  with  in  the  horse  (and 
the  ones  which  will  be  here  described)  are  those  of  the  salivary  glands, 
occurring-  during  the  existence  of  "strangles,"  or  "colt  distemper." 
The  glands  behind  or  under  the  jaw  are  seen  to  slowly  increase  in 
size,  becoming  firm,  hard,  hot,  and  painful.  At  first  the  swelling  is 
uniformly  hard  and  resisting  over  its  entire  surface,  but  in  a  little 
while  becomes  soft — fluctuating— at  some  portion,  mostly  in  the  center. 
From  this  time  on  the  abscess  is  said  to  be  "pointing,"  or  "coming 
to  a  head,"  which  is  shown  by  a  small  elevated  or  projecting  promi- 
nence, which  at  first  is  dry,  but  soon  becomes  moist  with  transuded 
serum.  The  hairs  over  this  part  loosen  and  fall  off,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  abscess  opens,  the  contents  escape,  and  the  cavity  graduall}^ 
fills  up — heals  by  granulations. 

Abscesses  in  muscular  tissue  are  usually  the  result  of  bruises  or 
injuries.  In  all  cases  where  abscesses  are  forming  we  should  hurry 
the  ripening  process  b}^  frequent  hot  fomentations  and  poultices. 
When  they  are  ver}^  tardy  in  their  development  a  blister  over  their 
surface  is  advisable.  It  is  a  common  rule  Avith  surgeons  to  open  an 
abscess  as  soon  as  pus  can  be  plainly  felt,  but  this  practice  can 
scarcely  be  recommended  to  owners  of  stock  indiscriminatel3%  since 
this  little  operation  frequently  requires  an  exact  knowledge  of  anat- 
om3%  It  will  usually  be  found  the  better  plan  to  encourage  the  full 
ripening  of  an  abscess  and  allow  it  to  open  of  itself.  This  is  impera- 
tive if  the  abscess  is  in  the  region  of  joints,  etc.  When  open,  we 
must  not  squeeze  the  walls  of  the  abscess  to  any  extent.  They  may 
be  very  gently  pressed  with  the  fingers  at  first  to  remove  the  clots — 
inspissated  pus — but  after  this  the  orifice  iy  simply  to  be  kept  open 
by  the  introduction  of  a  clean  probe,  should  it  be  disposed  to  heal  too 
soon.  If  the  opening  is  at  too  high  a  level  another  should  be  made 
into  the  lowest  portion  of  the  abscess  so  as  to  permit  the  most  com- 
plete drainage.  Hot  fomentations  or  poultices  are  sometimes  required 
for  a  day  or  two  after  an  abscess  has  opened,  and  are  particularly 
indicated  when  the  base  of  the  abscess  is  hard  and  indurated. 

The  cavit}^  should  be  thoroughlj-  washed  with  stimulating  antiseptic 
solutions,  such  as  3  per  cent  solution  of  carbolic  acid,  3  to  5  per  cent 
solution  of  creolin,  1  to  1,000  bichloride  of  mercury,  or  1  per  cent 
permanganate  of  potash  solution.  If  the  abscesses  are  foul  and  bad 
smelling,  their  cavities  should  first  be  syringed  with  1  part  of  hydro- 
gen peroxide  to  2  parts  of  water  and  then  followed  by  the  injection  of 
any  of  the  above-mentioned  antiseptics. 

COLD    ABSCESSES. 

Cold  abscess  is  the  term  applied  to  those  large,  indolent  swellings 
that  are  the  result  of  a  low,  or  chronic,  form  of  inflammation,  in  the 
center  of  which  there  is  a  small  collection  of  pus.     They  are  often 


476  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

seen  near  the  point  of  the  shoulder,  forming  the  so-called  breast  ])oil. 
The  swelling  is  diffuse  and  of  enormous  extent,  but  slightl}-  hotter 
than  surrounding  parts,  and  not  very  painful  upon  pressure.  There 
is  a  pronounced  stiffness,  rather  than  pain,  evinced  upon  moving  the 
animal.  Such  abscesses  have  the  appearance  of  a  hard  tumor,  sur- 
rounded by  a  softer  edematous  swelling,  involving  the  tissues  to  the 
extent  of  a  foot  or  more  in  all  directions  from  the  tumor.  This  dif- 
fused swelling  gradually  subsides  and  leaves  the  large,  hardened  mass 
somewhat  well  defined.  One  of  the  characteristics  of  cold  abscesses 
is  their  tendency  to  remain  in  the  same  condition  for  a  great  length 
of  time.  There  is  neither  heat  nor  soreness;  no  increase  nor  lessening 
in  the  size  of  the  tumor;  it  remains  statu  quo.  If,  however,  the  ani- 
mal should  be  put  to  work  for  a  short  time  the  irritation  of  the  collar 
causes  the  surrounding  tissues  to  again  assume  an  edematous  condi- 
tion, which  after  a  few  days'  rest  disappears,  leaving  the  tumor  as 
before  or  but  slightly  larger.  Upon  careful  manipulation  we  ma}^ 
discover  what  appears  to  be  a  fluid  deep  seated  in  the  center  of  the 
mass.  The  quantit}'^  of  matter  so  contained  is  verj^  small — often  not 
more  than  a  tablespoonful — and  for  this  reason  it  can  not,  in  all  cases, 
be  detected. 

Cold  abscesses  are  mostlj",  if  not  always,  caused  by  the  long-con- 
tinued irritation  of  a  loose  and  badly  fitting  collar.  There  is  a  slow 
inflammatory  action  going  on,  which  results  in  the  formation  of  a 
small  quantity  of  matter  inclosed  in  very  thick  and  but  partiall}' 
organized  walls,  that  are  not  as  well  defined  as  is  the  circumference 
of  fibrous  tumors,  which  they  most  resemble. 

Treatment. — The  means  recommended  to  bring  the  acute  abscess 
*'  to  a  head"  are  but  rarely  effectual  with  this  variety;  or,  if  successful, 
too  uuich  time  has  been  occupied  in  the  cure.  We  must  look  for  other 
and  more  rapid  methods  of  treatment.  These  consist,  first  of  all,  in 
carefully  exploring  the  tumor  for  the  presence  of  pus.  The  incisions 
must  be  made  over  the  softest  part  and  carried  deep  into  the  tumor 
(to  its  verj^  bottom  if  necessary),  and  the  matter  allowed  to  escape. 
After  this,  and  whether  we  have  found  matter  or  not,  we  must  induce 
an  active  inflammation  of  the  tumor  in  order  to  promote  solution  of 
the  thick  walls  of  the  abscess.  This  may  be  done  by  inserting  well 
into  the  incision  a  piece  of  oakum  or  cotton  saturated  with  turpentine, 
carbolic  acid,  tincture  of  iodine,  etc.,  or  we  ma}'  pack  the  inc-ision  with 
pow^dered  sulphate  of  zinc  and  keep  the  orifice  plugged  for  twenty-four 
hours.  These  agents  set  up  a  destructive  inflammation  of  the  walls. 
Suppuration  follows,  and  this  should  now  be  encouraged  by  hot 
fomentations  and  poultices.  The  orifice  must  bo  kept  open,  and 
should  it  be  disposed  to  heal  we  must  again  introduce  some  of  the 
agents  above  described.  A  favored  treatment  with  many,  and  it  is 
probably  the  best,  is  to  plunge  a  red-hot  iron  to  the  bottom  of  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  477 

incision  and  thoroug-hly  sear  all  parts  of  the  walls  of  the  abscess. 
This  is  to  be  repeated  after  the  first  slough  has  taken  place,  if  the 
walls  remain  thickened  and  indurated. 

It  is  useless  to  waste  time  with  fomentations,  poultices,  or  blisters 
in  the  treatment  of  cold  abscesses,  since,  though  apparently  removed 
by  such  methods,  they  almost  invariably  return  when  the  horse  is  put 
to  work.  Extirpation  by  the  knife  is  not  practicable,  as  the  walls  of 
the  tumor  are  not  sufficiently  defined.  If  treated  as  above  directed, 
and  properl}^  fitted  with  a  good  collar  after  healing,  there  will  not 
remain  any  track  or  trace  of  the  large,  unsightly  mass. 

FISTULAS. 

Definition. — The  word  fistula  is  applied  to  any  ulcerous  lesion  upon 
the  external  surface  of  the  body  which  is  connected  b}^  ducts,  or  pas- 
sages, with  some  internal  cavity.  Because  of  this  particular  formation 
the  term  fistulous  tract  is  often  used  synonymousl}^  with  the  word  fis- 
tula. Fistulas  may  exist  in  any  part  of  the  body,  but  the  name  has 
come  to  be  commonly  accepted  as  applicable  only  to  such  lesions  when 
found  upon  the  withers.  Poll  evil  is  a  fistula  upon  the  poll,  and  in  no 
sense  differs  from  fistulous  withers  except  in  location.  The  descrip- 
tion of  fistula  will  apply,  then,  in  the  main,  to  poll  evil  equalh^  well. 
Quittor  presents  the  characteristic  tubular  passages  of  a  fistula  and 
may  therefore  be  considered  and  treated  as  fistula  of  the  foot.  Fistu- 
lous passages  may  also  be  developed  upon  the  sides  of  the  face,  through 
which  saliva  is  discharged  instead  of  flowing  into  the  mouth,  and  are 
called  salivary  fistulne.  A  dental  fistula  may  arise  from  the  necrosis 
of  the  root  of  a  tooth.  Again,  a  fistula  is  sometimes  noted  at  the 
umbilicus  associated  with  hernia,  and  recto-vaginal  fistulas  have  been 
developed  in  mares,  following  difficult  parturition.  Fistulas  m&j  arise 
from  wounds  of  glandular  organs  or  their  ducts,  and  thus  we  have  the 
so-called  mammary,  or  lachrymal,  fistulas. 

Fistulous  tracts  are  lined  with  a  false,  or  adventitious,  membrane 
and  show  no  disposition  to  heal.  The}^  constantly  afford  means  of  exit 
to  the  pus  or  ichorous  material  discharged  by  the  unhealthy  parts 
below.  They  are  particularly  liable  to  develop  at  the  withers  or  poll 
because  of  the  exposed  positions  which  these  parts  occup}^  and,  having 
once  become  located  there,  they  usually  assert  a  tendenc}'^  to  farther 
extension,  because  the  vertical  and  laminated  formation  of  the  muscles 
and  tendons  of  these  parts  allows  the  forces  of  gravitation  to  assist  the 
pus  in  gaining  the  deeper-lying  structures  and  also  favors  its  retention 
among  them. 

Causes. — Fistulas  follow  as  a  result  of  abscesses,  bruises,  wounds,  or 
long-continued  irritation  by  the  harness.  Among  the  more  common 
causes  of  fistula  of  the  poll  (poll  evil)  are  chafing  by  the  halter  or  heavy 
bridle;  blows  from  the  butt  end  of  the  whip;  the  horse  striking  his  head 


4<»  J3UKEAU    OF    AXIMAL    IXDUSTKY. 

against  the  haj'rack,  beams  of  the  ceiling,  low  doors,  etc.  Fistulous 
■withers  are  seen  mostly  in  those  horses  that  have  thick  necks  as  well 
as  those  that  are  very  high  in  the  withers;  or,  among  saddle  horses, 
those  that  are  verj'^  low  on  the  withers,  the  saddle  here  riding  forward 
and  bruising  the  parts.  They  are  often  caused  by  bad-fitting  collars 
or  saddles,  by  direct  injuries  from  blows,  and  from  the  horse  rolling 
upon  rough  or  sharp  stones.  In  either  of  these  locations,  ulcers  of  the 
skin,  or  simple  abscesses,  if  not  properly  and  punctually  treated,  may 
become  fistulas.  The  pus  burrows  and  finds  lodgment  deep  down 
between  the  muscles,  and  escapes  onl}'  when  the  sinus  becomes  sur- 
charged or  when,  during  motion  of  the  parts,  the  matter  is  forced  to 
the  surface. 

Symptoms. — These,  of  course,  will  vary  according  to  the  progress 
made  by  the  fistula.  Following  an  injur}'  we  may  often  notice  sore- 
ness or  stifi'riess  of  the  front  legs,  and  upon  careful  examination  of  the 
withers  we  will  see  small  tortuous  lines  running  from  the  point  of 
irritation  downward  and  backward  over  the  region  of  the  shoulder. 
These  are  superficial  lymphatics,  and  are  swollen  and  painful  to  the 
touch.  In  a  day  or  two  a  swelling  is  noticed  on  one  or  both  sides  of 
the  dorsal  vertebrae,  which  is  hot  and  painful  and  rapidly  enlarging. 
The  stiffness  of  the  limbs  may  disappear  at  this  time,  and  the  heat  and 
soreness  of  the  parts  may  become  less  noticeable,  but  the  swelling 
remains  and  continues  to  enlarge. 

A  fistulous  ulcer  of  the  poll  ma}^  be  first  indicated  by  the  opposition 
which  the  animal  offers  to  the  application  of  stable  brush  or  bridle. 
At  this  time  the  parts  are  so  sore  and  sensitive  that  there  is  some 
danger  that  the  patient  will  acquire  disagreeable  stable  habits  unless 
handled  with  the  greatest  care.  The  disease  in  its  early  stages  may  be 
recognized  as  a  soft,  fluctuating  tumor  surrounded  by  inflammatory 
swelling,  with  the  presence  of  enlarged  lymphatic  vessels  and  stiffness 
of  the  neck.  Later  the  inflammation  of  the  surrounding  tissues  may 
disappear,  leaving  a  prominent  tumor.  The  swelling,  whether  situ- 
ated upon  the  head  or  the  withers,  may  open  and  form  a  running  ulcer, 
or  its  contents  ma}'^  dry  up  and  leave  a  tumor  which  gradually  develops 
the  common  characteristics  of  a  fibrous  tumor.  When  the  enlarge- 
ment has  opened  we  should  caref  ulh^  examine  its  cavity,  as  upon  its  con- 
dition will  wholly  depend  our  treatment. 

Treatmsnt. — In  the  earliest  stage,  when  there  is  soreness,  enlarged 
lymphatics,  but  no  well-marked  swelling,  the  trouble  may  frecjuently 
be  aborted.  To  do  this  requires  both  general  and  local  treatment. 
A  physic  should  be  given,  and  the  horse  receive  1  ounce  of  pow- 
dered saltpeter  three  times  a  day  in  his  Avater  or  feed.  If  the  fever 
runs  high,  20-drop  doses  of  tincture  of  aconite  root  every  two  hours 
may  be  administered.  The  local  application  of  cold  water  to  the 
inflamed  spot  for  an  hour  at  a  time  three  or  four  times  a  day  has 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  479 

often  proved  very  beneficial,  and  has  afforded  great  relief  to  the 
patient. 

Cooling-  lotions,  muriate  of  ammonia,  or  saltpeter  and  water;  sedative 
washes,  such  as  tincture  of  opium  and  aconite,  chloroform  liniment,  or 
camphorated  oil,  are  also  to  be  frequently  applied.  Should  this  treat- 
ment fail  to  check  the  progress  of  the  trouble,  the  formation  of  i)us 
should  be  hastened  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Hot  fomentations  and 
poultices  are  to  be  constantly  used,  and  as  soon  as  the  presence  of  pus 
can  be  detected,  the  abscess  wall  is  to  be  opened  at  its  loioest  jpoint. 
In  this  procedure  lies  our  hope  of  a  speedy  cure.  As  with  any  simple 
abscess,  if  drainage  can  be  so  provided  that  the  pus  will  run  off  as 
fast  as  formed  without  remaining  within  the  interstices  of  the  tissues, 
the  healing  which  follows  will  be  rapid  and  satisfactory. 

Attention  is  again  called  to  the  directions  given  above  as  to  the 
necessity  of  probing  the  cavity  when  opened.  If  upon  a  careful 
examination  with  the  probe  we  find  that  there  are  no  pockets,  no 
sinuses,  but  a  simple,  regular  abscess  wall,  the  indication  for  treatment 
is  to  make  an  opening  from  below  so  that  the  matter  must  all  escape. 
Rarely  is  anything  more  needed  than  to  keep  the  orifice  open  and  to 
bathe  or  inject  the  parts  with  some  simple  antiseptic  wash  that  is  not 
irritant  or  caustic.  A  low  opening  and  cleanliness  constitute  the 
essential  and  rational  treatment. 

If  the  abscess  has  already  opened,  giving  vent  to  a  quantity  of  puru- 
lent matter,  and  the  pipes  and  tubes  leading  from  the  opening  are 
found  to  be  extensive  and  surrounded  with  thick  fungoid  membranes, 
there  is  considerable  danger  that  the  internal  ligaments  or  even  some 
of  the  bones  have  become  affected,  in  which  case  the  condition  has 
assumed  a  serious  aspect.  Or,  on  the  other  hand,  if  the  abscess  has 
existed  for  some  time  without  a  rupture,  its  contents  will  frequently 
be  found  to  consist  of  dried  purulent  matter,  firm  and  dense,  and  the 
walls  surrounding  the  mass  will  be  found  greatly  thickened.  In  such 
a  case,  we  must  generally  have  recourse  to  the  application  of  caustics 
which  will  cause  a  sloughing  of  all  of  the  unhealthy  tissue,  and  will 
also  stimulate  a  rapid  increase  of  healthy  organized  material  to  replace 
that  destroyed  in  the  course  of  the  development  and  treatment  of  the 
disease.  Threads  or  cords  soaked  in  gum-arabic  solution  and  rolled 
in  powdered  corrosive  sublimate  may  be  introduced  into  the  canal  and 
allowed  to  remain.  The  skin  on  all  parts  of  the  shoulder  and  leg 
beneath  the  fistula  should  be  carefully  greased  with  lard  or  oil,  as  this 
will  prevent  the  discharge  that  comes  from  the  opening  after  the 
caustic  is  introduced  from  irritating  or  blistering  the  skin  over  which 
it  flows.  In  obstinate  cases  a  piece  of  caustic  potash  (fused)  1  to  2 
inches  in  length  may  be  introduced  into  the  opening  and  should  be 
covered  with  oakum  or  cotton.  The  horse  should  then  be  secured  so 
that  he  can  not  reach  the  part  with  his  teeth.     After  the  caustic  plug 


480  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

has  been  in  iiIslcg  for  twenty-four  hours,  it  ma}^  be  removed  and  hot 
fomentations  applied.  As  soon  as  the  discharge  has  become  again 
established  the  abscess  should  be  opened  from  its  lowest  extremity, 
and  the  passage  thus  formed  may  be  kept  open  1)}^  the  introduction  of 
a  seton.  If  the  pipes  become  established  in  the  deep  tissues  beneath 
the  shoulder  blade  or  among  the  spines  of  the  vertebral  column,  it 
will  often  be  found  impossible  to  provide  proper  drainage  for  the 
abscess  from  below,  and  treatment  must  consist  of  caustic  solutions 
carefull}^  injected  into  all  parts  of  the  suppurating  sinuses.  A  very 
effective  remedy  for  this  purpose  consists  of  1  ou.nce  of  chloride  of 
zinc  in  half  a  pint  of  water,  injected  three  times  during  a  week,  after 
which  a  weak  solution  of  the  same  may  be  occasionall3''  injected. 
Injections  of  Villate's  solution  or  alcoholic  solution  of  corrosive  subli- 
mate, strong  carbolic  acid,  or  possibly  oil  of  turpentine  will  also  prove 
beneficial.  Pressure  should  be  applied  from  below,  and  endeavors 
made  to  heal  the  various  pipes  from  the  bottom. 

Should  the  swelling  become  general,  without  forming  a  well-defined 
tumor,  the  placing  of  20  to  30  grains  of  arsenious  acid,  wrapped  in  a 
single  la^^er  of  tissue  paper,  in  a  shallow  incision  beneath  the  skin  will 
often  produce  a  sloughing  of  the  afl'ccted  parts  in  a  week  or  ten  days, 
after  which  the  formation  of  healthy  tissue  follows.  The  surrounding 
parts  of  the  skin  should  be  protected  from  any  damage  from  escaping 
caustics  by  the  application  of  lard  or  oil,  as  previously  suggested. 

Although  the  successful  treatment  of  fistulas  requires  time  and 
patience,  the  majority  of  cases  are  curable.  The  sinuses  must  be  opened 
at  their  lowest  extremitj^  and  kept  open.  Caustic  applications  must 
be  thoroughly  used  once  or  twice,  after  which  mild  astringent  antiseptic 
washes  should  be  persistently  used  until  a  cure  is  reached. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  the  erosions  have  burrowed  so  deei:)ly  or  in 
such  a  direction  that  the  opening  of  a  drainage  passage  becomes  imprac- 
ticable. In  other  cases  the  bones  may  become  attacked  in  some 
inaccessible  location,  or  the  joints  may  be  affected,  and  in  these  cases 
it  is  often  best  to  destroy  the  horse  at  once. 

The  reappearance  of  the  fistula  after  it  has  ayjparently  healed  is  not 
uncommon.  The  secoudar}^  attack  in  these  cases  is  seldom  serious. 
The  lesion  should  be  carefully  cleansed  and  afterwards  injected  with  a 
solution  of  zinc  sulphate,  20  grains  to  the  ounce  of  water,  everj^  second 
or  third  day  until  a  cure  is  effected. 

In  fistula  of  the  foot  we  see  the  same  tendenc}^  toward  the  burrow- 
ing of  pus  downward  to  lower  structures,  or  in  some  cases  upward 
toward  the  coronet.  Prior  to  the  development  of  a  quittor  there  is 
alwaj^s  swelling  at  the  coronet,  accompanied  by  heat  and  pain.  Every 
effort  should  now  be  made  to  prevent  the  formation  of  an  abscess  at 
the  point  of  injur3\  Wounds  caused  b}^  nails,  gravel,  or  any  other 
foreign  body  which  may  have  become  lodged  in  the  sole  of  the  foot 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  481 

should  be  opened  at  once  from  below  so  as  to  allow  free  exit  to  all 
purulent  discharges.  Should  the  injury  have  occurred  directly  to  the 
coronet  the  application  of  cold  fomentations  may  prove  efficient  in 
preventing  the  formation  of  an  abscess. 

When  a  quittor  becomes  fully  established  it  should  be  treated  pre- 
cisely as  a  fistula  situated  in  any  other  part  of  the  body;  that  is,  the 
sinuses  should  all  be  opened  from  their  lowest  extremities  so  as  to 
afford  constant  drainage.  All  fragments  of  diseased  tissue  should  be 
trimmed  away,  antiseptic  solutions  injected,  and,  after  covering  the 
wound  with  a  pad  of  oakum  saturated  with  some  good  antiseptic  wash, 
the  whole  foot  ma}"  be  carefully  covered  with  clean  bandages,  which 
will  afford  valuable  assistance  to  the  healing  process  by  excluding  all 
dirt  from  the  affected  part. 
11384—03 31 


GENERAL  DISEASES. 

By  Rush  Shippen  Huidekoper,  M.  D.,  Yet. 

[Re\'ised  in  li)03  by  Leonard  Pearson,  B.  S.,  V.  M.  D.] 

ANI.ALVL   TISSUES. 

The  nonprofessional  reader  may  regard  the  animal  tissues,  which  are 
suhjcct  to  inflammation,  as  excessively  simple  structures,  as  similar, 
simple,  and  fixed  in  their  org-anization  as  the  joists  and  boards  which 
frame  a  house,  the  bricks  and  iron  coils  of  pipe  which  build  a  furnace, 
or  the  stones  and  mortar  which  make  the  support  of  a  great  railroad 
bridge.  Yet  while  the  principles  of  structure  arc  thus  simple,  for  the 
general  understanding  In'  the  student  who  begins  their  study,  the  com- 
plete appreciation  of  the  shades  of  variation,  which  differentiate  one 
tissue  from  another,  which  define  a  sound  tendon  or  a  ligament  from  a 
fibrous  band — the  result  of  disease  filling  in  an  old  lesion  and  tying  one 
organ  with  another — is  as  complicated  as  the  nicest  jointing  of  Chinese 
woodwork,  the  building  of  a  furnace  for  the  most  difficult  chemical 
analysis,  or  the  construction  of  a  bridge  which  will  stand  for  ages  and 
resist  any  force  or  weight. 

All  tissues  are  composed  of  certain  fundamental  and  similar  elements 
which  are  governed  bj"  the  same  rules  of  life,  though  they  maj'  appear 
at  first  glance  to  be  widely  different.  These  are  {a)  amorphous  sub- 
stances, (b)  fibers,  and  (c)  cells. 

{a)  Amorphous  substances  ma}'  be  in  liquid  form,  as  in  the  iluid  of 
the  blood,  which  holds  a  vast  amount  of  salts  and  nutritive  matt<n'  in 
solution;  or  the}'  may  be  in  a  scmiliquid  condition,  as  the  plasma  which 
infiltrates  the  loose  meshes  of  connective  tissue  and  lubricates  the  sur- 
face of  some  membranes;  or  they  may  be  in  the  form  of  a  glue  or 
cement,  fastening  one  structure  to  another,  as  a  tendon  or  muscle  end 
to  a  bone;  or  again  they  hold  similar  elements  firmly  together  as  in 
bone,  where  they  form  a  stiff  matrix  which  becomes  impregnated  with 
lime  salts.  Amorphous  substances,  again,  form  the  protoplasm  or 
nutritive  element  of  cells  or  the  elements  of  life. 

(h)  Fibers  are  formed  of  elements  of  organic  matter  which  have  only 
a  passive  function.  They  can  be  assimilated  to  little  strings,  or  cords, 
tangled  one  with  another  like  a  mass  of  waste  yarn,  woven  regularly 
like  a  cloth  or  bound  together  like  a  rope.  They  are  of  two  kinds — 
white  connective  tissue  fibers,  only  slightly  extensible,  pliable,  and 
very  strong,  and  yellow  elastic  fibers,  elastic,  curly,  ramified,  and  very 
482 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOUSE.  483 

dense.  These  fibers  once  created  require  the  constant  presence  of 
ihiids  around  them  in  order  to  retain  their  functional  condition,  as  a 
piece  of  harness  leather  demands  continual  oiling  to  keep  its  strength, 
l)ut  they  undergo  no  change  or  alteration  in  their  form  until  destroyed 
])y  death. 

{(■)  Cells,  which  may  even  be  regarded  as  low  forms  of  life,  are 
masses  of  protoplasm  or  amorphous  living  matter,  with  a  nucleus  and 
frequently  a  nucleolus,  Avhich  are  capable  of  assimilating  nutriment  or 
food,  propagating  themselves  either  into  others  of  the  same  form  or 
into  lixed  cells  of  another  outward  appearance  and  different  fum^tion 
but  of  the  same  constitution.  It  is  simplj^  in  the  mode  of  grouping 
of  these  elements  that  we  have  the  variation  in  tissues,  as  (1)  loose 
connective  tissue,  (2)  aponeurosis  and  tendons,  (3)  muscles,  (4)  carti- 
lage, (5)  bones,  (6)  epithelia  and  endothelia,  (7)  nerves. 

(1)  Loose  connective  tissue  forms  the  great  framework,  or  scaffolding, 
of  the  body,  and  is  found  under  the  skin,  between  the  muscles  sur- 
rounding the  bones  and  blood  vessels,  and  entering  into  the  structures 
of  almost  all  of  the  organs.  In  this  the  fibers  are  loosely  meshed 
together  like  a  sponge,  leaving  spaces  in  which  the  nutrient  fluid  and 
cells  are  irregularly  distributed.  This  tissue  we  find  in  the  skin,  in 
the  spaces  between  the  organs  of  the  body  where  fat  accumulates,  and 
as  the  framework  of  all  glands. 

(2)  Aponeurosis  and  tendons  are  structures  which  serve  for  the  ter- 
mination of  muscles  and  for  their  contention,  and  for  the  attachment 
of  bones  together.  In  these  the  fibers  are  more  frequent  and  dense, 
and  are  arranged  with  regularit}',  cither  crossing  each  other  or  hnng 
parallel,  and  here  the  cells  are  found  in  minimum  quantity. 

(3)  Muscles. — In  these  the  cells  lie  end  to  end,  forming  long  fibers 
which  have  the  power  of  contraction,  and  the  connective  tissue  is  in 
small  quantity,  serving  the  passive  purpose  of  a  band  around  the  con- 
tractile elements. 

(4)  In  cartilage  a  mass  of  firm  amorphous  substance,  with  no  vas- 
cularity and  little  vitality,  forms  the  bed  for  the  chondroplasts,  or 
cells  of  this  tissue. 

(."))  Bone  differs  from  the  above  in  having  the  amorphous  matter 
impregnated  with  lime  salts,  which  gives  it  its  rigidity  and  firnmcss. 

(6)  Epithelia  and  endothelia,  or  the  membranes  which  cover  the 
body  and  line  all  of  its  cavities  and  glands,  are  made  up  of  single  or 
stratified  and  multiple  layers  of  cells  bound  together  by  a  glue  of 
amorphous  substance  and  resting  on  a  \a,jer  composed  of  fibers. 
When  the  membrane  serves  for  secreting  or  excreting  purposes,  as 
in  the  salivar}^  glands  or  the  kidneys,  it  is  usually  simple;  when  it 
serves  the  mechanical  purpose  of  protecting  a  part,  as  over  the 
tongue  or  skin,  it  is  invariably  multiple  and  stratified,  the  surface 
wearing  away  while  new  cells  replace  it  from  beneath. 


484  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

(7)  In  nerves,  stellate  cells  are  connected  by  their  ra3's  to  each  other, 
or  to  fibers  which  conduct  the  nerve  impressions,  or  they  act  as  recep- 
tacles, storehouses,  and  transmitters  for  them,  as  the  switchboard  of 
a  telephone  system  serves  to  connect  the  various  wires. 

All  of  these  tissues  are  supplied  with  blood  in  greater  or  less  quan- 
tity. The  vascularity  depends  upon  the  function  which  the  tissue  is 
called  upon  to  perform.  If  this  is  great,  as  in  the  tongue,  the  lungs, 
or  the  sensitive  part  of  the  hoof,  a  large  amount  of  blood  is  required; 
if  the  labor  is  a  passive  one,  as  in  cartilage,  the  membrane  over  the 
withers,  or  the  tendons  of  the  legs,  the  vessels  only  reach  the  periph- 
ery^, and  nutrition  is  furnished  by  imbibition  of  the  fluids  brought  to 
their  surface  by  the  blood  vessels. 

Blood  is  brought  to  the  tissues  by  arterioles,  or  the  small  termina- 
tions of  the  arteries,  and  is  carried  off  from  them  by  the  veinlets,  or 
the  commencement  of  the  veins.  Between  these  two  systems  are  small 
delicate  networks  of  vessels  called  capillaries,  which  subdivide  into  a 
veritable  lacework  so  as  to  reach  the  neighborhood  of  ever}-  element. 

In  health  the  blood  passes  through  these  capillaries  with  a  regular 
current,  the  red  cells  or  corpuscles  floating  rapidly  in  the  fluid  in  the 
center  of  the  channel,  while  the  white  or  ameboid  cells  are  attracted  to 
the  walls  of  the  vessels  and  move  very  slowly.  The  supply  of  blood 
is  regulated  by  the  condition  of  repose  or  activity  of  the  tissue,  and 
under  normal  conditions  the  outflow  compensates  exactly  the  supply. 
The  caliber  of  the  blood  vessels,  and  consequently  the  amount  of  blood 
which  they  carry,  is  governed  b}^  nerves  of  the  sympathetic  system  in 
a  health}^  body  with  unerring  regularity,  but  in  a  diseased  organ  the 
flow  may  cease  or  be  greatly  augmented.  In  health  a  tissue  or  organ 
receives  its  proper  quantity  of  blood;  the  nutritive  elements  are 
extracted  for  the  support  of  the  tissue  and  for  the  product,  which 
the  function  of  the  organ  forms.  The  force  required  in  the  achieve- 
ment of  this  is  furnished  hj  combustion  of  the  hydrocarbons  and  oxy- 
gen brought  by  the  arterial  blood,  then  by  the  veins  this  same  fluid 
passes  off,  less  its  oxygen,  loaded  with  the  waste  products,  which  are 
the  result  of  the  worn-out  and  disintegrated  tissues,  and  of  those  which 
have  undergone  combustion.  The  above  brief  outline  indicates  the 
process  of  nutrition  of  the  tissues. 

H3^pernutrition,  or  excessive  nutrition  of  a  tissue,  ma}'  be  normal  or 
morbid.     If  the  latter,  the  tissue  becomes  congested  or  inflamed. 

CONGESTION. 

Congestion  is  an  unnatural  accumulation  of  blood  in  a  part.  Exces- 
sive accumulation  of  blood  may  be  normal,  as  in  blushing  or  in  the  red 
face  which  temporarily  follows  a  violent  muscular  effort,  or,  as  in  the 
stomach  or  Wxcv  dui'ing  digestion,  or  in  the  lungs  after  severe  work, 
from  which,  in  the  latter  case,  it  is  shortly  relieved  by  a  little  rapid 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  485 

breathing-.  The  term  congestion,  however,  usuallj^  indicates  a  morbid 
condition,  with  more  or  less  lasting  effects.  Congestion  is  active  or  pas- 
sive. The  former  is  produced  by  an  increased  siippl}^  of  blood  to  the 
part,  the  latter  by  an  obstacle  preventing  the  escape  of  blood  from  the 
tissue.  In  either  case  there  is  an  increased  supply  of  blood,  and  as 
a  result  increased  combustion  and  augmented  nutrition. 

ACTIVE   CONGESTION. 

Active  congestion  is  caused  by — 

(1)  Functional  activity. — Any  organ  which  is  constantly  or  exces- 
sivel}^  used  is  habituated  to  hold  an  unusual  quantity  of  blood;  the 
vessels  become  dilated;  if  overstrained  the  walls  become  weakened, 
lose  their  elasticity,  and  any  sudden  additional  amount  of  blood  en- 
gorges the  tissues  so  that  the}^  can  not  contract,  and  congestion  results. 
Example:  The  lungs  of  a  race  horse,  after  an  unusual  burst  of  speed 
or  severe  work,  in  damp  weather. 

(2)  Irritants. — Heat  and  cold,  chemical  or  mechanical.  Any  of 
these,  by  threatening  the  vitality  of  a  tissue,  induce  immediately  an 
augmented  flow  of  blood  to  the  part  to  furnish  the  means  of  repair— a 
hot  iron,  frostbites,  acids,  or  a  blow. 

(3)  Nerve  influence. — This  ma}-^  produce  congestion  either  by  acting 
on  the  part  reflexly  or  as  the  result  of  some  central  nerve  disturbance 
affecting  the  branch  which  supplies  a  given  organ. 

(4)  Plethora  and  sanguinary  temperament. — Full-blooded  animals  are 
much  more  predisposed  to  congestive  diseases  than  those  of  a  lymphatic 
character  or  those  in  an  anemic  condition.  The  circulation  in  them  is 
forced  to  all  parts  with  much  greater  force  and  in  larger  quantities, 
A  well-bred  full-blooded  horse  is  much  more  subject  to  congestive  dis- 
eases than  a  common,  coarse,  or  old  worn-out  animal. 

(5)  Fevers.- — In  fever  the  heart  works  more  actively  and  forces  the 
current  of  blood  more  rapidl}^;  the  tissues  are  weakened,  and  it  requires 
but  a  slight  local  cause  at  any  part  to  congest  the  structures  already 
overloaded  with  blood.  Again,  in  certain  fevers,  we  tind  alteration  of 
the  blood  itself,  rendering  it  less  or  more  fluid,  which  interferes  with 
its  free  passage  through  the  vessels  and  induces  a  local  predisposition 
to  congestion. 

(0)  War7n  climate  and  summer  heat. — Warmth  of  the  atmosphere 
relaxes  the  tissues;  it  demands  of  the  animals  less  blood  to  keep  up 
their  own  body  temperature,  and  the  extra  quantity  accumulates  in 
the  blood-vessel  system.  It  .causes  sluggishness  in  the  performance 
of  the  organic  functions,  and  in  this  wa}^  it  induces  congestion,  espe- 
cially of  the  internal  organs.  So  we  find  founders,  congestive  colics 
and  staggers  more  frequent  in  summer  than  in  winter. 

(7)  Previous  congestion. — Whether  the  previous  congestion  of  any 
organ  has  been  a  continuous  normal  one— that  is,  a  repeated  func- 


480  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

tional  activity — or  has  been  a  morbid  temporary  overloading,  it  always 
leaves  the  walls  of  the  vessels  weakened  and  more  predisposed  to 
recurrent  attacks  from  accidental  causes  than  perfeotl34iealthy  tissues 
are.  Thus  a  horse  which  has  had  a  congestion  of  the  lungs  from  a 
severe  drive  is  apt  to  have  another  attack  from  even  a  lesser  cause. 

The  alterations  of  congestion  are  distention  of  the  blood  vessels, 
accumulation  of  the  cellular  elements  of  the  blood  in  them,  and  effu- 
sion of  a  portion  of  the  liquid  of  the  blood  into  the  librous  tissues 
which  surround  the  vessels.  Where  the  changes  produced  bj^  conges- 
tion are  visible,  as  in  the  eye,  the  nostril,  the  mouth,  the  genital 
organs,  and  on  the  surface  of  the  body  in  white  or  unpigmented  ani- 
mals, the  part  appears  red  from  the  increase  of  blood;  it  becomes 
swollen  from  the  effusion  of  liquid  into  the  sponge-like  connective 
tissues;  it  is  at  times  more  or  less  hot  from  the  increased  combustion; 
the  part  is  frequently  painful  to  the  animal  from  pressure  of  the  eltu- 
sion  on  the  nerves,  and  the  function  of  the  tissue  is  interfered  with. 
The  secretion  or  excretion  of  glands  maybe  augmented  or  dhninished. 
Muscles  may  be  affected  with  spasms  or  may  be  unable  to  contract. 
The  eyes  and  ears  may  be  affected  with  imaginary  sights  and  sounds. 

PASSIVE    CONGESTION. 

Passive  congestion  is  caused  by  interference  with  the  return  of  the 
current  of  blood  from  a  part. 

Old  age  and  debility  weaken  the  tissues  and  the  force  of  the  circu- 
lation, especially  in  the  veins,  and  retard  the  movement  of  the  blood. 
We  then  see  horses  of  this  class  with  stocked  legs,  swelling  of  the 
sheath  of  the  penis  or  of  the  milk  glands,  and  of  the  under  surface  of 
the  belly.  We  find  them  also  with  effusions  of  the  liquid  parts  of  the 
blood  into  the  lymph  spaces  of  the  posterior  extremities  imd  organs 
of  the  pelvic  cavity. 

Tumors  or  other  mechanical  obstructions,  b}^  pressing  on  the  Acins, 
retard  the  flow  of  blood  and  cause  it  to  back  up  in  distal  parts  of  the 
body,  causing  passive  congestion. 

The  alterations  of  passive  congestion,  as  in  active  congestion,  consist 
of  an  increased  quantity  of  blood  in  the  vessels  and  an  exudation  of  its 
fluid  into  the  tissues  surrounding  them,  but  in  passive  congestion  we 
have  a  dark  thick  l)lood  which  has  lost  its  oxygen,  instead  of  the  rich 
combustible  blood  rich  in  oxygen  which  is  found  in  active  congestion. 

The  ternaination  of  congestion  is  b}'  resolution  or  inflammation.  In 
the  first  case,  the  choked-up  blood  vessels  find  an  outlet  for  the  exces- 
sive amount  of  blood  and  are  relieved;  the  transuded  serum  or  fluid  of 
the  blood  is  reabsorbed,  and  the  part  returns  almost  to  its  normal  con- 
dition, with,  however,  a  tendency  to  weakness  predisposing  to  future 
trouble  of  the  same  kind.  In  the  other  case  further  alterations  take 
place,  and  we  have  inflammation. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  487 

INFLAMIVIATION. 

[Synonyms:  Inflammatio,  Latin,  from  inflavimare,  to  flame,  to  burn;  phlegmasia 
(pXsyuadia,  Greek;  inflammation,  French;  inflammazione,  Italian;  Inflamacion,  Span- 
ish; Eidzilndung,  German.] 

Inflammation  is  a  hypernutrition  of  a  tissue.  It  is  described  by  Dr. 
Agnew,  the  surgeon,  as  "a  double-edged  sword,  cutting  either  way  for 
good  or  for  evil. "  The  increased  nutrition  may  be  moderate  and  cause 
a  growth  of  new  tissue,  a  simple  increase  of  quantity  at  first;  or  it  may 
produce  a  new  growth  difl:ering  in  qualit}';  or  it  may  be  so  great  tha.t, 
like  luxuriant,  overgrown  weeds,  the  elements  die  from  their  very 
haste  of  growth,  and  we  have  immediate  destruction  of  the  part. 
According  to  the  rapidity  and  intensity  of  the  process  of  structural 
changes  which  takes  place  in  an  inflamed  tissue,  inflammation  is  de- 
scribed as  acute  or  chronic^  with  a  vast  numl^er  of  intermediate  forms. 
When  the  phenomena  are  marked  it  is  termed  stltcnic;  when  less  dis- 
tinct, as  the  result  of  a  broken-down  and  feeble  constitution  in  the  ani- 
mal, it  is  called  asthenic.  Certain  inflammations  are  specific,  as  in 
strangles,  the  horsepox,  glanders,  etc.,  where  a  characteristic  or  spe- 
cific cause  or  condition  is  added  to  the  origin,  character  of  phenomena, 
or  alterations  which  residt  from  an  ordinary  inflammation.  An  inflam- 
mation may  be  circumscribed  or  limited,  as  in  the  abscess  on  the  neck 
caused  by  the  pressure  of  a  collar,  in  pneumonia,  in  glanders,  in  the 
small  tumors  of  a  splint  or  a  jack;  or  it  may  be  diffuse,  as  in  severe 
fistulas  of  the  withers,  in  an  extensive  lung  fever,  in  the  legs  in  a  case 
of  grease,  or  in  the  spavins  which  affect  horses  with  poorly  nourished 
bones.  The  causes  of  inflammation  are  practically  the  same  as  those 
of  congestion,  which  is  the  initial  step  of  all  inflammation. 

The  temperament  of  a  horse  predisposes  the  animal  to  inflammation 
of  certain  organs.  A  full-blooded  animal,  whose  veins  show  on  the 
surface  of  the  body,  and  which  has  a  strong,  bounding  heart  pumping 
large  quantities  of  blood  into  the  vascular  organs  like  the  lungs,  the 
intestines,  and  the  lamina3  of  the  feet,  is  more  apt  to  have  pneumonia, 
congestive  colics,  and  founder,  than  lymphatic,  cold-blooded  animals 
which  have  pleurisies,  inflammation  of  the  bones,  spavins,  ringbones, 
inflammation  of  the  glands  of  the  less  vascular  skin  of  the  extremities, 
greasy  heels,  thrush,  etc. 

Young  horses  have  inflammation  of  the  membranes  lining  the  air 
passages  and  digestive  tract,  while  older  animals  are  more  subject  to 
troubles  in  the  closed  serous  sacs  and  in  the  bones. 

The  work  to  which  a  horse  is  put  (saddle  or  harness,  spee.d  or  draft) 
will  influence  the  predisposition  of  an  animal  to  inflammatory  diseases. 
As  in  congestion,  the  functional  activity  of  a  part  is  an  important 
factor  in  localizing  this  form  of  disease.  Given  a  group  of  horses 
exposed  to  the  same  draft  of  cold  air  or  other  exciting  cause  of  inflam- 
mation, the  one  which  has  just  been  eating  will  be  attacked  with  an 


488  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

inflammation  of  the  bowels;  the  one  that  has  just  been  working*  so  as 
to  increase  its  respiration  will  have  an  inflammation  of  the  throat, 
bronchi,  or  lungs;  the  one  that  has  just  been  using  its  feet  excessively 
will  have  a  founder  or  inflammation  of  the  lamina;  of  the  feet. 

The  direct  cause  of  inflammation  is  usually  an  irritant  of  some  form. 
This  may  be  a  pathogenic  organism — a  disease  germ — or  it  maj^  be 
mechanical  or  chemical,  external  or  internal.  Cuts,  bruises,  injuries 
of  any  kind,  parasites,  acids,  blisters,  heat,  cold,  secretions,  such  as  an 
excess  of  tears  over  the  cheek  or  urine  on  the  legs,  all  cause  inflam- 
mation by  direct  injury  to  the  part.  Strains  or  wrenches  of  joints, 
ligaments,  and  tendons  cause  trouble  by  laceration  of  the  tissue. 

Inflammations  of  the  internal  organs  are  caused  b}^  irritants  as  al)ove, 
and  by  sudden  cooling  of  the  surface  of  the  animal,  which  drives  the 
blood  to  that  organ  which  at  the  moment  is  most  activel}'^  supplied  with 
blood.  This  is  called  repercussion.  A  horse  which  has  been  worked 
at  speed  and  is  breathing  rapidl}'  is  liable  to  have  pneumonia  if  sud- 
denly chilled,  while  an  animal  which  has  just  been  fed  is  more  apt  to 
have  a  congestive  colic  if  exposed  to  the  same  influence,  the  blood  in 
this  case  being  driven  from  the  exterior  to  the  intestines,  while  in  the 
former  it  was  driven  to  the  lungs. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  of  inflammation  are,  as  in  congestion, 
change  of  color,  due  to  an  increased  supply  of  blood;  swelling,  from  the 
same  cause,  with  the  addition  of  an  effusion  into  the  surrounding  tis- 
sues; heat,  owing  to  the  increased  combustion  in  the  part;  pain,  due  to 
pressure  on  the  nerves;  and  altered  function.  This  latter  ma}^  be  aug- 
mented or  diminished,  or  first  one  and  then  the  other.  In  addition  to 
the  local  symptoms,  inflammation  always  produces  more  or  less  con- 
stitutional disturbance  or  fever.  A  splint  or  small  spavin  will  cause  so 
little  fever  that  it  is  not  appreciable,  while  a  severe  spavin,  an  inflamed 
joint,  or  a  pneumonia  may  give  rise  to  a  marked  fever. 

The  alterations  in  an  inflamed  tissue  are  first  those  of  congestion, 
distention  of  the  blood  vessels,  and  exudation  of  the  fluid  of  the  blood 
into  the  surroiuiding  fibers,  with,  however,  a  more  complete  stagnation 
of  the  blood;  fibrin,  or  lymph,  a  plastic  substance,  is  thrown  out  as  well, 
and  the  cells,  which  we  have  seen  to  be  living  organisms  in  themselves,  no 
longer  carried  in  the  current  of  the  blood,  migrate  from  the  vessels 
and,  finding  proper  nutriment,  proliferate  or  multiply  with  greater  or 
lesser  rapidity.  The  cells  which  lie  dormant  in  the  meshes  of  the  sur- 
rounding fibers  are  awakened  into  activity  by  the  nutritious  lymph 
which  surrounds  them  and  they  also  multipl3^ 

Whether  the  cell  in  an  inflamed  part  be  the  white  ameboid  cell  of  the 
blood  or  the  fixed  connective  tissue  cell  embedded  in  the  fi])ers,  it  nnilti- 
plies  in  the  same  way.  The  nucleus  in  the  center  is  divided  into  two, 
and  then  each  again  into  two,  ad  infinitum.  If  the  process  is  slow, 
each  new  cell  may  assimilate  nourishment  and  become,  like  its  ancestor, 


'I,  AT  F-:   XXXVII 


1  Urunnnnied  uirii/oftfic  hai . 


2  In/'liuneU  -ivific/  of  tfw  ha/ . 


Haines,  after  A^np 


INFLAMMATIO^J. 


Pl.^VTK   xxxvni 


1- Non^in/lnmed  mesenteiv  of  the  /'roj/,400  J/amefers,  reduced    ''i:a,a,  lenu/<.' 
with  red  a/iM.  white,  corpuscles,-  b,b,  GelcUi/ujiLS  nerve  ru?re.,.  cCapUlary,-  d,d, 
Darlt-bordered  ner~\-e  fibre,-  e,e.  Connective  tissue  with,   connective  tissue 
cxjrpuscLes  arid  teitcocvtes  scattered  sparsely  throufffL   it. 


-In/lcunxed  nvesentej-y  or  the  true/,  JOG  diameters,  reduced  ^.  a,b,l'enu7e. 
billed  with  7-ed  anil  white  corpiiscleSf  t/te  r-ed  in  the  centre  and  the.  white 
crowding/  alon-g  the  walls  c,  c.  Ca^piuAry  dist^nxted  with,  red  arid  white  cor- 
puscles,7ttunber  of'the  white  much  decreased/  d,d.  Connective  tissue  hetwe^n. 
vaixile  an/t  capillary  t\U.ed  withmiffrated  leucocytes^  e ,  e.  Connective  tissue 
wiih  less  infiltraiion.,  f^  Dark -bordered  n^rve  fihT'e;_g,XujnherofrvUyCleJ. 
in,  sheaths  i/irreasexi. 


Hainea.  del  after  A^iiew 


IN  FLAM M ATI  O X 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  489 

an  aid  in  the  formation  of  new  tissues;  if,  however,  the  changing  talies 
place  rapidly,  the  brood  of  young  cells  have  not  time  to  grow  or  use  up 
the  surrounding  nourishment,  and,  but  half-developed,  they  die,  and  we 
then  have  destruction  of  tissue,  and  pus  or  matter  is  formed,  a  material 
made  up  of  the  imperfect  dead  elements  and  the  broken-down  tissue. 
Between  the  two  there  is  an  intermediate  form,  where  we  have  imper- 
fectlj"  formed  tissues,  as  in  "proud  flesh,"  large,  soft  splints;  fungous 
growths,  greasy  heels,  and  thrush.    • 

"Whether  the  inflamed  tissue  is  one  like  the  skin,  lungs,  or  intes- 
tines, ver}^  loose  in  their  texture,  or  a  tendon  or  bone,  dense  in  struc- 
ture, and  comparatively  poor  in  blood  vessels,  the  principle  of  the 
process  is  the  same.  The  effects,  however,  and  the  appearance  may 
be  widely  different.  After  a  cut  on  the  face  or  an  exudation  into  the 
lungs,  the  loose  tissues  and  multiple  vessels  allow  the  proliferating 
cells  to  obtain  rich  nourishment;  absorption  can  take  place  readil}^, 
and  the  part  regains  its  normal  condition  entirely,  while  a  bruise  at 
the  heel  or  at  the  withers  finds  a  dense,  inextensible  tissue  where  the 
multiplying  elements  and  exuded  fluids  choke  up  all  communication, 
and  the  parts  die  (necrose)  from  w^ant  of  blood  and  cause  a  serious 
quittor,  or  fistula. 

This  effect  of  structure  of  a  part  on  the  same  process  shows  the 
importance  of  a  perfect  knowledge  in  the  study  of  a  local  trouble,  and 
the  indispensable  part  which  such  knowledge  plays  in  judging  of  the 
gravity  of  an  inflammatory  disease,  and  in  formulating  a  prognosis  or 
opinion  of  the  final  termination  of  it.  It  is  this  which  allows  the  vet- 
erinarian, through  his  knowledge  of  the  intimate  structure  of  a  part 
and  the  relations  of  its  elements,  to  judge  of  the  severity  of  a  disease, 
and  to  prescribe  different  modes  of  treatment  in  two  animals  for  trou- 
bles which  appear  to  the  less  experienced  observer  to  be  absolutely 
identical. 

Terininatioii  of  injlaiynnatton. — Like  congestion,  inflammation  may 
terminate  by  resolution.  In  this  case  the  exuded  lymph  undergoes 
chemical  change,  and  the  products  are  absorbed  and  carried  off  by  the 
blood  vessels  and  lymphatics,  to  be  thrown  out  of  the  body  by  the 
kidnej'S,  liver,  the  glands  of  the  skin,  and  the  other  oxcretor}^  organs. 
The  cells,  which  have  Meandered  into  the  neighboring  tissues  from  the 
blood  vessels,  gradualh^  disapj)ear  or  become  transformed  into  fixed 
cells.  Those  which  are  the  result  of  the  tissue  cells,  wakened  into 
active  life,  follow  the  same  course.  The  vessels  themselves  contract, 
and,  having  resumed  their  normal  caliber,  the  part  apparently  reas- 
sumes  its  normal  condition;  but  it  is  always  weakened,  and  a  new 
inflammation  is  more  liable  to  reappear  in  a  previously  inflamed  part 
than  in  a  sound  one.  The  alternate  termination  is  necrosis,  or  morti- 
fication. If  the  necrosis,  or  death  of  a  part,  is  gradual,  by  small 
stages,  each  cell  losing  its  vitality  after  the  other  in  more  or  less 


4^0  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

rapid  succession,  it  takes  flie  name  of  ulceration.  If  it' occurs  in  a 
considerable  part  at  once,  it  is  called  gangrene.  If  this  death  of  the 
tissues  occurs  deep  in  the  organism,  and  the  destro3'ed  elements  and 
proliferated  and  dead  cells  are  inclosed  in  a  cavity,  the  result  of  the 
process  is  called  an  abscess.  When  'it  occurs  on  a  surface,  it  is  an 
ulcer,  and  an  abscess  b}^  breaking  on  the  exterior  becomes  then  also 
an  ulcer.  Proliferating  and  dying  cells,  and  the  fluid  which  exudes 
from  an  ulcerating  surface  and, the  debris  of  broken-down  tissue  is 
known  as  pus,  and  the  process  b}^  which  this  is  formed  is  known  as 
suppuration.  A  mass  of  dead  tissue  in  a  soft  part  is  termed  u  slough, 
while  the  same  in  bone  is  called  a  sequestrum.  Such  changes  are 
especially  likely  to  occur  when  the  part  becomes  infected  with  micro- 
organisms that  have  the  property  of  destroying  tissue  and  thus  causing 
the  production  of  pus.  These  arc  known  as  pyogenic  microoi-ganisms. 
There  are  also  bacilli  that  are  capable  of  multiplying  in  tissiies  and  so 
irritating  them  as  to  cause  them  to  die  (necrose)  without  forming  pus. 

TREATMENT    OF    INFLAMMATION". 

The  study  of  the  causes  and  pathological  alterations  of  inflammation 
has  shown  the  process  to  be  one  of  hypernutrition,  attended  by  exces- 
sive blood  supply,  so  this  studj''  will  indicate  the  primary  factor  to  be 
emplo3^ed  in  the  treatment  of  it.  Any  agent  which  will  reduce  the 
blood  suppl}^  and  prevent  the  excessive  nutrition  of  the  elements  of 
the  part  will  serve  as  a  remedy.  The  means  emploj'ed  ma}-  be  used 
locally  to  the  part,  or  they  may  be  constitutional  remedies,  which  act 
indirecth\ 

Local  treatment  consists  of — 

Removal  of  the  coMse,  as  a  stone  in  the  frog,  causing  a  traumatic 
thrush;  a  badly  fitting  harness  or  saddle,  causing  ulcers  of  the  skin; 
decomposing  manure  and  urine  in  a  stable,  which,  by  their  vapors, 
irritate  the  air  tubes  and  lungs  and  cause  a  cough.  These  causes,  if 
removed,  will  frequentl}'^  allow  the  part  to  heal  at  once. 

Best. — Motion  stimulates  the  action  of  the  blood,  and  thus  feeds 
an  inflamed  tissue.  This  is  alike  applicable  to  a  diseased  point  irritated 
by  movement,  to  an  inflamed  pair  of  lungs  surcharged  with  blood  by 
the  use  demanded  of  them  in  a  working  animal,  or  to  an  inflamed  eye 
exposed  to  light,  or  an  inflamed  stomach  and  inteslines  still  further 
fatigued  by  food.  Absolute  quiet,  a  dark  stable,  and  small  quantities 
of  easily  digested  food  will  often  cure  serious  inflammatory  troubles 
without  further  treatment. 

Cold. — The  application  of  ice  bags  or  cold  water  by  bandages, 
douching  with  a  hose,  or  irrigation  with  dripping  water,  contracts  the 
blood  vessels,  acts  as  a  sedative  to  the  nerves,  and  lessens  the  vitality 
of  a  part;  it  consequently  prevents  the  tissue  change  which  inflamma- 
tion produces. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  491 

Heat. — Either  diy  or  moist  beat  acts  as  a  derivative.  It  quickens 
the  circulation  and  renders  the  chemical  changes  more  active  in  the 
surrounding  parts;  it  softens  the  tissues  and  attracts  the  current  of 
blood  from  the  inflamed  organ;  it  also  promotes  the  absorption  of  the 
effusion  and  hastens  the  elimination  of  the  waste  products  in  the  part. 
Heat  ma,y  be  applied  \>\  hand  rubbing  or  active  friction  and  the  appli- 
cation of  warm  coverings  (bandages)  or  by  cloths  wrung  out  of  warm 
water,  or  steaming  with  warm  moist  vapor,  medicated  or  not,  will 
answer  the  same  purpose.  The  latter  is  especially  applicable  to 
inflammatory  troubles  in  the  air  passages. 

Local  hleeding. — This  treatment  frequently  affords  immediate  relief 
by  carrying  off  the  excessive  blood  and  draining  the  effusion  which 
has  already  occurred.  It  affords  direct  mechanical  relief,  and,  by  a 
stimulation  of  the  part,  promotes  the  chemical  changes  necessary 
for  bringing  the  diseased  tissues  to  a  healthy  condition.  Local  blood- 
letting can  be  done  by  scarifying,  or  making  small  punctures  into  the 
inflamed  part,  as  in  the  eyelid  of  an  inflamed  eye,  or  into  the  sheath 
of  the  penis,  or  into  the  skin  of  the  latter  organ  when  congested,  or 
the  leg  when  acutely  swelled. 

Counter ipvitants  are  used  for  deep  inflammations.  They  act  by 
bringing  the  blood  to  the  surface  and  consequenth"  lessening  the 
blood  pressure  within.  The  derivation  of  the  blood  to  the  exterior 
diminishes  the  amount  in  the  internal  organs  and  is  often  very  rapid 
in  its  action  in  reliexing  a  congested  lung  or  liver.  The  most  com- 
mon counterirritant  is  mustard  flour.  It  is  applied  as  a  soft  paste 
mixed  with  warm  water  to  the  under  surface  of  the  belly  and  to  the 
sides  where  the  skin  is  comparativelj'  soft  and  vascular.  Colds  in  the 
throat  or  inflanmiations  at  an}"  point  demand  the  treatment  applied  in 
the  same  manner  to  the  belly  and  sides  and  not  to  the  throat  or  on  the 
legs,  as  so  often  used.  Blisters,  iodine,  and  many  other  irritants  are 
used  in  a  similar  wa\\ 

Constitutional  treatment  in  inflammation  is  designed  to  reduce  the 
current  of  blood,  which  is  the  fuel  for  the  inflammation  in  the  dis- 
eased part,  to  quiet  the  patient,  and  to  combat  the  fever  or  general 
effects  of  the  trouble  in  the  S3^stem,  and  to  favor  the  neutralization  or 
elimination  of  the  products  of  the  inflammation.     It  consists  of — 

Bed  action  of  Wood. — This  is  obtained  in  various  ways.  The  diminu- 
tion of  the  quantit}^  of  blood  lessens  the  amount  of  pressure  on  the 
vessels,  and,  as  a  sequel,  the  volume  of  it  which  is  carried  to  the  point 
of  inflammation;  it  diminishes  the  bodj^  temperature  or  fever;  it  numbs 
the  nervous  system,  which  plays  an  important  part  as  a  conductor  of 
irritation  in  diseases. 

BJood-lettmg  is  the  most  rapid  means,  and  frequently  acts  like  a 
charm  in  relieving  a  commencing  inflammatorj^  trouble.  One  must 
remember^  however,  that  the  strength  of  the  body  and  repair  depend 


492  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

on  the  blood.  Hence  blood-letting  should  be  practiced  only  in  full- 
blooded,  well-nourished  animals  and  in  the  earh'  stages  of  the  disease. 
Cathartics  act  by  drawing  off  a  large  quantitN'  of  fluid  from  the 
blood  through  the  intestines,  and  have  the  advantage  over  the  last 
remed}"  of  removing  only  the  watery  and  not  the  formed  elements 
from  the  circulation.  The  blood  cells  remain,  leaving  the  blood  as 
rich  as  it  was  before.  Again,  the  glands  of  the  intestines  are  stimu- 
lated to  excrete  much  waste  matter  and  other  deleterious  material 
which  may  be  acting  as  a  poison  in  the  blood. 

Diuretics  operate  through  the  kidne3\s  in  the  same  way. 

DiajyTioretics  aid  depletion  of  the  blood  by  pouring  water  in  the  form 
of  sweat  from  the  surface  of  the  skin  and  stimulating  the  discharge  of 
waste  material  out  of  its  glands,  which  has  the  same  effect  on  the  blood 
pressure. 

Antipyretics  are  remedies  to  reduce  the  temperature.  This  may  be 
accomplished  b}^  depressing  the  center  in  the  brain  that  controls  heat 
production.  Some  coal-tar  products  are  ver}^  effective  in  this  way 
but  they  have  the  disadvantage  of  depressing  the  heart,  which  should 
always  be  kept  as  strong  as  possible.  If  they  are  used  it  must  be  with 
knowledge  of  this  fact  and  it  is  well  to  give  heart  tonics  or  stimulants 
with  them.  The  temperature  of  the  body  may  be  lowered  by  cold 
packs  or  by  showering  with  cold  water.  This  is  a  most  usefid  pro- 
cedure in  many  diseases. 

Depressants  are  drugs  which  act  on  the  heart.  The}'  slow  or  weaken 
the  action  of  this  organ  and  reduce  the  quantity  and  force  of  the  cur- 
rent of  the  blood  which  is  carried  to  the  point  of  local  disease;  they 
lessen  the  vitality  of  the  animal,  and  for  this  reason  are  now  used  much 
less  than  formerly. 

Anodynes  quiet  the  nervous  system.  Pain  in  the  horse,  as  in  the 
man,  is  one  of  the  important  factors  in  the  production  of  fever,  and 
the  dulling  of  the  former  often  prevents,  or  at  least  reduces,  the  latter. 
Anodynes  produce  sleep,  so  as  to  rest  the  patient  and  allow  recupera- 
tion for  the  succeeding  struggle  of  the  vitality  of  the  animal  against 
the  exhausting  drain  of  the  disease. 

The  diet  of  an  animal  suffering  from  acute  iuitlannnation  is  a  factor 
of  the  greatest  importance.  An  overloaded  circulation  can  be  starved 
to  a  reduced  quantity  and  to  a  les^  rich  quality  of  blood  by  reducing 
the  quantity  of  food  given  to  the  patient.  Foods  of  easj^  digestion  do 
not  tire  the  alread}-  fatigued  organs  of  an  animal  with  a  torpid  diges- 
tive  system.  Nourishment  will  be  taken  by  a  suffering  brute  in  the 
form  of  slops  and  cooling  drinks  where  it  would  be  totallj^  refused  if 
offered  in  its  ordinary  form,  as  hard  oats  or  dry  hay,  requiring  the 
labor  of  grinding  between  the  teeth  and  swallowing  b}"  the  weakened 
muscles  of  the  jaws  and  throat. 

Tonics  and  stiimdants  are  remedies  which  are  used  to  meet  special 
indications,  as  in  the  case  of  a  feeble  heart,  and  which  enter  into  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  493 

after  treatment  of  inflammator}"  troubles  as  well  as  into  the  acute 
stages  of  them.  They  brace  up  weakened  and  torpid  glands;  the}'" 
stimulate  the  secretion  of  the  necessary  fluids  of  the  body,  and  hasten 
the  excretion  of  the  waste  material  produced  by  the  inflammatory 
process;  they  regulate  the  action  of  a  weakened  heart;  they  promote 
healthy  vitality  of  diseased  parts,  and  aid  the  chemical  changes  needed 
for  returning  the  altered  tissues  to  their  normal  condition. 


[Synonyms:  Fehrls,  Latin;  pyrexia,  Greek;  fievrc,  French;  ficher,  German;  fehhre, 
Italian;  calcntura,  Spanish.] 

The  etymolog}^  of  the  word  "fever,"  from  the  Ijntin  fevere,  to  boil 
or  to  burn,  and  of  injrexla^  from  the  Greek  word  nvp^  fire,  defines  in  a 
general  way  the  meaning  of  the  term. 

Fever  is  a  general  condition  of  the  animal  bod}^  in  which  there  is  an 
elevation  of  the  animal  body  temperature,  which  maj^  be  only  a  degree 
or  two  or  may  be  10°  F.  The  elevation  of  the  body  temperature, 
which  represents  tissue  change  or  combustion,  is  accompanied  b}^  an 
acceleration  of  the  heart's  action,  a  quickening  of  the  respiration,  and 
an  aberration  in  the  functional  activity  of  the  various  organs  of  the 
body.  These  organs  may  be  stimulated  to  the  performance  of  exces- 
sive work,  or  they  ma}^  be  incapacitated  from  carrying  out  their 
allotted  tasks,  or,  in  the  course  of  a  fever,  the  two  conditions  may  both 
exist,  the  one  succeeding  the  other.  Fever  as  a  disease  is  usuallv  pre- 
ceded by  chills  as  an  essential  symptom. 

Fevers  are  divided  into  ess.ential  fevei^s  and  symptomatic  fevers.  In 
symptomatic  fever  some  local  disease,  usually  of  an  inflammatory  char- 
acter, develops  first,  and  the  constitutional  febrile  phenomena  are  the 
result  of  the  primary  point  of  combustion,  irritating  the  whole  body, 
either  through  the  nervous  s}' stem  or  directly  by  means  of  the  waste 
material  which  is  carried  into  the  circulation  and  through  the  blood  ves- 
sels, and  is  distributed  to  distal  parts.  Essential  fevers  are  those  in 
which  there  is  from  the  outset  a  general  disturbance  of  the  whole 
economy.  This  may  consist  of  an  elementary  alteration  in  the  blood 
or  a  general  change  in  the  constitution  of  the  tissues.  Fevers  of  the 
latter  class  are  usually  due  to  some  infecting  agent  and  belong,  there- 
fore, to  the  class  of  infectious  diseases. 

Essential  fevers  are  subdivided  \\A,o epliemerali^xox^.,  which  last  but 
a  short  time  and  terminate  b}^  critical  phenomena;  intermittent  i^\Q.v^., 
in  which  there  are  alterations  of  exacerbations  of  the  febrile  symptoms 
and  remissions,  in  which  the  bod}^  returns  to  its  normal  condition  or 
sometimes  to  a  depressed  condition,  in  which  the  functions  of  life  are 
but  badly  performed;  and  continued  iQYQVs,  which  include  contagious 
diseases,  such  as  glanders,  influenza,  etc.,  the  septic  diseases,  such  as 
pyemia,  septicemia,  etc.,  and  the  eruptive  fevers,  such  as  variola,  etc. 

Whether  the  cause  of  the  fever  has  been  an  injurj^  to  the  tissues, 


494  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

such  as  a  severe  bruise,  a  broken  bone,  an  inflamed  lung,  or  excessive 
work,  which  has  surcharged  the  ])lood  with  the  waste  products  of  the 
combustion  of  the  tissues,  which  were  destroyed  to  produce  force,  or 
the  toxins  of  influenza  in  the  blood,  or  the  presence  of  irritating 
material,  either  in  the  form  of  living  organisms  or  of  their  products, 
as  in  glanders  or  tuberculosis — the  general  train  of  s^-mptoms  are 
much  the  same,  varying  as  the  amount  of  the  irritant  differs  in  quantity, 
or  when  some  special  quality  in  them  "has  a  specific  action  on  one  or 
another  tissue. 

There  is  in  fever  at  first  a  relaxation  of  the  small  blood  vessels,  which 
may  have  been  preceded  by  a  contraction  of  the  same  if  there  was  a 
chill,  and  as  a  consequence  there  is  an  acceleration  of  the  current  of 
the  blood.  There  is,  then,  an  deviation  of  the  peripheral  tempemture, 
followed  by  a  lowering  of  tension  in  the  arteries  and  an  acceleration 
in  the  movement  of  the  heart.  These  conditions  may  be  produced  by 
a  primary  irritation  of  the  nerve  centers  of  the  In-ain  from  the  eflects 
of  heat,  as  is  seen  in  thermic  fever,  or  sunstroke,  or  by  the  entrance 
into  the  blood  stream  of  disease-producing  organisms  or  their  chemical 
products,  as  in  anthrax,  rinderpest,  influenza,  etc. 

There  are  times  when  it  is  diflicult  to  distinguish  between  the  exist- 
ence of  fever  as  a  disease  and  a  temporary  feverish  condition  v  hich  is 
the  result  of  excessive  work.  Like  the  condition  of  congestion  of  the 
lungs,  which  is  normal  up  to  a  certain  degree  in  the  lungs  of  a  race 
horse  after  a  severe  race,  and  morbid  when  it  produces  more  than  tem- 
porary phenomena  or  when  it  causes  distinct  lesions,  the  temperature 
may  rise  from  physiological  causes  as  much  as  four  degrees,  so  fever, 
or,  as  it  is  better  termed,  a  feverish  condition,  may  follow  any  work 
or  other  employment  of  energy  in  which  excessive  tissue  change  has 
taken  place;  but  if  the  consequences  are  ephemeral,  and  no  recogniz- 
able lesion  is  apparent,  it  is  not  considered  morbid.  This  condition, 
however,  may  predispose  to  severe  organic  disturbance  and  local  inflam- 
mations which  will  cause  disease,  as  an  animal  in  tliis  conditioji  is 
liable  to  take  cold  and  develop  lung  fever  or  a  severe  enteritis,  if 
chilled  or  otherwise  exposed. 

Fever  in  all  animals  is  characterized  by  the  same  general  phenomena, 
but  we  find  the  intensity  of  the  symptoms  modified  by  the  species  of 
animals  affected,  by  the  races  which  subdivide  the  species,  b}-  the  fami- 
lies which  form  groups  of  the  races,  and  by  certain  conditions  in  indi- 
viduals themselves.  For  example,  a  pricked  foot  in  a  Thoroughbred 
may  cause  intense  fever,  while  the  same  injury  in  the  foot  of  a  Clydes- 
dale may  scarcely  cause  a  visible  general  symptom.  In  the  horse,  fever 
produces  the  following  sj^mptoms: 

The  normal  body  temperature,  which  varies  from  99^  to  100-  F., 
is  elevated  from  1^  to  9°.  A  temperature  of  102'^  or  103°  F.  is  moderate 
fever,  104°  to  105°  F.  is  high,  and  100°  F.  and  over  is  excessive.     The 


DISEASES    OE    THE    HOKSE.  495 

temperature  is  accurately  me8,3ured  })y  means  of  a  clinical  thermometer 
inserted  in  the  rectum. 

This  elevation  of  temperature  can  readily  be  felt  by  the  hand  placed 
in  the  mouth  of  the  animal,  or  in  the  rectum,  and  in  the  cleft  between 
the  hind  legs.  It  is  usually  appreciable  at  any  point  over  the  surface 
of  the  body  and  in  the  expired  air  emitted  from  the  nostrils.  The  ears 
and  cannons  are  often  as  hot  as  the  rest  of  the  body,  but  are  sometimes 
cold,  which  denotes  a  debility  in  the  circulation  and  irregular  distribu- 
tion of  the  blood.  The  pulse,  which  in  a  healthy  horse  is  felt  beating 
about  -1:2  to  48  times  in  the  minute,  is  increased  to  60,  70,  90,  or  even 
100.  The  respirations  are  increased  from  14  or  16  to  24,  30,  36,  or 
even  more.  With  the  commencement  of  a  fever  the  horse  usually  has 
its  appetite  diminished,  or  it  may  have  total  loss  of  appetite  if  the 
fever  is  excessive.  There  is,  however,  a  vast  difference  among  horses 
in  this  regard.  With  the  same  amount  of  elevation  of  temperature  one 
horse  may  lose  its  appetite  entirely,  while  others,  usuallj^  of  the  more 
common  sort,  will  eat  at  hay  throughout  the  course  of  the  fever,  and 
will  even  continue  to  eat  oats  or  other  grains.  Thirst  is  usually 
increased,  but  the  animal  desires  onlj^  a  small  quantity  of  water  at  a 
time,  and  in  most  cases  of  fever  a  bucket  of  water  should  be  kept 
standing  before  the  patient,  which  may  be  allowed  to  drink  ad  libitum. 
The  skin  becomes  dry  and  the  hairs  stand  on  end.  Sweating  is  almost 
unknown  in  the  early  stage  of  fevers,  but  frequently  occurs  later  in 
their  course,  when  an  outbreak  of  warm  sweat  is  often  a  most  favor- 
able symptom.  The  mucous  membranes,  wliich  are  most  easily  exam- 
ined in  the  conjunctivse  of  the  eyes  and  inside  of  the  mouth,  change 
color  if  the  fever  is  an  acute  one;  without  alteration  of  blood  the 
mucous  membranes  become  of  a  rosy  or  deep-red  color  at  the  outset; 
if  the  fever  is  attended  with  distinct  alteration  of  the  blood,  as  in 
influenza,  and  at  the  end  of  two  or  three  days  in  severe  cases  of 
pneumonia  or  other  extensive  inflammatory  troubles,  the  mucous  mem- 
branes are  tinged  with  yellow,  which  may  even  become  a  deep  ocher 
in  color,  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of  the  blood  corpuscles  and 
the  freeing  of  their  coloring  matter,  which  acts  as  a  stain.  At  the 
outset  of  a  fever  the  various  glmds  are  checked  in  their  secretions, 
the  salivary  glands  fail  to  secrete  the  saliva,  and  we  find  the  surface 
of  the  tongue  and  inside  of  the  cheeks  dry  and  covered  with  a  brown- 
ish, bad-smelling  deposit.  The  excretion  from  the  liver  and  intestinal 
glands  is  diminished  and  produces  an  inactivit}'"  of  the  digestive  organs 
which  causes  a  constipation.  If  this  is  not  remedied  at  an  early  period, 
the  undigested  material  acts  as  an  irritant,  and  later  Ave  may  have  it 
followed  by  an  inflammatory  process,  producing  a  severe  diarrhea. 

The  excretion  from  the  kidneys  is  sometimes  at  first  entirely  sup- 
pressed. It  is  always  considerably  diminished,  and  what  urine  is 
I)assed  is  dark  in  color,  undergoes  ammoniacal  change  rapidly,  and 


496  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

deposits  quantities  of  salts.  At  a  later  period  the  diminished  excretion 
may  be  replaced  by  an  excessive  excretion,  which  aids  in  carrying  off 
waste  products  and  usuall}^  indicates  an  amelioration  of  the  fever. 

While  the  ears,  cannons,  and  hoofs  of  a  horse  suffering  from  fever 
are  usuallj^  found  hot,  they  may  f requentl}^  alternate  from  hot  to  cold, 
or  be  much  cooler  than  they  normall}^  are.  This  latter  condition 
usuallj'  indicates  great  weakness  on  the  part  of  the  circulator}-  system. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  importance,  as  an  aid  in  diagnosing  the  gravity 
of  an  attack  of  fever  and  as  an  indication  in  the  selection  of  its  mode 
of  treatment,  to  recognize  the  exact  cause  of  a  febrile  condition  in  the 
horse.  In  certain  cases,  in  ver}^  nervous  animals,  in  which  fever  is 
the  result  of  nerve  influence,  a  simple  anodyne,  or  even  onh'  quiet 
with  continued  care  and  nursing,  will  sometimes  be  yufficient  to  dimin- 
ish it.  When  fever  is  the  result  of  local  injury,  the  cure  of  the  cause 
produces  a  cessation  in  the  constitutional  symptoms.  When  fever  is 
the  result  of  a  pneumonia  or  other  severe  parenchymatous  inflamma- 
tion, it  usuallj-  lasts  for  a  definite  time,  and  subsides  with  the  first 
improvement  of  the  local  trouble,  but  in  these  cases  we  constanth^  have 
exacerbations  of  fever  due  to  secondar}^  inflammatory  processes,  such 
as  the  formation  of  small  abscesses,  the  development  of  secondary 
bronchitis,  or  the  death  of  a  limited  amount  of  tissue  (gangrene). 

In  specific  cases,  such  as  influenza,  strangles,  and  septicemia,  there 
is  a  definite  poison  contained  in  the  blood-vessel  system,  and  carried 
to  the  heart  and  to  the  nervous  system,  which  produces  a  peculiar 
irritation,  usuall}^  lasting  for  a  specific  period,  during  which  the  tem- 
perature can  be  but  slightly  diminished  by  any  remed}". 

In  cases  attended  with  complications,  the  diagnosis  becomes  at  times 
still  more  difficult,  as  at  the  end  of  a  case  of  influenza  which  becomes 
complicated  with  pneumonia.  The  high  temperature  of  the  simple 
inflammatory  disease  may  be  grafted  on  that  of  the  specific  trouble, 
and  the  determination  of  the  cause  of  the  fever,  as  between  the  two, 
is  therefore  frequentl3^a  difficut  matter  but  an  important  one,  as  upon 
it  depends  the  mode  of  treatment. 

Any  animal  suffering  from  fever,  whatever  the  cause,  is  much  more 
susceptible  to  attacks  of  local  inflammation,  which  become  complications 
of  the  original  disease,  than  are  animals  in  sound  health.  In  fever  we 
have  the  tissues  and  the  walls  of  the  blood  vessels  weakened,  we  have 
an  increased  current  of  more  or  less  altered  blood,  flowing  through,  the 
vessels  and  stagnating  in  the  capillaries,  which  need  but  an  exciting 
cause  to  transform  the  passive  congestion  of  fever  into  an  active  con- 
gestion and  acute  inflammation.  These  conditions  become  still  more 
distinct  when  the  fever  is  accompanied  b}'  a  decided  deterioration  in 
the  blood  itself,  as  is  seen  in  influenza,  septicemia,  and  at  the  termina- 
tion of  severe  pneumonias. 

Fever,  with  its  symptoms  of  increased  temperature,  acceleration  of 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HOESE.  497' 

the  pulse,  acceleration  of  respiration,  dry  skin,  diminished  secretions^ 
etc.,  must  be  considered  as  an  indication  of  organic  disturbance. 

This  organic  disturbance  may  be  the  result  of  local  inflammation  or 
other  irritants  acting  through  the  nerves  on  nerve  centers;  alterations 
of  the  blood,  in  which  a  poison  is  carried  to  the  nerve  centers,  or  direct 
irritants  to  the  nerve  centers  themselves,  as  in  cases  of  heat  stroke.-, 
injury  to  the  brain,  etc. 

The  treatment  of  fever  depends  upon  its  cause.     One  of  the  impor- 
tant factors  in  treatment  is  absolute  quiet.     This  may  be  obtained  by- 
placing  a  sick  horse  in  a  box  stall,  away  from  other  animals  and 
extraneous  noises,  and  sheltered  from  excessive  light  and  drafts  of  air,.. 
Anodynes,   belladonna,  hyoscyamus,   and   opium  act  as  antipjn-etics^ 
simply  by  quieting  the  nervous  system.     As  an  irritant  exists  in  the 
blood  in  most  cases  of  fever,  any  remed}^  which  will  favor  the  excre- 
tion of  foreign  elements  from  it  will  diminish  this  cause.     We  there- 
fore employ  diaphoretics  to  stimulate  the  sweat  and  excretions  from.' 
the  skin;  diuretics  to  favor  the  elimination  of  matter  by  the  kidneysp; 
cholagogues  and  laxatives  to  increase  the  action  of  the  liver  and  intes- 
tines, and  to  drain  from  these  important  organs  all  the  waste  materiaF- 
which  is  aiding  to  choke  up  and  congest  their  rich  plexuses  of  blood' 
vessels.     The  heart  becomes  stimulated  to  increased  action  at  the  out- 
set of  a  fever,  but  this  does  not  indicate  increased  strength;  on  the-- 
contrary,  it  indicates  the  action  of  an  irritant  to  the  heart  that  will  soor?- 
weaken  it.     It  is  therefore  irrational  to  further  depress  the  heart  by; 
the  use  of  such  di-ugs  as  aconite.     It  is  better  to  strengthen  the  heart 
and  to  favor  the  elimination  of  the  substance  that  is  irritating  it.     The  - 
increased  blood  pressure  throughout  the  body  may  be  diminished  hy 
lessening  the  quantity  of  blood.     This  is  obtained  in  some  cases  with, 
advantage  where  the  disease  is  but  starting  and  the  animal  is  plethoric- 
by  direct  abstraction  of  blood,  as  in  bleeding  from  the  jugular  or  other- 
veins;    or   by  derivatives,   such  as  mustard,   turpentine,   or  blisterg> 
applied. to  the  skin;  or  by  setons,  which  draw  to  the  surface  the  fluid;; 
of  the  blood,  thereby  lessening  its  volume,  without  having  the  disad- 
vantage of  impoverishing  the  elements  of  the  blood  found  in  bleeding... 
Antip^a-etics  given  by  the  mouth  and  cold  applied  to  the  skin  are  most, 
useful  in  many  cases. 

When  the  irritation  Avhichis  the  cause  of  fever  is  a  specific  one,  either- 
in  the  form  of  bacteria  (living  organisms),  as  in  glanders,  tuberculosis^, 
influenza,  septicemia,  etc.,  or  in  the  form  of  a  foreign  element,  as  in 
rheumatism,  gout,  hemaglobinuria,  and  other  so-called  diseases  of- 
nutrition,  we  employ  remedies  which  have  been  found  to  have  a  direct 
specific  action  on  them.  Among  the  specific  remedies  for  various^ 
diseases  are  counted  quinine,  carbolic  acid,  salicylic  acid,  antipyrine,.. 
mercury,  iodine,  the  empyreumaticoils,  tars,  resins,  aromatics,  sulphur,. 
and  a  host  of  other  drugs,  some  of  which  are  ad  hoc  and  others  of  whick- 
14384—03 32 


498  EUIiEAU    OF    ANIMAL    IXDUSTKY. 

are  theoretical  in  action.  Certain  remedies,  like  simple  aromatic  teas, 
vegetable  acids,  such  as  vinegar,  lemon  juice,  etc.,  alkalines  in  the  form 
of  salts,  sweet  spirits  of  niter,  etc.,  which  are  household  remedi'^s,  are 
always  useful,  because  the}''  act  on  the  excreting  organs  and  ameliorate 
the  effects  of  fever.  Other  remedies,  which  are  to  be  used  to  influence 
the  cause  of  fever,  must  be  selected  with  judgment  and  from  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  nature  of  the  disease. 

INFLUENZA. 

[Synonyms:  Pinlceye,  typhoid  fever,  epizooty,  epihippic  fever,  hepatic  fever,  hilbjus 
fever,  etc.;  fibre  typhoide,  grippe,  French;  pferdcstanbe,  German;  gaslro-enterifis  of 
Vatel  and  d' Arho\a.\;  fchris  erysipelatodcs,  Zundel;  <(/;j/(WS  of  Delafond.] 

Definition. — Influenza  is  a  contagious  and  infectious  specific  fever  of 
the  horse,  ass,  and  mule,  with  alterations  of  the  blood,  stupefaction  of 
the  brain  and  nervous  S3'stem,  great  depression  of  the  vital  forces,  and 
frequent  inflammatory  complications  of  the  important  vascular  organs, 
especially  of  the  lungs,  intestines,  brain,  and  lamiiueof  the  feet.  One 
attack  usually  protects  the  animal  from  future  ones  of  the  same  disease, 
but  not  always.  An  apparent  complete  recovery  is  sometimes  followed 
b}'  serious  sequelae  of  the  nervous  and  blood-vessel  S3'stems.  The  dis- 
ease is  ver}'  apt,  under  certain  conditions  of  the  atmosphere  or  from 
unknown  causes,  to  assume  an  epizootic  form,  with  tendenc}'  to  compli- 
cations of  especial  organs,  as,  at  one  period  the  lungs,  at  another  the 
intestines,  etc. 

The  first  description  of  influenza  is  given  by  Laurentius  llusius,  in 
1301,  A.  D.,  when  it  spread  over  a  considerable  portion' of  Ital}^,  caus- 
ing great  loss  among  the  war  horses  of  Rome  and  its  surroundings. 
In  16-18,  A.  D.,  an  epizootic  of  this  disease  visited  Germany  and  spread 
to  other  parts  of  Europe.  In  1711,  A.  D. ,  under  the  name  of  ' '  epidemica 
eguorum^-^  it  followed  the  tracks  of  the  great  armies  all  over  Europe, 
causing  immense  losses  among  the  horses,  while  the  rinderpest  was 
scourging  the  cattle  of  the  same  regions.  The  two  diseases  were  con- 
founded with  each  other,  and  were,  by  the  scientists  of  the  da}',  allied  to 
the  ty]:>hus,  which  was  a  plague  to  the  human  race  at  the  same  time. 
We  find  the  first  advent  of  this  disease  to  the  British  Islands  in  an  epi- 
zootic among  the  horses  of  London  and  the  southern  counties  of  Eng- 
land, in  1732,  which  is  described  by  Gibson.  In  1758,  Robert  Whytt 
recounts  the  devastation  of  the  horses  of  the  north  of  Scotland  from  the 
same  trouble.  Throughout  the  eighteenth  century  a  number  of  epizo- 
otics occurred  in  Hanover  and  other  portions  of  Germany  and  in  France, 
which  were  renewed  early  in  the  present  century,  with  complications 
of  the  intestinal  tract,  which  obtained  for  it  its  name  of  gastro-enteritis. 
In  1766  it  first  attacked  the  horses  in  North  America,  but  is  not 
described  as  again  occurring  in  a  severe  form  until  1870-1872,  when  it 
spread  over  the  entire  country,  from  Canada  south  to  Ohio,  and  then 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  499 

eastward  to  the  Atlantic  and  westward  to  California.  It  is  now  a  per- 
manent disease  in  our  large  cities,  selecting  for  the  continuance  of  its 
virulence  }' oung  or  especiall}^  susceptible  horses  which  pass  through 
the  large  and  ill-ventilated  and  uncleaned  stables  of  dealers  and  assumes, 
from  time  to  time,  an  enzootic  form,  when  from  some  reason  its  viru- 
lence increases.  It  assumes  this  form  also  when,  from  reasons  of  rural 
economy  and  commerce,  large  numbers  of  young  and  more  susceptible 
animals  are  exposed  to  its  contagion. 

Etiology. — As  one  attack  is  self-protective,  numbers  of  old  horses, 
having  had  an  earlier  attack,  are  not  capable  of  contracting  it  again; 
but,  aside  from  this,  young  horses,  especially  those  about  four  or  five 
years  of  age,  are  much  more  predisposed  to  be  attacked,  while  the 
older  ones,  even  if  they  have  not  had  the  disease,  are  less  liable  to  it. 
Again,  the  former  age  is  that  in  which  the  horse  is  brought  from  the 
farm,  where  it  has  been  free  from  the  risk  of  exposure,  and  is  sold  to 
pass  through  the  stables  of  the  countr}^  taverns,  the  dirty,  infected 
railway  cars,  and  the  foul  stockyards  and  damp  stables  of  dealers  in 
our  large  cities.  Want  of  trainmg  is  a  predisposing  cause.  Overfed, 
fat,  young  horses  which  have  just  come  through  the  sales  stables  are 
much  more  susceptible  to  contagion  than  the  same  horses  are  after  a 
few  months  of  steady  work. 

Pilger,  in  1805,  was  the  first  to  recognize  infection  as  the  direct  cause 
of  the  disease.  Roll  and  others  studied  the  contagiousness  of  influenza, 
and,  finding  it  so  much  more  virulent  and  permanent  in  old  stables  than 
elsewhere,  classed  it  as  a  "stall  miasm."  The  atmosphere  is  the  most 
common  carrier  of  the  infection  from  sick  animals  to  healthy  ones,  and 
through  it  may  be  carried  for  a  considerable  distance.  The  conta- 
gion will  remain  in  the  straw  bedding  and  droppings  of  the  animal  and 
in  the  feed  in  an  infected  stable  for  a  considerable  time,  and  if  these 
are  removed  to  other  localities  it  may  be  carried  in  them.  It  may  be 
carried  in  the  clothing  of  those  who  have  been  in  attendance  on  horses 
suffering  from  the  disease.  The  drinking  water  in  troughs  and  even 
running  water  may  hold  the  virus  and  be  a  means  of  its  communication 
to  other  animals,  even  at  a  distance.  The  studies  of  Dieckerhofl',  in 
ISSl,  in  regard  to  the  contagion  of  influenza  Avere  especially  interest- 
ing. He  found  that  during  a  local  enzootic,  produced  b}'  the  introduc- 
tion of  horses  suffering  from  influenza  into  an  extensive  stable  other- 
wise perfectly  healthy,  the  infection  took  place  in  what  at  first  seemed 
to  be  a  most  irregular  manner,  but  which  was  shown  later  to  be  depend- 
ent on  the  ventilation  and  currents  of  air  through  the  various  build 
ings.  His  experiments  showed  that  the  virus  of  influenza  is  exces- 
sivelj^  diffusible,  and  that  it  will  spread  rapidly  to  the  roof  of  a  building 
and  pass  by  the  apertures  of  ventilation  to  others  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  writer  has  seen  cases  that  have  appeared  to  spread  through  a  brick 
wall  and  attack  animals  on  the  opposite  side  before  others  even  in  the 


500  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

same  stable  T^'C^c  affected.  Brick  walls,  old  woodwork,  and  the  dirt 
which  is  too  frequently  left  about  the  feed  boxes  of  a  horse  stall  will 
all  hold  the  contagion  for  some  days,  if  not  weeks,  and  communicate 
it  to  susceptible  animals  when  placed  in  the  same  locality.  A  four- 
year-old  colt,  belonging  to  the  writer,  stood  at  the  open  door  of  a  stable 
where  two  cases  of  influenza  had  developed  the  day  before,  fully  40 
feet  from  the  stall,  for  about  ten  minutes  on  two  successive  mornings, 
and  in  six  da3's  developed  the  disease.  On  the  morning  when  the 
trouble  in  the  colt  was  recognized  it  stood  in  an  infirmary  with  a  dozen 
horses  being  treated  for  various  diseases,  but  was  immediately  isolated; 
within  one  week  two-thirds  of  the  other  horses  had  contracted  the 
disease. 

Symj)toms. — After  the  exposure  of  a  susceptible  horse  to  infection  a 
period  of  incubation  of  from  four  to  seven  da3^s  elapses,  during  which 
the  animal  seems  in  perfect  health,  before  any  S3^mptom  is  visible. 
When  the  symptoms  of  influenza  develop  they  nvAj  be  intense  or  they 
may  be  so  moderate  as  to  occasion  but  little  alarm,  but  the  latter  con- 
dition frequentl}^  exposes  the  animal  to  use  and  to  the  danger  of  the 
exciting  causes  of  complications  which  would  not  have  happened  had 
the  animal  been  left  quietly  in  its  stall  in  place  of  being  worked  or 
driven  out  to  show  to  prospective  purchasers.  The  disease  mav  run  a 
simple  course  as  a  specific  fever,  with  alterations  only  of  the  blood, 
or  it  ma}'  become  at  any  period  complicated  b}'  local  inflammatory'- 
troubles,  the  gravity  of  which  is  augmented  by  developing  in  an 
animal  with  an  impoverished  blood  and  already  irritated  and  rapid 
circulation  and  defective  nutritive  and  reparative  functions. 

The  first  symptoms  are  those  of  a  rapidly  developing  fever,  which 
becomes  intense  within  a  very  short  period.  The  animal  becomes 
dejected  and  inattentive  to  surrounding  ol)jccts;  stands  with  its  head 
down,  and  not  back  on  the  halter  as  in  serious  lung  diseases.  It  has 
chills  of  the  flanks,  the  muscles  of  the  croup,  and  the  muscles  of  the 
shoulders,  or  of  the  entire  body,  lasting  from  fifteen  to  thirt}'  minutes, 
and  frequently  a  grinding  of  the  teeth  which  warns  one  that  a  severe 
attack  may  be  expected.  The  hairs  become  dr}^  and  rough  and  stand 
on  end.  The  body  temperature  increases  to  104°,  104.5°,  and  105°  F., 
or  even  in  severe  cases  to  107°  F.,  within  the  first  twelve  or  eighteen 
hours.  The  horse  becomes  stupid,  stands  inunobile  with  its  head  hang- 
ing, the  ears  listless,  and  it  pays  but  little  attention  to  the  surrounding 
attendants  or  the  crack  of  a  whip.  The  stupor  becomes  rapidly  more 
marked,  the  eyes  become  puffy  and  swollen  with  excessive  lachryma- 
tion,  so  that  the  tears  run  from  the  internal  canthus  of  the  e3"e  over  the 
cheeks  and  may  blister  the  skin  in  its  course.  The  respiration  becomes 
accelerated  to  twent3'-five  or  thirty  in  a  minute,  and  the  pulse  is  quick- 
ened to  seventy,  eight3'',  or  even  one  hundred,  moderate  in  volume  and 
in  force.     There  is  great  depression  of  muscular  force;  the  animal 


DISEASES    OP    THE    HORSE.  501 

stands  limp,  as  if  excessively  fatigued.  There  is  diminution,  or  in  some 
cases  total  loss,  of  sensibility  of  tlie  skin,  so  that  it  may  be  pricked  or 
handled  without  attracting  the  attention  of  the  animal.  On  move- 
ment, the  horse  staggers  and  shows  a  want  of  coordination  of  all  of 
the  muscles  of  its  limbs.  The  senses  of  hearing,  sight,  and  taste  are 
diminished,  if  not  entirely  abolished.  The  visible  mucous  membranes 
(as  the  conjunctiva),  from  which  it  is  known  as  the  pinkeye,  and  the 
mouth  and  the  natural  openings  become  of  a  deep  saffron,  ocher,  or 
violet-red  color.  This  latter  is  especially  noticeable  on  the  rim  of  the 
gums  and  is  a  condition  not  found  in  any  other  disease,  so  that  it  is  an 
almost  diagnostic  symptom.  In  some  outbreaks  there  is  much  more 
swelling  of  the  lids  and  weeping  from  the  eyes  than  in  others.  If  the 
animal  is  bled  at  this  period  the  blood  is  found  more  coagulable  than 
normal,  but  at  a  later  period  it  becomes  of  a  dark  color  and  less  coagu- 
lable. There  is  great  diminution  or  total  loss  of  appetite  with  an 
excessive  thirst,  but  in  man}"  cases  in  cold-blooded  horses  the  animal 
may  retain  a  certain  amount  of  appetite,  eating  slowly  at  its  hay,  oats, 
or  other  feed.  There  is  some  irritation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of 
the  respiratory  tract  as  shown  by  discharge  of  mucus  from  the  nose, 
and  by  cough.     Pregnant  mares  are  apt  to  abort. 

We  have,  following  the  fever,  a  tumefaction,  or  edema,  of  the  subcu- 
taneous tissues  at  the  fetlocks,  of  the  under  surface  of  the  belly,  and 
of  the  sheath  of  the  penis,  which  may  be  excessive.  This  infiltration 
is  noninflammatory  in  character  and  produces  an  insensibility  of  the 
skin  like  the  excessive  stocking  which  we  see  in  debilitated  animals 
after  exposure  to  cold.  In  ordinarj^  cases  the  temperature  has  reached 
its  maximum  of  105°  or  100°  F.  in  from  twent5^-four  to  forty-eight 
hours  from  the  origin  of  the  fever.  It  remains  stationary  for  a  period 
of  from  three  to  four  days  without  so  much  variation  between  morn- 
ing and  evening  temperature  as  we  have  in  pneumonia  or  other  serious 
diseases  of  the  lungs.  At  the  termination  of  the  specific  course  of  the 
disease,  which  is  generall}^  from  six  to  ten  days,  the  fever  abates,  the 
swelling  of  legs  and  under  surface  of  bell}'^  diminishes,  the  appetite 
returns,  the  strength  is  rapidly  regained,  the  mucous  membranes  lose 
their  yellowish  color,  which  they  attain  so  rapidly  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  disease,  and  the  animal  convalesces  promptly  to  its  ordi- 
nar}^  good  condition  and  health,  and  rapidly  regains  the  large  amount 
of  weight  which  it  lost  in  the  earlv  part  of  the  disease,  a  loss  which 
frequently  reaches  30,  50,  or  even  75  pounds  each  twent^^-four  hours. 
For  the  first  three  days  of  the  high  temperature  there  is  a  great  ten- 
dency to  constipation,  which  should  be  avoided  if  possible  by  the  use 
of  the  means  recommended  below,  for,  if  it  has  been  marked,  it  may 
be  followed  by  a  troublesome  diarrhea. 

Terminations. — The  termination  of  simple  influenza  may  be  death  by 
extreme  fever,  with  failure  of  the  heart's  action;  from  excessive  coma, 


502  liUiiEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

due  generally  to  a  rapid  congestion  of  the  brain;  to  the  poisonous 
effects  of  the  debris  of  the  disintegrated  blood  corpuscles  and  the  toxin 
of  the  disease;  to  an  asphyxia,  following  congestion  of  the  lungs;  or 
the  disease  terminates  by  su1)sidence  of  the  fever,  return  of  the  appe- 
tite and  nutritive  functions  of  the  organs,  and  rapid  convalescence;  or, 
in  an  unfortunately  large  number  of  cases,  the  course  of  the  disease 
is  complicated  by  local  inilammator}'  troubles,  whose  gravity  is  greater 
in  influenza  than  it  is  when  they  occur  as  sporadic  diseases. 

Complications. — The  complications  are  congestions,  followed  by  in- 
flammatory phenomena  in  the  various  organs  of  the  body,  but  they  are 
most  commonly  located  in  the  intestines,  lungs,  brain,  or  vascular  lam- 
ina? of  the  feet.  Atmospheric  influence  or  other  surrounding  influences 
of  unknown  quality  seem  to  be  an  important  factor  in  the  determina- 
tion of  the  local  lesions.  At  certain  seasons  of  the  3'ear,  and  in  certain 
epizootics,  we  find  -iO  and  50  per  cent  or  even  a  greater  percentage  of 
the  (-ases  rendered  more  serious  by  complication  of  the  intestines;  at 
other  seasons  of  the  year,  or  in  other  epizootics,  we  find  the  same  per- 
centage of  cases  complicated  by  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  while  at  the 
same  time  a  small  percentage  of  them  are  complicated  b}^  troubles  of 
the  other  organs;  inflammatory  changes  of  the  l)rain,  of  the  lamina?, 
more  rarely  commence  in  epizootic  form,  but  are  to  be  found  in  a  cer- 
tain small  percentage  of  cases  in  all  epizootics. 

Exciting  causes  are  important  factors  in  complicating  individual  cases 
of  influenza,  or  in  localizing  special  lesions  either  during  enzootics  or 
epizootics.  These  exciting  or  determining  causes  act  much  as  they 
would  in  sporadic  inflammatory  diseases,  but  in  this  case  we  find  the 
animal  much  more  susceptible  and  predisposed  to  be  acted  upon  than 
ordinar}^  healthy  animals.  With  a  temperature  already  elevated,  with 
the  heart's  action  driving  the  blood  in  increased  quantity  into  the  dis- 
tended blood  vessels,  which  become  dilated  and  lose  their  contractility, 
w'ith  a  congestion  of  all  of  the  vascular  organs  alread}'^  established,  it 
takes  but  little  additional  irritation  to  carry  the  congestion  one  step 
further  and  produce  inflammation. 

Complication  of  the  intestines. — When  an}^  cause  acts  as  an  irritant 
to  the  intestinal  tract  during  the  course  of  this  specific  fever  it  maj^  pro- 
duce inflammation  of  the  organs  belonging  to  it.  This  cause  ma}'  be 
constipation,  which  can  find  i-elief  only  in  a  congestion  which  offers  to 
increase  the  function  of  the  glands  and  relieve  the  inertia  caused  by  a 
temporary  cessation  of  activit}^;  or  irritant  medicines,  especially  any 
increased  use  of  antimon}*,  turpentine,  or  the  more  active  remedies;  the 
taking  of  indigestible  food,  or  of  food  in  too  great  quantities,  or  food 
altered  in  any  way  by  fungus  or  other  injurious  alterations;  the  swal- 
lowing of  too  cold  water;  or  an}'  other  irritant  ma}'  cause  congestion. 
This  complication  is  ushered  in  by  colics.  The  animal  paws  with  the 
fore  feet  and  evinces  a  great  sensibility  of  the  belly ;  it  looks  with  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  503 

head  from  side  to  side,  and  may  lie  down  and  get  up,  not  with  violence, 
but  with  care  for  itself,  perfectl}^  protecting  the  surface  of  the  belly 
from  any  \dolence.  At  first  we  lind  a  decided  constipation;  the  drop- 
pings if  passed  are  small  and  hard,  coated  with  a  viscous  varnish  or  even 
with  false  men^branes.  In  from  thirty-six  to  forty  hours  the  constipa- 
tion is  followed  b}^  diarrhea.  The  alimentary  discharge  becomes  mixed 
with  a  seromucous  exudation,  which  is  followed  bj!-  a  certain  amount 
of  suppurative  matter.  The  animal  becomes  rapidly  exhausted  and 
unstable,  staggers  on  movement,  losing  the  little  appetite  which  may 
have  remained,  and  has  exacerbations  of  fever.  The  pulse  becomes 
softer  and  weaker,  the  respiration  becomes  graduallv  more  rapid,  the 
temperature  is  about  1°  to  1.5°  F.  higher.  If  a  fatal  result  is  not  pro- 
duced b}^  the  extensive  diarrhea  the  discharge  becomes  arrested  in 
from  five  to  ten  da3^s  and  a  rapid  recovery  takes  place. 

Complication  of  the  luvgs. — If  at  any  time  daring  the  course  of  the 
fever  the  animal  is  exposed  to  cold  or  drafts  of  air,  or  in  any  other 
way  to  the  causes  of  repercussion,  the  lungs  ma}^  become  affected.  In 
the  majority  of  cases,  however,  after  three,  four,  or  five  days  of  the 
fever,  congestion  of  the  lungs  commences  without  any  exposure  or 
apparent  exciting  cause.  Unless  this  congestion  of  the  lungs  is 
soon  relieved  it  is  followed  by  an  inflammation  constituting  pneumo- 
nia. This  pneumonia,  while  it  is  in  its  essence  the  same,  differs  from 
an  ordinary  pneumonia  at  the  commencement  by  an  insidious  course. 
The  animal  commences  to  breathe  heavily,  which  becomes  distinctly 
visible  in  the  heaving  of  the  flanks,  the  dilation  of  the  nostrils,  and 
frequently  in  the  swaying  movement  of  the  unsteady  bod3^  The  res- 
pirations increase  in  number,  what  little  appetite  remained  is  lost,  the 
temperature  increases  from  1°  to  2°,  the  pulse  becomes  more  rapid, 
and  at  times,  for  a  short  period,  more  tense  and  full,  but  the  previous 
poisoning  of  the  specific  disease  has  so  weakened  the  tissues  that  it 
never  becomes  the  characteristic  full,  tense  pulse  of  a  simple  pneumonia. 

On  percussion  of  the  chest  dullness  is  found  over  the  inflamed  areas; 
on  auscultation  at  the  base  of  the  neck  over  the  trachea  a  tubular  mur- 
mur is  heard.  The  crepitant  rales  and  tubular  murmurs  of  pneumonia 
arc  heard  on  the  sides  of  the  chest  if  the  pneumonia  is  periphei'al,  but 
in  pneumonia  complicating  influenza  the  inflamed  portions  are  fre- 
quently disseminated  in  islands  of  variable  size  and  are  sometimes  deep 
seated,  in  which  case  the  characteristic  auscultory  symptoms  are  some- 
times wanting.  From  this  time  on  the  symptoms  of  the  animal  are 
those  of  an  ordinary  grave  pneumonia,  rendered  more  severe  by  occur- 
ring in  a  debilitated  animal.  The  cough  is  at  first  hacky  and  aborted; 
later,  more  full  and  moist.  There  is  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  which 
may  be  mucopurulent,  purulent,  or  hemorrhagic.  As  in  simple  pneu- 
monia, in  the  outset  this  discharge  may  be  "rusty,"  due  to  capillary 
hemorrhages.     We  find  that  the  blood  is  thoroughly  mixed  with  the 


SO'l  ^  BUHEAU    OF    ANJMAL    INDUSTRY. 

matter,  staining  it  evenly  instead  of  being  mixed  with  it  in  the  form 
of  clots.  At  the  commencement  of  the  complication  the  animal  ma}' 
be  subject  to  chills,  which  mav  again  occur  in  the  course  of  the  disease, 
in  which  case,  if  severe,  an  unfavorable  termination  by  gangrene  ma^r 
be  looked  for.  If  gangrene  occurs  it  is  shown  by  preiiminarj'  chills, 
a  rapid  elevation  of  temperature,  a  tumultuous  heart,  a  flakj'  discharge 
from  the  nostrils,  and  a  fetid  breath;  the  symptoms  are  identical  with 
those  which  occur  in  gangrene  complicating  other  diseases. 

Complication  of  the  Irain. — At  any  time  during  the  course  of  the 
disease  congestion  of  the  brain  may  occur;  at  an  early  period  if  the 
fever  has  been  intense  from  the  outset,  but  in  ordinary  cases,  more  fre- 
quently after  three  or  four  days.  The  animal,  which  has  been  stupid 
and  immobile,  becomes  suddenly  restless,  walks  forward  in  the  stall 
until  it  fastens  its  head  in  the  corner.  If  in  a  box  stall  and  it  becomes 
displaced  from  its  position,  it  follows  the  wall  with  the  nose  and  eyes, 
rubbing  along  until  it  reaches  the  corner  and  again  fastens  itself.  It 
ma}^  become  more  violent,  and  rear  and  plunge.  If  disturbed  bj^  the 
entrance  of  the  attendant  or  an}'  loud  noise  or  bright  light,  it  will 
stamp  with  its  fore  feet  and  strike  with  its  hind  feet,  but  is  not  detinite 
in  fixing  the  object  which  it  is  resisting,  which  is  a  diagnostic  point 
between  meningitis  and  rabies  and  which  renders  the  animal  with  the 
former  disease  less  dangerous  to  handle.  If  fastened  by  a  rope  to  a 
stake  or  post,  the  animal  will  wander  in  a  circle  at  the  end  of  the  rope. 
It  wanders  almost  Invariably  in  one  direction.  The  pupils  may  be 
dilated  or  contracted,  or  we  may  find  one  condition  in  one  eye  and  the 
opposite  in  the  other. 

The  period  of  excitement  is  followed  by  one  of  profound  coma,  in 
which  the  animal  is  immobile,  the  head  hanging  and  placed  against 
the  corner  of  the  stall,  the  body  limp,  and  the  motion,  if  demanded  of 
the  animal,  unsteady.  Little  or  no  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  sur- 
rounding noises,  the  crack  of  a  whip,  or  even  a  blow  on  the  surface  of 
the  body.  The  respiration  becomes  slower,  the  pulsations  are  dimin- 
ished, the  coma  lasts  for  A'ariable  time,  to  be  followed  by  excesses  of 
violence,  after  which  the  two  alternate,  but  if  severe  the  period  of  coma 
becomes  longer  and  longer  until  the  animal  dies  of  spasms  of  the  lungs 
or  of  heart  failure.  It  may  die  from  injuries  which  occur  in  the 
ungovernable  attacks  of  violence. 

Comjjlication  of  tlie  feet. — The  feet  are  the  organs  which  are  next  in 
frequency  predisposed  to  congestion.  This  congestion  takes  place  in 
the  lamlnie  (podophyllous  structures)  of  the  feet.  The  stupefied  animal 
is  roused  from  its  condition  by  excessive  pain  in  the  feet,  and  assumes 
the  position  of  a  foundered  horse;  that  is,  if  the  fore  feet  alone  are 
affected  they  arc  carried  forward  until  they  rest  on  the  heels,  and  if 
the  hind  feet  are  affected  all  of  the  feet  are  carried  forward  resting  on 
their  heels,  the  hind  ones  as  near  the  center  of  gravity  as  possible. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOIiSE.  505 

In  soniG  cases  the  stupor  of  the  animal  is  so  great  that  the  pain  is  not 
felt,  and  little  or  no  alternation  of  the  position  of  the  animal  is  notice- 
able. The  foot  is  found  hot  to  the  touch,  and  after  a  given  time  the 
depressed  convex  sole  of  typical  founder  is  recognized. 

Pleurisy. — This  is  a  rare  complication,  but  when  it  does  occur  it  is 
ushSred  in  b}^  the  usual  symptoms  of  depression,  rapid  pulse,  small 
respiration,  elevation  of  the  temperature,  subcutaneous  edema  of  the 
legs  and  under  surface  of  the  belly,  and  we  find  a  line  of  dullness  on 
cither  side  of  the  chest  and  an  absence  of  respiratory  murmur  at  the 
lower  part.  If  it  is  severe  there  may  be  an  effusion  filling  one-fourth 
to  one-third  of  the  thoracic  cavit}"  in  from  thirty-six  to  forty-eight 
hours. 

Perl€(Ardlt(S  is  an  occasional  complication  of  infiuenza.  It  is  ushered 
in  by  chills,  elevation  of  the  temperature;  the  pulse  becomes  rapid, 
thready,  and  imperceptible.  The  heart  murmurs  become  indistinct  or 
can  not  bo  heard.  A  venous  pulse  is  seen  on  the  line  of  the  jugular 
veins  along  the  neck;  Respiration  becomes  more  diflicult  and  rapid. 
If  the  animal  is  moved  the  symptoms  become  more  marked,  or  it  may 
drop  suddenl}^  dead  from  heart  failure. 

Peritonitis.,  or  inflanmiation  of  the  membranes  lining  the  belly  and 
covering  the  organs  contained  in  it,  sometimes  takes  place.  The  gen- 
eral symptoms  are  similar  to  those  of  a  commencing  pericarditis.  The 
local  sA'mptoms  are  those  of  pain,  especially  to  pressure  on  side  of  the 
flanks  and  belh^;  distention  of  the  latter,  and  sometimes  the  formation 
of  flatus,  or  gas,  and  constipation. 

Other  occasional  complications  are  nephritis,  hepatitis,  inflammation 
of  the  flexor  tendons  and  rupture  of  them,  and  abscesses. 

Diagnosis. — The  diagnosis  of  influenza  is  based  upon  continued 
fever,  with  great  depression  and  symptoms  of  stupor  and  coma;  the 
rapidly  developing,  dark-saffron,  ocher,  ^^ellowish  discoloration  of  the 
mucous  membranes,  swelling  of  the  legs  and  soft  tissues  of  the  geni- 
tals. When  these  symptoms  have  become  manifested  the  diagnosis 
of  a  local  complication  is  based  ui:>on  the  same  symptoms  that  are 
produced  in  the  local  diseases  from  other  causes,  but  in  influenza 
the  local  s3"mptoms  are  frequently  masked  or  even  entirely  hidden 
by  the  intense  stupor  of  the  animal,  which  renders  it  insensible  to- 
pain.  The  evidence  of  colic  and  congestion,  which  is  followed  b}^ 
diarrhea,  indicates  enteritis.  The  rapid  breathing  or  diflicult}^  of  respi- 
ration points  to  a  complication  of  the  lungs,  but,  as  we  have  seen  in 
the  study  of  the  symptoms,  the  local  evidences  of  lung  lesions  are  fre- 
quentl}^  hidden.  Again,  we  have  seen  that  inflammation  of  the  feet, 
or  founder,  complicating  influenza  is  frequentl}^  not  shown  on  account 
of  the  insensibilit}^  to  pain  on  the  part  of  the  animal,  which  indicates 
the  importance  of  running  the  hand  dail}^  over  the  hoofs  to  detect  any- 
sudden  elevation  of  temperature  on  their  surface. 


506  BUREAU    OF    AI7IMAL   INDUSTKY. 

The  diagnosis  of  brain  trouble  is  based  upon  the  excessive  violence 
which  occurs  in  the  course  of  the  disease,  for  during  the  intervening 
period  or  coma  there  is  no  means  of  determining  that  it  is  due  to  this 
complication.  Severe  cases  of  influenza  maj'  simulate  anthrax  in  the 
horse.  Jn  both  we  have  stupor,  the  intense  coloration  of  the  mucous 
membranes  of  the  e3-es,  and  a  certain  amount  of  swelling  of  the'legs 
and  under  surface  of  the  bellv.  The  diagnosis  here  can  be  made  onlj- 
by  microscopic  examination  of  the  blood.  In  strangles,  equine  variola, 
and  scalma  we  have  an  intense  red,  rosy  coloration  of  the  mucous 
membranes,  full,  tense  pulse,  and,  although  in  these  diseases  we  may 
have  depression,  we  do  not  have  the  stupor  and  coma  except  in  severe 
cases  which  have  lasted  for  some  da3's.  In  influenza  we  have  no  evi- 
dence of  the  formation  of  pus  on  the  mucous  membranes  as  in  the 
other  diseases,  except  sometimes  in  the  conjunctivae  of  the  eyes. 

In  severe  pneumonia  (lung  fever)  we  may  find  profound  coma,  dark 
yellowish  coloration  of  the  mucous  membranes,  and  swelling  of  the 
under  surface  of  the  belly  and  logs;  but  in  pneumonia  we  have  the 
history  of  the  difliculty  of  breathing  and  an  acute  fever  of  a  sthenic 
type  from  the  outset,  and  the  other  symptoms  do  not  occur  for  several 
days;  while  in  influenza  we  have  the  liistor}"  of  characteristic  svmp- 
toms  for  several  days  l>efore  the  rapid  breathing  and  difficulty  of  res- 
piration indicate  the  appearance  of  the  complication.  Without  the 
history  it  is  frequently  difficult  to  diagnose  a  case  of  influenza  of  sev- 
eral days'  standing  complicated  by  pneumonia,  from  a  case  of  severe 
pneumonia  of  five  to  six  days'  standing,  but  from  a  prognostic  point 
of  view  it  is  immaterial,  as  the  treatment  of  both  are  identical.  The 
fact  that  other  horses  in  the  same  stable  or  neighborhood  have  influ- 
enza may  aid  in  the  diagnosis. 

Prognosis. — Influenza  is  a  serious  disease  chiefl}'  on  account  of  its 
numerous  complications.  Uncomplicated  influenza  is  a  comparatively 
simple  malady,  and  is  fatal  in  but  1  to  5  per  cent  of  all  cases.  In 
some  outbreaks,  how^ever,  complications  of  one  kind  or  another  pre- 
ponderate; in  such  instances  the  rate  of  mortality  is  much  increased. 

Alteratlo7is. — The  chief  alteration  of  influenza  occurs  in  the  digest- 
ive tract,  and  consists  in  hyperemia,  infiltration,  and  swelling  of  the 
mucous  membrane,  and  especially  of  the  Pej-ers'  patches  near  the  ileo- 
cecal A^alve.  The  tissues  throughout  the  body  are  found  stained,  and 
of  a  more  or  less  yellowish  hue.  There  is  always  found  a  congested 
condition  of  all  the  organs,  muscles,  and  interstitial  tissues  of  the 
body.  The  coverings  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord  partake  in  the  con- 
gested and  discolored  condition  of  the  rest  of  the  tissues. 

Other  alterations  are  dependent  entirel}^  upon  the  complications. 
If  the  lungs  have  been  affected,  we  find  effusions  identical  in  their 
intimate  nature  with  fhose  of  simple  pneumonia,  but  they  differ  some- 
what in  their  general  appearance  in   not  being  so  circumscribed  in 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  507 

their  area  of  invasion.  The  alterations  of  meningitis  and  lamiiiitis  are 
identical  with  those  of  sporadic  cases  of  founder  and  iniiamniation  of 
the  brain. 

Treatment. — While  the  appetite  remains  the  patient  should  have  a 
moderate  quantity  of  sound  ha}^,  good  oats,  and  bran;  or  even  a  little 
fresh  clover,  if  obtainable,  can  be  given  in  small  quantities.  It  is  not 
so  important  that  a  special  diet  shall  be  observed  as  that  the  horse  shall 
eat  a  moderate  quantity  of  nourishing  food,  and  he  may  be  tempted 
with  any  food  of  good  quality  that  he  relishes.  The  sick  horse  slioukl 
be  placed  in  a  well-ventilated  box  stall  away  from  other  horses. 
Grass,  roots,  apples,  and  milk  may  be  offered  and,  if  relished,  allowed 
freeh'.  To  reduce  the  temperature,  the  safest  simple  plan  is  to  inject 
large  quantities  of  cold  water  into  the  rectum.  Antipyrene  may  be 
used  with  alcohol  or  strj^clmia.  Derivatives  in  the  form  of  essential 
oils  and  mustard  poultices,  Imths  of  alcohol,  turpentine  and  hot  water, 
after  which  the  animal  must  be  immediately  dried  and  blanketed, 
serve  to  waken  the  animal  up  from  the  stupor  and  relieve  the  conges- 
tion of  the  internal  organs.  This  treatment  is  especiall}^  indicated 
when  complication  by  congestion  of  the  lungs,  intestines,  or  of  tie 
brain  is  threatened.  Quinine  and  salicylic  acid  in  1-dram  doses  wil. 
lower  the  temperature,  but  too  continuous  use  of  quinine  in  some  cases 
increases  the  after  depression.  Iodide  of  potash  reduces  the  excessive 
nutrition  of  the  congested  organs  and  thereby  reduces  the  tempera- 
ture; again,  this  drug  in  moderate  quantities  is  a  stimulant  to  the 
digestive  tract  and  acts  as  a  diuretic,  causing  the  elimination  of  waste 
matter  by  the  kidneys.  Small  doses  of  Glauber's  salts  and  bicarbon- 
ate of  soda,  used  from  the  outset,  stimulate  the  digestive  tract  and 
prevent  constipation  and  its  evil  results. 

In  cases  of  severe  depression  and  weakness  of  the  heart,  digitalis 
can  be  used  with  adv^antage.  At  the  end  of  the  fever,  and  when  con- 
valescence is  established,  alcohol  in  one-half  pint  doses  and  good  ale  in 
1-pint  doses  maj^  be  given  as  stimulants;  to  these  may  be  added  1-dram 
doses  of  turpentine. 

In  complication  of  the  intestines  camphor  and  asafetida  are  njost 
frequently  used  to  relieve  the  pain  causing  the  colics;  diarrhea  is  also 
relieved  b}^  the  use  of  bicarbonate  of  soda,  nitrate  of  potash,  and 
drinks  made  from  boiled  rice  or  starch,  to  which  may  be  added  small 
doses  of  laudanum. 

In  complication  of  the  lungs  iodide  of  potash  and  digitalis  are  most 
frequentl}^  indicated,  in  addition  to  the  remedies  used  for  the  disease 
itself. 

Founder  occurring  as  a  complication  of  influenza  is  difficult  to  treat. 
It  is,  unfortunatel}^,  frequently  not  recognized  until  inflammatory 
changes  have  gone  on  for  some  days.  If  recognized  at  once,  local 
bleeding  and  the  use  of  hot  or  cold  water,  as  the  condition  of  the  ani- 


508  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

mal  Avill  permit,  are  most  useful,  but  in  the  majorit}'  of  cases  the 
stupefied  animal  is  unable  to  )>e  moved  satisfactorily  or  to  have  one 
foot  lifted  for  local  treatment,  and  the  only  treatment  consists  in  lo«il 
bleeding  above  the  coronary  bands  and  the  application  of  poultices. 

During  convalescence  small  doses  of  alkalines  may  be  kept  up  for 
some  little  time,  but  the  greatest  care  must  be  used,  while  furnishing 
tlic  animal  with  plent}'  of  nutritious,  easily  digestible  food,  not  to  over- 
load the  intestinal  tract,  causing  constipation  and  consequent  diarrhea. 
Special  care  must  be  taken  for  some  weeks  not  to  expose  the  animal 
to  cold. 

SEQUEL.K   OK    IXFLIEXZA. 

Anasarca,  or  purpura  hemorrhagica. — A  previous  attack  of  inllu- 
enza  is  a  common  predisposing  cause  of  this  disease  which  appears 
most  frequentl}^  a  few  weeks  after  convalescence  is  established.  It 
occurs  more  frequently  in  those  animals  which  have  made  a  rapid 
convalesccncG  and  are  apparentl}^  perfectly  well  than  it  does  in  those 
which  have  made  a  slower  recovery. 

Anasarca  commences  by  sjnnptoms  which  are  excessively  variable. 
The  local  lesions  may  be  confined  to  a  small  portion  of  the  aaimal's 
bod}'  and  the  constitutional  phenomena  be  nil.  The  appearance  and 
gra\'ity  of  the  local  lesions  may  be  so  unlike,  from  difference  of  loca- 
tion, that  they  seem  to  belong  to  a  separate  disease,  and  complications 
ma}'  completel}'  mask  the  original  trouble. 

In  the  simplest  form  the  first  sjniiptom  noticed  is  a  swelling,  or  sev- 
eral swellings,  occurring  on  the  surface  of  the  bod}' — on  the  forearm, 
the  leg,  the  under  surface  of  the  belly,  or  the  side  of  the  head.  The 
tumefaction  is  at  first  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg;  not  hot,  little  sensitive, 
and  distinctly  circumscribed  by  a  marked  line  from  the  surrounding 
healthy  tissue.  These  tumors  gradually  extend  until  they  coalesce,  and 
in  a  few  hours  we  have  swelling  up  of  the  legs,  legs  and  belly,  or  the 
bead,  to  an  enormous  size;  they  have  always  the  characteristic  con- 
stricted border,  which  looks  as  if  it  had  been  tied  with  a  cord.  In  the 
nostrils  are  found  small  reddish  spots,  or  petechise,  which  gradually 
assume  a  brownish  and  frequently  a  black  color.  Examination  of  the 
mouth  will  frequently  reveal  similar  lesions  on  the  surface  of  the  tongue, 
along  the  lingual  gutter,  and  on  the  f  ra^num.  If  the  external  swelling 
has  been  on  the  head,  the  petechine  of  the  mucous  membranes  are  apt 
to  be  more  numerous  and  to  coalesce  into  patches  of  larger  size  than 
when  the  dropsy  is  confined  to  the  legs.  The  animal  may  be  rendered 
stifl"  by  the  swelling  of  the  legs,  or  be  annoyed  by  the  awkward  swollen 
head,  which  at  times  may  be  so  enormous  as  to  resemble  that  of  a  hip- 
popotamus rather  than  that  of  a  horse.  During  this  period  the  tem- 
perature remains  normal;  the  pulse,  if  altered  at  all,  is  only  a  little 
weaker;  the  respiration  is  only  hurried  if  the  swelling  of  the  head 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  509 

infringes  on  the  caliber  of  the  nostrils.  The  appetite  remains  normal. 
The  animal  is  attentive  to  all  that  is  going  on,  and,  except  for  the 
swelling,  apparently  in  perfect  health. 

In  from  two  to  four  days,  in  severe  cases,  the  tissues  can  no  longer 
resist  the  pressure  of  the  exuded  fluid.  Over  the  surface  of  the  skin 
which  covers  the  dropsy  we  find  a  slight  serous  sweating,  which 
loosens  the  epidermis  and  dries  so  as  to  simulate  the  eruption  of  som.e 
cutaneous  disease.  If  this  is  excessive  we  may  see  irritated  spots 
which  arc  suppurating.  In  the  nasal  fossse  the  hemorrhagic  spots  have 
acted  as  irritants,  and,  inviting  an  increased  amount  of  blood  to  the 
Schneiderian  membrane,  produce  a  coryza  or  even  a  catarrh.  We  may 
now  find,  some  enlargement  and  peripheral  edema  of  the  lymphatic 
glands,  which  are  fed.  from  the  affected  part.  The  thermometer 
indicates  a  slight  rise  in  the  body  temperature,  while  the  pulse  and 
respiration  are  somewhat  accelerated.  The  appetite  usually  remains 
good.  In  the  course  of  a  few  days  the  temperature  may  have  reached 
102°,  103°,  or  104°  F. 

Fever  is  established,  not  an  essential  or  specific  fever  in  any  way, 
but  a  simple  secondar}^  fever  produced  b}'  the  dead  material  from  the 
surface  or  superficial  suppuration,  and  b}'^  the  oxidization  and  absorp- 
tion of  the  colloid  mass  contained,  in  the  tissues.  The  skin  may  sup- 
purate or  slough  more  or  less  over  the  areas  of  greatest  tension  or 
where  it  is  irritated  by  blows  or  pressure.  The  great  swelling  about 
the  head  ninj  by  closure  of  the  nostrils  interfere  seriously  with  breath- 
ing. Internal  edema  may  occur  in  the  throat,  lungs,  or  intestines. 
Septicemia,  or  blood  poisoning,  may  result  from  anasarca. 

Terrninatlons. — The  simple  form  of  the  disease  most  frequently 
terminates  favorably  on  the  eighth  or  tenth  diiy  by  resolution  or  absorp- 
tion of  the  effusion,  with  usuall}^  a  profuse  diuresis,  and  with  or  with- 
out diarrhea.     The  appetite  remains  good  or  is  at  times  capricious. 

Death  may  occur  from  mechanical  asphyxia,  produced  by  closure  of 
the  nostrils  or  closure  of  the  glottis.  Metastasis  to  the  lungs  is  almost 
invariably  fatal,  causing  death  b^^  asphj'-xia.  Metastasis  to  the  intes- 
tines may  cause  death  from  pain,  enteritis,  or  hemorrhage. 

Excessive  suppuration,  lymphangitis,  and  gangrene  are  causes  of  a 
fatal  termination  by  exhaustion.  Mortal  exhaustion  is  again  produced 
by  inability  to  swallow  in  cases  of  excessive  swellmg  of  the  head.  ^ 

Peritonitis  ma}^  arise  secondary  to  the  enteric  edema,  or  by  perfora- 
tion of  the  stomach  or  intestines  by  a  gangrenous  spot.  Septicemia 
terminates  fatally  with  its  usual  train  of  symptoms. 

Alterations.— Tha  essential  alterations  of  anasarca  are  exceedingly 
simple;  the  capillaries  arc  dilated,  the  lymphatic  spaces  between  the 
fibers  of  the  connective  tissue  are  filled  with  serum,  and  the  coagulable 
portion  of  the  blood  presents  a  j^ellowish  or  citrine  mass,  jelly-like  in 
consistency,  which  has  stretched  out  the  tissue  like  the  meshes  of  a 


510  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

sponge.  Where  the  effusion  has  occurred  between  the  muscles,  as  in 
the  head,  these  are  found  dissected  and  separated  from  each  other  like 
those  of  a  hog's  head  by  the  masses  of  fat.  The  surface  of  the  skin 
is  desquamated  and  f  requenti}'  denuded  of  the  hair.  Frequently  there 
are  traces  of  suppuration  and  of  ulceration.  The  mucous  membrane 
of  the  nose  is  found  studded  with  small,  hemorrhagic  spots,  sometimes 
red,  more  frequently  brown  or  black,  often  coalesced  with  each  other 
in  irregular-sized  patches  and  surrounded  by  a  reddish  zone,  the  prod- 
uct of  irritation.  If  edema  of  the  intestines  has  occurred,  the  membrane 
is  found  four  or  live  times  its  normal  thickness,  reddish  in  color,  with 
hemorrhages  on  the  free  surface.  Edema  of  the  lungs  leaves  these 
organs  distended.  The  secondary  alterations  vary  according  to  the 
complications.  There  are  frequently  the  lesions  of  iisphyxia;  exter- 
nally we  find  ulcers,  abscesses,  and  gangrenous  spots  and  the  deep 
ulcers  resulting  from  the  latter.  The  lymphatic  cords  and  glands  are 
found  with  all  the  lesions  of  lymphangitis.  Again  are  found  the 
traces  of  excessive  emaciation,  or  the  lesions  of  septicemia.  Except 
from  the  complications  the  blood  is  not  altered  in  anasarca. 

Dlagnon'ts. — The  diagnosis  of  anasarca  i^mst principally  be  made  from 
farcy  or  glanders.  In  anasarca  the  swelling  is  nonsensitive,  while  sensi- 
tive in  the  acute  swelling  of  farcy.  The  nodes  of  farcy  are  distinct  and 
hard  and  never  circumscribed,  as  in  the  other  disease.  The  eruption 
of  glanders  on  the  mucous  membranes  is  nodular,  hard,  and  pellet-like. 
The  redness  disappears  on  pressure.  In  case  of  excessive  swelling  of 
the  head  in  anasarca,  there  may  occur  an  extensive  serofibrinous  exu- 
dation from  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  nose,  poured  out  as  a  semi- 
fluid mass  or  as  a  cast  of  the  nasal  fossfc,  never  having  the  appearance 
or  t3'pical  oily  character,  which  it  has  in  glanders.  The  inflammation 
of  the  lymphatic  cords  and  glands  in  anasarca  does  not  produce  the 
hard,  indurated  character  which  is  found  in  farcy. 

Prognosis. — While  anasarca  is  not  an  excessively  fatal  disease,  the 
prognosis  must  alwa}' s  be  guarded.  The  majority  of  cases  run  a  simple 
course  and  terminate  favorably  at  the  end  of  eight  or  ten  da3^s,  or  pos- 
sibly after  one  to  two  relapses,  requiring  several  weeks  for  complete 
recovery.  Effusion  into  the  head  renders  the  prognosis  much  more 
grave  from  the  possible  danger  of  mechanical  asphyxia.  Threatened 
mechanical  asphyxia  is  especial!}"  dangerous  on  account  of  the  risk  of 
blood  poisoning  after  an  operation  of  tracheotom}".  Edema  of  the 
viscera  is  a  most  serious  complication.  The  prognosis  is  based  on  the 
complications,  their  extent,  and  their  individual  gravity  existing,  as 
they  do  here,  in  an  already  debilitated  subject. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  anasai'ca  may  be  as  variable  as  are 
the  lesions.  The  indii-ations  are  at  once  shown  by  the  alterations  and 
mechanism  of  the  disease,  which  we  have  just  studied. 

lij'giene  comes  into  pla}'^  as  the  most  important  factor.     Oats,  oat 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  511 

and  haj  tea,  milk,  eggs — an5^thmg  which  the  stomach  or  rectum  can 
be  coaxed  to  take  care  of — must  be  employed  to  give  the  nutriment 
vrhich  is  the  only  thing  that  will  permanently  strengthen  the  tissues, 
and  they  must  be  strengthened  in  order  to  keep  the  capillaries  at  their 
proper  caliber. 

Laxatives,  diaphoretics,  and  diuretics  must  be  used  to  stimulate  the 
emuncTtories  so  that  thc}^  shall  carry  off  the  large  amount  of  the  prod- 
ucts of  decomposition,  which  result  from  the  stagnated  effusions  of 
anasarca.  Of  these  the  sulphate  of  soda  in  small  repeated  doses,  and 
the  nitrate  of  potash  and  bicarbonate  of  soda  in  small  quantit}- ,  and 
the  chlorate  of  potash  in  single  large  doses,  will  be  found  useful. 
Williams  cites  the  chlorate  of  potash  as  an  antiputrid.  Stimulants 
and  astringents  are  directly  indicated.  Spirits  of  turpentine  serves 
the  double  purpose  of  a  cardiac  stimulant  and  a  powerful  warm  diu- 
retic, for  the  kidneys  in  this  disease  will  stand  a  wonderful  amount  of 
work.  Camphor  can  be  used  with  advantage.  Coffee  and  tea  are  two 
of  the  diffusible  stimulants  which  are  too  much  neglected  in  veterinary 
medicine;  both  are  valuable  adjuncts  in  treatment  in  anasarca,  as  they 
are  during  convalescence  at  the  end  of  any  grave  disease  which  has 
tended  to  render  the  patient  anemic.  Dilute  sulphuric  acid  and 
hydrochloric  acid  are  perhaps  the  best  examples  of  a  combination  of 
stimulant,  astringent,  and  tonic  which  can  be  employed.  The  simple 
astringents  of  mineral  origin,  sulphates  of  iron,  copper,  etc.,  are  use- 
ful as  digestive  tonics;  I  doubt  if  they  have  any  constitutional  effect. 
The  vegetable  astringents,  tannic  acid,  etc.,  have  not  proved  efficacious 
in  m}^  hands.  Iodide  of  potash  in  small  doses  serves  the  triple  pur- 
pose of  digestive  tonic,  denutritive  for  inflammation,  and  diuretic. 
Among  the  newer  forms  of  treatment  are  diluted  Lugol's  solution 
injected  into  the  trachea,  antistreptococcus  serum  and  colloidal  silver 
solution  injected  into  the  circulation.  No  one  but  a  qualified  veteri- 
narian would  be  competent  to  appl}"  these  remedies. 

Externally. — Sponging  the  swollen  parts,  especially  the  head,  when 
the  swelling  occurs  there,  is  most  useful.  The  bath  should  be  at  an 
extreme  of  temperature — either  ice  cold  to  constrict  the  tissues  or  hot 
water  to  act  as  an  emollient  and  to  favor  circulation.  Vinegar  may  be 
added  as  an  astringent.  When  we  have  excessivel}^  denuded  surfaces, 
suppuration,  or  open  wounds,  disinfectants  should  be  added  to  the 
wash. 

\x\  cases  of  excessive  swelling,  especiall}'  of  the  head,  mechanical 
relief  may  be  required.  Punctures  of  the  part  should  be  made  with 
the  hot  iron  even  in  country'  practice,  as  no  other  disease  so  predis- 
poses to  septic  contamination.  When  mechanical  asphyxia  is  threat- 
ened tracheotomy  may  be  demanded.  With  the  first  evidence  of 
dyspnea,  not  due  to  closing  of  the  nostrils  or  glottis,  or  with  the  first 
pawing  which  gives  rise  to  a  suspicion  of  colic,  a  nuistard  plaster 


512  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

should  be  applied  over  the  whole  belh"  and  chest.  The  sinapism  will 
draw  the  current  of  the  circulation  to  the  exterior,  the  metastasis  to 
the  lungs  or  intestines  is  prevented,  and  the  enfeebled  nervous  system 
is  stimulated  to  renewed  vigor  by  the  peripheral  irritation.  The 
organs  are  encouraged  by  it  to  renewed  functional  activity;  the  local 
inflammation  produced  by  it  favors  absorption  of  the  exudation.  The 
objection  to  the  use  of  blisters  is  their  more  severe  action  and  the 
danger  of  mortification.  Septicemia,  when  occurring  as  a  complica- 
tion, requires  the  ordinary  treatment  for  the  putrid  diseases,  with 
little  hope  of  a  good  result. 

After  recovery  the  animal  regains  its  ordinary  hcaltli,  and  there  is 
no  predisposition  to  a  return  of  the  disease. 

STRANGLES. 

[Synonyms:  Distemi>er,  colt-ill,  catarrhal  fever,  one  form  of  shipping  fever,  Fchris 

pyogenica.l 

Definition. — Strangles  is  an  infectious  disease  of  the  horse,  mule, 
and  ass;  seen  most  frequently  in  young  animals,  and  usually  leaving 
an  animal  which  has  had  one  attack  protected  from  future  trouble  of 
the  same  kind.  It  appears  as  a  fever,  lasting  for  a  few  days,  with 
formation  of  matter,  or  pus,  in  the  air  tubes  and  lungs,  and  frequently 
the  formation  of  abscesses  in  various  parts  of  the  bod}^,  both  near  the 
surface  and  in  the  internal  organs.  It  usually  leaves  the  animal  after 
convalescence  perfectly  healthy  and  as  good  as  it  was  before,  l)ut 
sometimes  leaves  it  a  roarer  or  is  followed  by  the  development  ci 
deep-seated  abscesses  which  may  prove  fatal. 

Causes. — The  cause  of  strangles  is  infection  by  direct  contact  with 
an  animal  sufltering  from  the  disease,  or  indirectly  through  contact 
with  the  discharges  from  an  infected  animal,  or  by  means  of  the 
atmosphere  in  which  an  infected  animal  has  been.  There  are  many 
predisposing  causes  which  render  some  animals  much  more  subject  to 
contract  the  disease  than  others.  Early  age,  which  has  given  it  the 
popular  name  of  colt-ill,  offers  many  more  subjects  than  the  later 
periods  of  life  do,  for  the  animal  can  contract  the  disease  but  once, 
and  the  large  majority  of  adult  and  old  animals  have  derived  an  immu- 
nity from  previous  attacks.  At  3,  4,  or  5  years  of  age  the  colt,  Avhich 
has  been  at  home,  safe  on  a  meadow  or  in  a  cozy  barnyard,  far  from 
all  intercourse  with  other  animals  or  sources  of  contagion,  is  first  put 
to  work  and  driven  to  the  market  town  or  count}'  fairs  to  be  exposed 
to  an  atmosphere  or  to  stables  contaminated  by  other  horses  suffering 
from  disease  and  serving  as  infecting  agents.  If  it  fails  to  contract  it 
there,  it  is  sold  and  shipped  in  foul,  undisinfected  railway  cars,  to 
dealers'  stables,  equally  unclean,  where  it  meets  manj^^  opportunities 
of  infection.  If  it  escapes  so  far,  it  reaches  the  time  for  heavier  work 
and  daily  contact  on  the  streets  of  towns  or  large  cities,  with  numer- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  518" 

ous  other  horses  and  mules,  some  of  which  are  sure  to  be  the  bearers 
of  the  germs  of  this  or  some  other  infectious  disease,  and  at  last  it 
succumbs. 

The  period  of  the  eruption  of  the  last  permanent  teeth  or  the  end 
of  the  period  of  development  from  the  colt  to  an  adult  horse,  at  which 
time  the  animals  usually  have  a  tendency  to  fatten  and  be  excessively 
full-blooded,  also  seems  to  be  a  predisposing  period  for  the  contraction- 
of  this  as  well  as  of  the  other  infectious  diseases.  Thoroughbred  colts- 
are  very  susceptible,  and  frequently  contract  strangles  at  a  somewhat 
earlier  age  than  those  of  more  humble  origin.  Mules  and  asses  are- 
much  less  susceptible  and  are  bvit  rarely  affected.  Other  animals  are 
not  subject  to  this  disease,  but  there  is  a  certain  analogy  between  it 
and  distemper  in  dogs.  After  exposure  to  infection  there  is  a  period 
of  incubation  of  the  disease,  lasting  from  two  to  four  days,  during 
which  the  animal  enjoys  its  ordinary  health. 

Sxjmptoms. — The  horse  at  first  is  a  little  sluggish  if  used,  or  when* 
placed  in  its  stable,  is  somewhat  dejected,  paying  but  moderate  atten- 
tion to  the  various  disturbing  surroundings.  Its  appetite  is  somewhat 
diminished  in  many  cases,  while  in  some  cases  the  animal  eats  well 
throughout.  Thirst  is  increased,  but  not  a  great  deal  of  water  is  takei> 
at  one  time.  If  a  bucket  of  water  is  placed  in  the  manger  the  patient 
will  dip  its  nose  into  it  and  swallow  a  few  mouthfuls,  allowing  some 
of  it  to  drip  back,  and  then  stop,  to  return  to  it  in  a  short  time.  The 
coat  becomes  dry  and  the  hairs  stand  on  end.  At  times  the  horse  will 
have  chills  of  one  or  the  other  leg,  the  fore  quarters,  or  hind  quarters, 
or  in  severe  cases  of  the  whole  body,  with  trembling  of  the  muscles 
and  dryness  of  the  skin. 

If  the  eyes  and  mouth  are  examined  the  membranes  are  found  red- 
dened to  a  bright  ros}^  color.  The  pulse  is  quickened  and  the  breathing 
may  be  slightly  accelerated.  At  the  end  of  a  couple  of  days  a  couf;b 
is  heard  and  a  discharge  begins  to  come  from  the  nostrils.  This  dis- 
charge is  at  first  watery;  it  then  becomes  thicker,  somewhat  bluish  va 
color,  and  sticky,  and  finally  it  assumes  the  yellowish  color  of  matter 
and  increases  greatly  in  quantity. 

At  the  outset  the  colt  may  sneeze  occasionally  and  a  cough  is  heard. 
The  cough  is  at  first  repeated  and  harsh,  but  soon  becomes  softer  and 
moist  as  the  discharge  increases.  Again  the  cough  varies  according 
to  the  source  of  the  discharge,  for  in  light  cases  this  maj^  be  only  a 
catarrh  of  the  nasal  canals,  or  it  may  be  from  the  throat,  the  wind- 
pipe, or  the  air  tube^  of  the  lungs,  or  even  from  the  lungs  themselves. 
According  to  the  organ  affected  the  sj'mptoms  and  character  of  cough 
will  be  similar  to  those  of  a  laryngitis,  bronchitis,  or  lung  fever  caused 
by  ordinary  cold. 

Shortl}'^  after  the  discharge  is  seen  a  swelling  takes  place  under  the 
jaw,  or  in  the  intermaxillary  space.  This  is  at  first  pufiy,  swollen^ 
14384—03 33 


514  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

somewhat  hot  and  tender,  and  finally  becomes  distinctly  so,  and  an 
abscess  is  felt,  or  having  broken  itself  the  discharge  is  seen  dripping 
from  a  small  opening.  When  the  discharge  from  the  nostrils  has  fully 
developed  the  fever  usually  disappears  and  the  animal  regains  its  appe- 
tite, unless  the  swelling  is  sufficient  to  interfere  with  the  function  of 
the  throat,  causing  pain  on  any  attempt  to  swallow.  At  the  end  of 
four  or  six  days  the  discharge  lessens,  the  soreness  around  the  throat 
diminishes,  the  horse  regains  its  appetite,  and  in  two  weeks  has  re- 
gained its  usual  condition.  Old  and  strong  horses  maj-  have  the  disease 
in  so  light  a  form  that  the  fever  is  not  noticeable;  they  may  continue 
to  eat  and  perform  their  ordinar}"  work  as  usual  and  no  sj'mptom  may 
be  seen  beyond  a  slight,  discharge  from  the  nose  and  a  rare  cough, 
■which  is  not  sufficient  to  worry  any  but  the  most  particular  owner. 
But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  disease  may  assume  a  malignant  form  or 
become  complicated  so  as  to  l^ecome  a  most  serious  disease,  and  even 
prove  fatal  in  many  cases.  Inflammation  of  the  larynx  and  bronchi, 
if  excessive,  will  produce  violent,  harsh  coughing,  which  may  almost 
asphyxiate  the  animal.  The  large  amount  of  discharge  may  be  mixed 
with  air  by  the  difficult  breathing,  and  the  nostrils,  the  front  of  the 
animal,  manger  and  surrounding  objects  become  covered  with  a  white 
foam.  The  inflammation  may  be  in  the  lung  itself  {lobular  pneumonia) 
and  cause  the  animal  to  breathe  heavilv,  heave  at  the  flanks,  and  show 
great  distress.  In  this  condition  marked  symptoms  of  fever  are  seen; 
the  appetite  is  lost,  the  coat  is  dry,  the  horse  stands  back  in  its  stall  at 
the  end  of  the  halter  strap  with  its  neck  extended  and  its  legs  propped 
apart  to  favor  breathing.  This  condition  may  end  by  resolution, 
leaving  the  horse  for  some  time  with  a  severe  cough,  or  the  animal 
mav  die  from  choking  up  of  the  lungs  (asphyxia). 

The  swelling  under  the  jaw  may  be  excessive,  and  if  the  abscess  is 
not  opened  it  burrows  toward  the  throat  or  to  the  side  and  causes 
inflammation  of  the  parotid  glands  and  breaks  in  annoj'ing  fistulas  at 
the  sides  of  the  throat  and  even  up  as  high  as  the  ears.  Roaring  may 
occur  cither  during  a  moderately  severe  attack  from  inflammation  of 
the  throat  (larynx),  or  at  a  later  period  as  the  result  of  continued  lung 
trouble.  Abscesses  may  develop  in  other  parts  of  the  body,  in  the 
poll,  in  the  withers,  or  in  the  spaces  of  loose  tissue  under  the  arms, 
in  the  fold  of  the  thigh,  and,  in  entire  horses,  in  the  testicles. 

During  the  course  of  the  disease,  or  later,  when  the  animal  seems  to 
be  on  the  road  to  perfect  recovery,  abscesses  may  form  in  the  internal 
organs  and  produce  symptoms  characteristic  of  disease  of  those  parts. 

Roaring,  plunging,  wandering  in  a  circle,  or  standing  w  ith  the  head 
wedged  in  a  corner  of  the  stall  indicate  the  collection  of  matter  in  the 
brain.  Sudden  and  severe  lung  S3'mptoms,  without  previous  dis- 
charge, ix)int  to  an  abscess  between  the  lungs,  in  the  mediastinum; 
colic,  which  is  often  continuous  for  days,  is  the  result  of  the  forma- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOliSE.  515 

tion  of  an  abscess  in  some  part  of  tlie  abdominal  cavit}^,  usually  in  the 
mesenteiy. 

Pathology. — The  lesions  of  strangles  are  found  on  the  surface  of  the 
mucous  membranes,  essential!}^  of  the  respirator}^  system  and  in  the 
loose  connective  tissue  fibers  of  the  internal  organs  and  glands,  and 
consist  of  acute  inflammator}^  changes,  tending  to  the  formation  of 
matter.  The  blood  is  unaltered,  though  it  is  rich  in  fibrin,  and  if  the 
animal  has  died  of  asphj'xia  it  is  found  dark  colored  and  uncoagulatcd 
when  the  body  is  first  opened.  If  the  animal  has  died  while  suifering 
from  high  fever  the  ordinary  alterations  throughout  the  body,  which 
are  produced  by  any  fever  not  attended  by  alteration  of  blood,  are 
found. 

Treatment. — Ordinar}"  light  cases  require  but  little  treatment  beyond 
diet,  warm  washes,  moistened  hay,  warm  coverings,  and  protection 
from  exposure  to  cold.  The  latter  is  urgentl}^  called  for,  as  lung  com- 
plications, severe  bronchitis,  and  laryngitis  are  often  the  results  of 
neglect  of  this  precaution.  If  the  fever  is  excessive  the  horse  may 
receive  small  quantities  of  Glauber's  salts  (handful  three  times  a  day), 
as  a  laxative,  bicarbonate  of  soda  or  niter  in  1-dram  doses  every  few 
hours,  and  small  doses  of  antimon}',  iodide  of  potash,  aconite,  or  qui- 
nine. Steaming  the  head  with  the  vapor  of  warm  water  poured  over 
a  bucket  of  bran  and  hay,  in  which  belladonna  leaves  or  tar  have  been 
placed,  will  allay  the  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membranes  and 
greatl}'  ease  the  cough. 

The  swelling  of  the  glands  should  be  promptly  treated  by  bathing 
with  warm  water  and  flaxseed  poultices,  and  as  soon  as  there  is  any 
evidence  of  the  formation  of  matter  it  should  be  opened.  Prompt 
action  in  this  will  often  save  serious  complications.  Blisters  and  irri- 
tating liniments  should  oiot  be  applied  to  the  throat.  When  lung  com- 
plications show  themselves  the  horse  should  have  mustard  applied  to 
the  bell}'  and  to  the  sides  of  the  chest.  When  convalescence  begins 
great  care  must  be  taken  not  to  expose  the  animal  to  cold,  which  may 
bring  on  relapses,  and  while  exercise  is  of  great  advantage  it  must  not 
be  turned  into  work  until  the  animal  has  entirely  regained  its  strength. 


The  differentiation  of  the  various  diseases  which  have  popularly 
been  included  under  the  terms  of  distemper  and  influenza  up  to  a  com- 
paratively recent  date,  has  been  so  slow  and  so  tardil}-  accepted  b}^  the 
niajorit}'  of  practitioners  that  wc  have  been  subjected  to  constantly 
seeing  announced  and  heralded  as  news  iii  the  daily  papers  the  appear- 
ance of  some  new  disease.  These  new  diseases  of  the  populace  and  of 
the. empiric  are  to  us  but  the  epizootic  outbreak  or  the  more  severely 
manifested  form  of  some  ordinary  contagious  disease. 

There  is,  however,  one  of  the  contagious  fevers  of  the  horse  which 


516  BUHEAU    OV    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

has  constantly  been  confounded  with  other  diseases,  and  which  has 
not  been  separated  from  them  in  our  English  text-books.  As  this  dis- 
ease has  received  no  proper  name  in  English,  I  shall  use  for  it  the 
name  given  bj^  Professor  Dieckerhoff,  of  Berlin,  Avho  first  described  it 
in  the  Adams  Wochenschrift,  XXIX,  in  1885. 

Etymology. — The  term  "scalma"  is  derived  from  the  old  German 
word  sccdmo.,  scelmo,  schelm.,  which  indicates  roguishness,  or  knavish- 
ness,  as  great  nervous  irritability,  especialh^  of  the  temper,  is  one  of 
the  characteristic,  almost  diagnostic,  symptoms  of  this  disease.  The 
term  '''■HeimtucMsche  Krankheit.:''  signifying  malicious,  treacherous, 
or  mischievous,  is  also  employed  in  German  for  the  same  trouble.  1 
am  not  aware  of  any  name  in  English  or  French  which  has  been  applied 
to  it. 

As  I  am  opposed  to  employing  in  veterinary  medicine  anj^  of  the 
nomenclature  of  human  medicine,  except  for  identical,  simple,  and 
inflammatory  diseases,  or  for  intercommunicable  contagious  diseases, 
I  will  not  offer  the  term  "  whooping  cough"  as  a  name,  but  I  will  sug- 
gest a  certain  similarity  between  the  latter  disease  in  man  and  scalma 
in  the  horse. 

Definition. — Scalma  is  a  contagious  and  infectious  febrile  disease  of 
the  horse,  with  local  lesions  of  the  bronchi,  trachea,  and  larynx,  which 
is  evidenced  by  cough.  It  is  further  characterized  by  great  irritability 
of  temper.  It  occurs  as  a  stable  plague;  that  is,  in  enzootic  form, 
with,  however,  great  variations  in  the  susceptibility  of  the  animals  to 
contract  it.     It  is  rarely  fatal  except  from  complications. 

Incubation. — The  period  of  incubation  is  from  six  to  seven  days,  but 
the  disease  may  develop  in  two  days  after  exposure  or  it  may  delay  its 
appearance  for  ten  AajB.  It  spreads  through  a  stable  slowly,  develop- 
ing at  times  in  a  horse  placed  in  a  stall  where  the  previously  sick  one 
had  stood,  or  it  ma}^  ])ass  next  to  an  animal  several  stalls  away.  One 
attack  is  usually  protective. 

Symjytoins. — The  symptoms  are  ushered  in  b}"  fever,  in  which  the 
acceleration  of  the  pulse  and  respiration  is  in  no  way  in  accord  with 
the  great  elevation  of  temperature.  With  the  appearance  of  the  fever 
is  developed  a  diffuse  bronchitis,  which  is,  however,  subacute  both  in 
its  character  and  in  its  course.  At  times  the  trouble  of  the  bronchi 
may  extend  to  the  trachea,  larynx,  pharynx,  or  even  to  the  nasal  fosste. 

In  two  or  three  days  a  trifling  grayish  albuminous  discharge  from 
the  nostrils  occurs,  which  continues,  variable  in  quantity,  for  eight  to 
fourteen  days,  or  may  even  last  for  three  weeks.  The  cough  is  short, 
rough,  and  painful,  spasmodic  in  its  occurrence  and  in  character.  The 
slight  watery  or  slimy  discharge  may  become  more  profuse,  purulent, 
or  even  "rusty,"  if  the  bronchitis  has  extended  to  the  neighboring 
structures.  Pharyngeal  discharge  may  take  place.  The  respiration  is 
moderate  and  affected  only  during  an  excess  of  coughing,  or  in  com- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  51 T 

plicated  cases.  The  pulse  undergoes  but  little  quickening.  The 
temperature  rises  rapidly  to  102.2°,  104°,  and  in  some  cases  even  to 
107.5°  F.  The  latter  temperature  usuall}^,  but  not  alwaj^s,  indicates 
complication  by  pleurisy.  In  ordinary  cases  the  temperature  drops 
in  two  or  three  daj's  after  the  appearance  of  the  cough.  The  skin  is 
dry  and  rough,  with  the  hairs  on  end,  but  the  horse  appears  as  an  ani- 
mal out  of  condition  rather  than  as  a  sick  one.  Emaciation  may  be 
rapid.  The  mucous  membranes  are  moderatel}'  reddened.  The  appe- 
tite is  diminished,  but  the  animal  chews  constantly.  Deglutition, 
either  of  food  or  water,  is  frequently  the  cause  of  spasms  of  coughing, 
and  these  in  turn  seem  to  warn  the  animal  against  attempts  at  swal- 
lowing. On  percussion  no  alteration  of  resonance  is  to  be  detected. 
On  auscultation  of  the  lungs  mucous  rales  are  heard,  with  at  times 
tubular  breathing;  the  latter,  however,  we  will  study  under  the  com- 
plications, as  also  the  friction  warning  of  pleurisy.  Throughout  the 
course  of  the  disease  we  have  still  one  constant  and  characteristic 
83-mptom — nervous  irritability.  With  temperature  of  101°  to  107°  F., 
the  horse  still  flinches  to  the  touch  on  the  loins;  it  stands  frequently 
with  the  head  up,  and  is  on  the  alert  for  the  entrance  of  any  one  to 
the  stall.  The  previously  good-tempered  and  quiet  horse  will  turn 
and  bite,  will  strike  with  the  hind  legs,  or  at  the  first  touch  to  the 
side,  head,  or  throat  will  half  rear  and  back  into  the  corner  of  the  box, 
or,  breaking  the  halter,  turn  backward  out  of  the  stall.* 

The  course  of  the  disease  is  from  five  to  eight  days,  but  the  cough 
may  continue  for  two  or  three  weeks  with  variable  elevation  of  tem- 
perature. As  a  stable  plague  the  course  is  from  two  to  three  months, 
as  the  contagion  is  much  more  uncertain  than  in  strangles  or  influenza. 
The  termination  is  hy  resolution  and  recovery  or  hj  complications. 
In  resolution  the  temperature  drops,  the  cough  becomes  less  frequent 
and  less  spasmodic  in  character,  the  appetite  returns,  and  no  sign  is 
left  of  the  disease  except  the  fever  mark  on  the  hoof. 

Complications. — The  complications  are  excessive  spasms  and  pleurisy. 
In  the  former  the  cough  may  be  so  violent  as  to  convulse  the  whole 
animal,  the  legs  are  spread  and  fixed,  with  the  hind  ones  drawn  slightly 
under  the  body.  The  head  and  neck  are  extended,  with  the  muscles 
tense.  The  cough  comes  out  b}^  rapidly  succeeding  efforts,  or  with  the 
first  sound  the  larjmx  seems  to  close  for  a  moment  before  the  rest  can 
follow.  In  two  cases  of  my  own  the  spasm  has  been  so  great  that  the 
animal  has  fallen  to  the  ground.  During  these  accesses  the  respira- 
tion becomes  accelerated,  and  on  auscultation  of  the  trachea  and  lungs 
the  tubular  murmur  of  an  apparent  pneumonia  can  be  heard.  This 
false  murmur,  however,  disappears  at  the  end  of  the  attack.  In  the 
case  which  fell  to  the  ground  the  horse  would  lie  for  a  moment  or  two 
absolutely  motionless.  (In  the  first  I  believed  that  he  had  broken  his 
neck.)    The  rapid  respiration  was  then  followed  by  a  long  inspiration, 


518  BUKEAU    OF    A2s'IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

the  animal  regained  his  feet,  the  respiration  became  almost  normal 
and  the  tubular  nuirmur  had  disappeared.  I  have  seen  no  fatal  ter- 
mination from  this  spasm  of  the  pneumogastric,  but  can  readil}^ 
believe  that  traumatisms  resulting  from  sueh  attaclcs  might  prove 
fatal,  or  that  the  spasm  might  continue  long  enough  to  produce 
asphj'xia.  The  fatiil  complication  is  pleurisy.  This  occurs  when  the 
horse  has  been  kept  at  work  after  the  development  of  the  disease 
while  suffering  from  a  high  fever,  and  is  probably  in  no  way  specific, 
but  the  result  of  work  on  an  animal  with  high  temperature.  The 
additional  symptoms  are  those  of  an  ordinary'  pleurisv. 

Diagnosis. — The  diagnosis  is  based  upon  the  elevation  of  the  tempera- 
ture without  corresponding  acceleration* of  the  pulse  and  of  the  respira- 
tions; upon  the  retention  of  appetite  and  spinal  reflex,  with  the  great 
irritability  of  temper  in  the  presence  of  a  high  temperature,  and  upon 
the  spasmodic  cough  and  auscultatory  sounds  of  bronchitis  with  but 
trifling  discharge. 

The  diagnosis  is  made  from  edematous  pneumonia  by  the  absence  of 
the  yellow  colorations,  the  absence  of  pneumonia,  and  the  less  continu- 
ous high  temperature;  from  influenza  by  the  absence  of  edema,  of  the 
ocher  coloration,  and  of  the  typhoid  symptoms;  from  strangles  b}'  want 
of  enlargement  of  the  lymphatics,  absence  of  purulent  discharge  and 
abscesses;  from  variola  h\  the  nonappearance  of  pustules  and  enlarged 
lymphatics;  from  simple  bronchitis,  as  the  latter  is  sporadic,  and  in  it 
great  fever  is  accompanied  hy  profuse  discharge;  from  rheumatic  pleu- 
risy and  pleurodvnia  by  the  history  in  these  of  repeated  attacks  and 
great  temporar}'  pain;  from  surgical  fever  b}-  tlic  absence  of  cause. 

Prognosis. — The  prognosis  is  usually  favorable.  This  disease  entails 
only  the  loss  of  ten  da3's'  to  three  weeks'  use  of  the  animal,  and  leaves 
the  subject  with  no  complicating  sequelae.  In  some  cases  I  have  seen 
the  irritable  disposition  remain  for  a  length  of  time,  but  in  ever}-  case 
it  has  finally  disappeared.  As  I  have  suggested,  violent  spasms  might 
prove  fatal.  Pleuris}"  would  render  the  prognosis  serious,  as  the  same 
disease  would  when  occurring  from  simple  causes. 

Tre^itmenf. — The  treatment  of  a  stable  should  be  at  once  prophylactic. 
The  infected  animals  should  be  removed,  and  complete  disinfection  of 
the  stalls  and  area  should  be  made.  The  individual  treatment  is  sim- 
ple. The  hygienic  measures  of  cleanliness,  fresh  air  without  drafts, 
frequent  rul)bing,  and  tempting  food  should  be  thorough.  The  diges- 
tive tract  is  to  be  regulated  b}"  small  doses  of  bicarbonate  of  soda, 
sulphate  of  soda,  gentian,  and  tannic  acid.  The  appetite  is  to  be  stimu- 
lated hy  drinks  of  cold  breakfast  tea  and  cow's  milk.  Antispasmodics 
are  to  be  used  when  the  cough  is  excessive.  The  best  of  these  are 
camphor,  belladonna,  stramonium,  and  steaming  with  turpentine 
(turpentine  1  ounce,  water  half  bucket).  External  frictions  of  alco- 
hol and  turpentine,  with  hot  packs  to  the  loins,  will  also  afford  relief. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  519 

Quinine  and  salicj^lic  acid  uiay  1x3  used  during  the  elevation  of  tem- 
perature. Professor  Dieckerhoff  recommends  tracheal  injections  in 
1-ouncc  doses  of  the  following  solution:  Acetate  of  aluminum,  1  per 
cent;  alum,  one-half  of  1  to  1  per  cent;  bromide  of  potash,  1  to  2  per 
cent;  water,  100  per  cent. 

EDEMATOUS   rNEUMOlvIA. 

[Synonyms:  Contagious  pneumonia;  adynamic  iineumonia;  hospital,  or  stable, 
pneumonia;  equine  pleuropneumonia;  influenza;  pedoralla  cquorum;  pleuropneu- 
monia; contagiosa  equorum;  hriistsmche,  German.] 

Definition. — This  disease  is  the  adynamic  pneumonia  of  the  older 
veterinarians  who  did  not  recognize  any  essential  difference  in  its 
nature  from  an  ordinary  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  except  in  the  pro- 
found sedation  of  the  force  of  the  animal  affected  with  it,  which  is  a 
prominent  symptom  from  the  outset  of  the  disease.  Again,  this  same 
prostration  of  the  vital  force  of  the  animal,  combined  with  the  stag- 
gering movement  and  want  of  coordination  of  the  muscles  of  the  ani- 
mal caused  it  for  a  long  time  to  be  confounded  with  influenza,  with 
which  at  certain  periods  it  certainly  has  a  strong  analogy  of  symptoms, 
but  from  which,  as  from  sporadic  pneumonia,  it  can  b.e  separated  very 
readily  if  the  case  can  be  followed  throughout  its  whole  course. 

Edematous  pneumonia  is  a  specific  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  accom- 
panied by  interstitial  edema  and  inflammation  of  the  tissues  of  these 
organs  and  a  constitutional  disturbance  and  fever.  It  causes  a  pro- 
found sedation  of  the  nervous  system,  which  may  be  so  great  as  to 
cause  death.  It  is  sometimes  attended  b}'  pleurisy,  inflammation  of 
the  heart,  or  septic  complications  which  also  prove  fatal. 

Etiology. — "While,  as  an  infectious  disease,  its  original  cause  is  due 
to  a  specific  virus,  there  are  many  predisposing  causes  which  act  as 
important  factors  in  aiding  in  its  development.  Such  causes  are  any 
influences  that  lessen  the  general  vigor. 

Old,  cold,  damp,  foul,  unclean,  and  badlj^  drained  and  ventilated 
stables  allow  rapid  dissemination  of  the  disease  to  other  horses  in  the 
same  stable  and  act  as  rich  reservoirs  for  preserving  the  contagion, 
which  may  be  retained  for  over  a  year. 

The  virus  is  but  moderately  volatile,  and  in  a  stable  seems  rather  to 
follov»'  the  lines  of  the  walls  and  irregular  courses  than  the  direct  cur- 
rents of  air  and  the  tracts  of  ventilation.  Professor  Dieckerhoff  found 
that  the  contagion  of  influenza  was  readily  diffusible  throughout  an 
entire  stable  and  through  any  opening  to  other  buildings,  but  he  also 
found  that  the  contagion  of  edematous  pneumonia  is  not  transmissi- 
ble at  any  great  distance,  nor  is  it  very  diffusible  in  the  atmosphere. 
A  brick  wall  8  feet  in  height  served,  in  one  instance,  to  prevent  the 
infection  of  other  animals  placed  on  the  opposite  side  from  a  horse  ill 
with  the  disease,  while  others  placed  on  the  same  side  and  separated 


520  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

from  the  focus  of  contagion  only  by  open  bars  in  the  stall  Avcre 
infected  and  developed  the  disease  in  its  tj^pical  form. 

Si/i/tptoms. — The  symptoms  differ  slightly  from  those  of  a  frank, 
fibrinous  pneumonia,  but  not  so  much  by  the  introduction  of  new 
symptoms  as  by  the  want  of  or  absence  of  the  distinct  evidences  of 
local  lesions  which  are  found  in  the  latter  disease.  All  of  the  pneu- 
monias throughout  the  whole  course  of  the  trouble  are  less  marked 
and  less  clearl}^  defined. 

The  symptoms  may  develop  slowh'  or  rapidly.  If  slowly,  there  is 
fever  and  the  animal  gives  a  rare  cough  which  veseiubles  that  of  a 
heavy  horse  affected  with  a  slight  chronic  bronchitLs;  it  becomes  some- 
what dejected  and  dull,  at  times  somnolent,  and  has  a  diminished 
appetite.  This  condition  lasts  for  several  days,  or  the  disease  may 
begin  with  high  fever,  and  the  symptoms  described  below  are  severe, 
and  develop  in  rapid  sequence.  The  respiration  increases  to  2-1,  30, 
or  30  to  the  minute,  and  a  small,  running,  soft  pulse  attains  a  rhythm 
of  50,  70,  or  even  more  beats  in  the  sixty  seconds.  The  heart,  how- 
ever, contrary  to  the  debilitated  condition  of  the  pulse,  is  found  beating 
violentl}'  and  tumultuously,  like  it  does  in  anthrax  and  septic  intoxi- 
cation. The  mucous  membranes  of -the  eyes  and  mouth  and  of  the 
genital  organs  are  found  somewhat  edematous,  and  they  rapidl}'^  assume 
a  dirt}",  saffron  color,  at  times  approaching  an  ochcr,  but  distin- 
guishable from  the  similar  coloration  in  influenza  by  the  want  of  the 
luster  belonging  to  the  latter  and  by  the  muddy,  dull  tint,  which  is 
characteristic  throughout  the  disease. 

Suddenl}',  without  the  preliminary  rales  wliich  precede  grave  lesions 
of  the  lungs  in  other  diseases,  the  blowing  murmur  of  pneumonia  is 
heard  over  a  variable  area  of  the  chest,  usually,  however,  much  more 
distinctly  over  the  trachea  at  the  base  of  the  neck  and  directly  behind 
the  shoulder  on  either  side  of  the  chest.  In  some  cases  the  evidence 
of  lung  lesion  can  onlj^  be  detected  over  the  trachea.  The  lesions  of 
the  lungs  may  be  scattered  through  both  lungs,  involving  numerous 
small  areas,  or  they  may  be  confined  to  and  more  or  less  fully  occup}^ 
one  or  two  lobes.  Occasionally  there  is  a  general  involvement  of 
both  lungs.  The  body  temperature  has  now  reached  104°  or  105°  F., 
or  in  extreme  cases  even  a  degree  higher.  The  debility  of  the  animal 
is  great  without  the  stupefaction  or  evidence  of  cerebral  trouble,  which 
is  constant  with  such  grave  constitutional  phenomena  in  influenza  or 
severe  pneumonias.  The  animal  is  subject  to  occasional  chills,  and  on 
movement  staggers  in  its  gait.  The  j'ellow  coloration  of  the  visible 
mucous  membrane  is  rendered  pale  by  infiltration  of  the  liquid  of  the 
blood  into  the  tissues;  the  pulse  ma.j  become  so  soft  as  to  be  almost 
imperceptible,  the  heart  movement  and  sounds  being  at  the  same  time 
exaggerated.  Tlie  animal  loses  flesh  rapidh',  and  dropsies  of  the 
extremities,  of  the  under  surface  of  the  bell}',  or  of  the  internal  organs 
may  show  themselves. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  521 

Terminations. — These  symptoms  may  gradually  subside  after  five 
to  eight  days,  with  an  improved  appetite  the  inanition  may  cease  and 
the  animal  commence  to  nourish  its  impoverished  blood  and  tissues; 
the  pulse  becomes  stronger  and  the  heart  more  regular  and  less  tumul- 
tuous; the  mucous  membranes  assume  a  brighter  and  more  distinct 
color;  the  difficult}^  of  respiration  is  removed,  and  the  animal  may 
make  a  recovery.  When  death  occurs  it  is  usuall}^  directly  due  to 
heart  failure;  in  some  cases  it  is  caused  b}^  asphyxia,  owing  to  the 
great  amount  of  exudation  into  the  lung  tissue,  rendering  its  further 
function  impossible. 

Complications. — The  pulmonary  complications  of  edematous  pneu- 
monia are  secondary  inllammator}^  or  necrotic  changes  in  the  lungs 
themselves.  Suppuration  at  times  takes  place  in  the  bronchi  and  may 
extend  to  the  lung  tissue.  In  this  case  mucous  rales  develop  which  are 
most  distinctly  heard  over  the  trachea  and  on  the  sides  of  .the  chest 
directly  behind  the  shoulders.  With  the  development  of  the  mucous 
rales,  to  be  heard  on  auscultation,  we  have  a  more  purulent  discharge 
from  the  nostrils,  similar  to  that  of  a  chronic  or  subacute  bronchitis. 
If  the  inflammation  has  been  of  some  standing,  cavernous  rales  may  be 
heard  indicating  the  destruction  of  a  considerable  portion  of  lung  tissue 
arid  the  formation  of  a  cavity.  The  effects  of  this  more  acute  inflamma- 
tor}'-  process  are  not  appreciable  in  the  general  condition  of  the 
animal,  except  to  still  further  weaken  it  and  add  to  its  debilitated 
and  emaciated  cachexia.  Gangrene  sometimes  occurs.  A  sudden 
rise  of  the  body  temperature  of  1°  or  2",  with  a  more  enfeebled 
pulse  and  a  still  more  tumultuous  heart,  develop  simultaneously  with 
the  appearance  of  a  discharge  from  the  nostrils.  This  discharge  is 
gray  in  color,  serous  or  water}'  in  consistenc}^,  mixed  with  the  detritus 
of  broken-down  lung  tissue,  and  sometimes  contains  clots  of  blood,  or 
in  more  serious  cases  may  be  marked  by  a  quantity  of  fluid  blood 
from  a  hemorrhage,  which  proves  fatal.  The  discharge  is  fetid  to  the 
smell.  The  animal  emaciates  rapidly.  On  examination  of  the  lungs 
mucous  rales  are  heard  in  the  larger  bronchi,  cavities  maj'  be  found  at 
any  part  of  these  organs,  and  points  of  lobular  pneumonia  ma}-  be 
detected. 

A  verj'  serious  complication  is  an  inflammation  of  the  heart  mus- 
cle. This  is  shown  by  a  very  weak  and  rapid  pulse,  great  prostration, 
some  filling  of  the  lungs.  This  complication  nearly  alwaj'S  terminates 
in  death.  Other  complications  which  may  be  mentioned  are  inflam- 
mation of  the  kidneys,  blood  poisoning,  congestion  of  the  brain,  and 
inflammation  of  the  tendinous  sheaths  and  the  tendons  of  the  legs. 

Diagnosis. — As  fever  is  the  first  symptom  of  edematous  pneumonia, 
it  is  useful  during  an  outbreak  of  this  disease  to  make  daily  tempera- 
ture measurements  of  the  exposed  horses,  so  that  the  first  indication 
of  disease  may  be  discovered  and  the  horse  removed  from  contact  with 
those  that  are  sound. 


522  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Prognosis. — The  mortality  in  thi.s  disease  may  ))e  as  high  as  25  per 
cent,  but  it  is  usuall}^  not  more  than  10  per  cent.  If  there  is  a  special 
tendency  to  complications  of  some  sort,  the  mortality  is  increased. 

Altei'atloits. — At  the  time  of  death  from  edematous  pneumonia  we 
frequently  find  septic  changes  and  the  evidences  of  putrefaction.  The 
solidification  of  the  lung  tissue  is  found  irregular  in  shape  and  high  up 
around  the  root  of  the  lungs  and  around  the  large  bronchi,  and  is  gen- 
erally covered  by  sound  lung  tissue.  The  anterior  lobes  of  the  lungs 
are  usually  entirely  affected.  The  diseased  portion  appears  of  a  gv».y 
yellowish  color,  somewhat  watery,  and  tears  readih'.  Matter  is  found 
in  the  air  tubes  which  form  gutters  through  the  jell}' -like  mass  of  the 
diseased  lung.  Abscesses  from  the  size  of  a  nut  to  larger  masses  may 
be  found  disseminated  through  the  lungs.  The  blood  is  dark  in  color, 
fluid,  or  only  clotted  into  soft,  jelly-like  masses.  Masses  of  gangre- 
nous or  dead  black  tissue  ma}^  be  present. 

Treatment. — Bleeding  is  not  to  be  used  Ix'cause  it  would  only  still 
further  weaken  an  already  enfeebled  animal;  antimony  or  the  alterants 
would  increase  the  depression  of  a  too  depraved  constitution.  There 
is  in  this  disease  no  acute  congestion  of  a  particular  organ  to  draw  off 
b}'^  depletive  measures,  nor  any  violent  blood  current  to  be  retarded, 
for  fear  of  hypernutrition  of  any  special  part. 

Revulsives  do  good,  as  thej^  excite  the  nervous  s3'Stem  and  awaken 
the  torpor  of  the  weakened  blood  vessels,  which  aid  in  the  reestablish- 
ment  of  the  functions.  Mustard  poultices  may  be  applied  over  the 
belly  and  sides  of  the  chest,  as  in  other  diseases,  but  caution  must  be 
used  in  the  employment  of  blisters,  as  ugly  ulcers  ma}^  result  from 
their  action  on  a  tissue  of  weakened  vitality.  Setons  are  dangerous 
from  the  great  tendency  in  this  disease  to  septic  complications. 
Repeated  friction  of  the  legs  by  hand-rubbing  and  warmth  by  banda- 
ging and  b}"  rubl)ing  the  surface  of  the  body  with  turpentine  and 
alcohol,  which  is  immediatelv  to  be  dried  by  rough  towels,  will  excite 
the  circulation  and  stimulate  the  emunctories  of  the  skin. 

Stimulants  are  given  internally  from  the  outset  of  the  disease.  Tur- 
pentine in  1-dram  doses  regulates  the  heart  and  excites  the  kidneys  to 
carry  off  waste  matter,  but  if  repeated  too  frequently  may  disturl)  the 
alread}^  delicate  digestive  system.  Alcohol  rectifies  the  latter  danger, 
and  is  a  useful  stimulant  to  the  heart  and  digestive  system,  if  given 
with  care  in  small  doses.  It  is  an  antiputrid,  and  is  especiall}'  indi- 
cated when  septic  complications  and  gangrene  are  present.  The  aro- 
matics  and  bitter  tonics  are  useful;  gentian  and  tea  in  warm  decoction 
form  a  useful  menstruum  for  other  remedies.  Digitalis  is  a  useful 
remed}'.  Strichnine  and  quinine  may  be  given  throughout  almost  the 
whole  course  of  the  disease.  The  various  preparations  of  iron  are 
astringents  and  excitants  to  the  digestive  system.  Carbolic  acid  is  an 
antiputrid  which  is  of  marked  benefit  in  edematous  pneumonia;  it 
should  be  given  in  small  doses  diluted  in  alcohol. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  523 

Salicylic  acid  ma}^  be  g-iven  in  1  or  2  dram  doses  every  few  hours. 
It  is  much  used  for  troubles  of  the  serous  membranes,  lowers  the  tem- 
perature, and  is  of  value  in  this  disease  in  preventing-  the  exudation 
into  the  tissue  of  the  lungs.  The  alkalines,  as  the  sulphate  and  bicar- 
bonate of  soda,  the  nitrate  of  potash,  and  verj^  small  doses  of  the  iodide 
of  potash,  should  be  employed  to  regulate  the  digestive  tract,  the  kid- 
nej'S,  and  the  other  excreting  glands,  and  to  stimulate  absorption  of 
the  waste  matter. 

Serums  and  antitoxins  have  been  used  in  the  treatment  of  this  dis- 
ease, especially  in  Germany.  The  results  appear  to  show  some  benefit 
in  some  instances,  but  none  in  others;  altogether  they  are  not  especially 
encouraging. 

The  diet  demands  the  strictest  attention  from  the  outset.  In  many 
of  the  fevers  the  food  has  to  be  diminished  in  quantity  and  regulated 
in  the  quality  of  its  heat-producing  components  during  the  acute  part 
of  the  disease,  so  as  to  lessen  the  material  for  combustion  in  the 
inflamed  organs.  In  edematous  pneumonia,  on  the  contrary,  all  the 
food  that  can  possibl}"  be  digested  and  assimilated  must  be  given. 
Choice  must  be  made  of  the  richest  material  which  can  be  handled  by 
the  vreakened  stomach  and  intestines  without  fatiguing  them.  Good, 
sound  ha}"  should  be  chopped  short  and  dampened  or  parth^  boiled;  in 
the  latter  case  the  hay  tea  can  be  reserved  to  use  as  a  drink.  Oats 
may  be  preferred  dr}"  or  in  other  cases  will  be  taken  better  scalded;  in 
most  cases,  hov/ever,  it  is  better  to  give  slops  of  oatmeal,  to  which  can 
be  added  a  little  bran,  barley  flour,  or  boiled  milk  and  wheat  flour. 
Pure  cow's  milk,  not  too  rich  in  fatty  matter,  can  be  given  alone  or 
with  ])eaten  eggs;  frequentlj^the  horse  will  have  to  be  coaxed  with  the 
milk  diluted  with  several  parts  of  water  at  first,  but  will  soon  learn  to 
drink  the  pure  milk.  Apples  and  carrots  cut  up  raw  or  boiled  are 
useful,  and  fresh  clover  in  small  quantities  will  frequenth^  stimulate 
the  ajDpetite.  In  other  words,  tr}^  various  foods  and  combinations  and 
give  the  horse  what  he  will  eat.  Throughout  the  course  of  the  disease 
and  during  convalescence  the  greatest  attention  must  be  taken  to 
cleaning  the  coat  thoroughly  so  as  to  keep  the  glands  of  the  skin  in 
working  order,  and  light,  warm  covering  must  be  used  to  protect  the 
animal  from  cold  or  drafts  of  air. 

HORSEPOX,  OR   EQUINE    VARIOLA. 

[Synonyms:    Variola  equina;  pustular  grease;  ^>/(/)/dt'Ho/cZ  herpes.'\ 

Dcfin'dlon. — Horsepox  is  a  specific  infectious  fever  of  the  horse 
attended  by  an  eruption  of  pustules,  or  pocks,  over  any  part  of  the 
skin  or  on  the  mucous  membranes  lining  the  various  cavities  in  the 
body,  but  chiefly,  and  often  exclusively,  upon  the  pasterns  and  fetlocks. 
The  eruption  may  commence  upon  the  lips,  or  about  the  nostrils  or 
eyes. 


524  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

This  disease  was  described  b}^  the  earl}^  Roman  agricultural  writers 
and  by  the  veterinarians  of  the  last  century.  It  received  its  first  im- 
portant notice  from  the  great  Jenner,  who  confounded  it  with  grease 
in  horses,  since  animals  with  this  disease  are  very  apt  to  have  the 
eruption  of  variola  appear  on  the  fetlocks.  He  saw  these  cases  transmit 
the  disease  to  cattle  in  the  byres  and  to  the  stablemen  and  milkmaids 
who  attended  them,  and  furnish  the  latter  with  immunity  from  small- 
pox, which  led  to  the  discovery  of  vaccination.  Horsepox  is  also 
frequently  mistaken  for  the  exanthemata  attendin!,»-  some  forms  of 
venereal  disease  in  horses. 

Variola  in  the  horse,  while  it  is  identical  in  principle,  general  course, 
complications,  and  lesions  with  variola  in  other  animals,  is  a  disease  of 
the  horse  itself,  and  is  not  transmissible  in  the  form  of  variola  to  anj^ 
other  animal;  nor  is  the  variola  of  any  other  animal  transmissible  to 
the  horse.  Cattle  and  men,  if  inoculated  from  a  case  of  horsepox, 
develop  vaccinia,  but  vaccinia  from  the  latter  animals  is  not  so  readily 
reinoculated  into  the  horse  with  success.  If  it  does  develop,  it  pro- 
duces the  original  disease. 

Causes. — The  direct  cause  of  horsepox  is  infection.  A  large  num- 
ber of  predisposing  causes  favor  the  development  of  the  disease,  as 
in  the  case  of  strangles,  and  this  trouble,  like  almost  all  contagious 
diseases,  renders  the  animal  which  has  had  one  attack  immune.  The 
chief  predisposing  cause  is  young  age.  Old  horses  which  have  not 
been  affected  are  less  apt  to  become  infected  when  exposed  than  younger 
ones.  The  exposure  incident  to  shipment,  through  public  stjibles,  cars, 
etc.,  acts  as  a  predisposing  cause,  as  in  the  other  infectious  diseases. 
The  period  of  final  dentition  is  a  moment  of  the  animal's  life  which 
renders  it  peculiarl}'  susceptible. 

Dupaul  states  that  the  infection  is  transmissible  through  the  atmos- 
phere for  several  hundred  j-ards.  The  more  common  means  of  con- 
tagion is  by  direct  contact  or  b}"  means  of  fomites.  Feed  boxes  and 
bridles  previously  used  by  horses  affected  with  variola  are  probabl}' 
the  most  frequent  carriers  of  the  virus,  and  we  find  the  lesions  in  the 
majority  of  cases  developed  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  lips  Jind  nostrils. 
Coition  is  a  frequent  cause.  A  stallion  suffering  from  this  disease  ma}^ 
be  the  cause  of  a  considerable  epizootic,  as  he  transmits  it  to  a  number 
of  brood  m.ares  and  the}"  in  turn  return  to  the  farms  where  t\\e,j  are 
surrounded  by  young  animals  to  whom  they  convey  the  contagion. 
The  saddle  and  croup  straps  are  frequent  agents  of  infection.  The 
presence  of  a  wound  greatly  favors  the  inoculation  of  the  disease, 
which  is  also  sometimes  carried  by  surgical  instruments  or  spongt^. 
Trasbot  recites  a  case  in  which  a  set  of  hol)bles,  which  had  been  used 
on  an  animal  suffering  from  variola,  were  used  on  a  horse  for  a  quittor 
operation  and  transmitted  the  disease,  which  developed  on  the  edges 
of  the  wound. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE.  525 

Symjytoms. — There  is  a  period  of  incubation,  after  an  animal  has 
been  exposed,  of  from  live  to  eight  daj^s,  during  which  there  is  no 
appreciable  alteration  in  the  health.  This  period  is  shorter  in  summer 
than  in  winter.  At  the  end  of  this  time  small  nodes  develop  at  the 
point  of  inoculation  and  the  animal  becomes  feverish.  The  horse  is 
dull  and  dejected,  loses  its  appetite,  and  has  a  rough  dry  coat  with  the 
hairs  on  end.  There  is  moderate  thirst.  The  respirations  are  some- 
what quickened  and  the  pulse  becomes  rapid  and  full.  The  body 
temperature  is  elevated,  frequently  reaching  104°  or  105°  F.  within 
thirty-six  or  forty-eight  hours  from  the  appearance  of  the  first 
symptoms. 

The  visible  mucous  membranes,  especially  the  conjunctivae,  are  of  a 
bright  rosy  red.  In  the  lymphatic,  cold-blooded,  and  more  common 
horses  these  symptoms  of  fever  are  less  marked;  even  with  a  compara- 
ti^'el}"  high  temperature  the  animal  may  retain  its  appetite  and  even 
work  comparatively  well,  but  these  cases,  if  worked  and  overheated, 
are  apt  to  develop  serious  complications. 

At  the  end  of  from  three  and  a  half  to  four  days  the  eruption  breaks 
out,  the  fever  abates,  and  the  general  sj'mptoms  improve.  The  erup- 
tion in  severe  cases  may  be  generalized;  it  may  be  confined  to  the 
softer  skin  of  the  nose  and  lips,  the  genital  organs,  and  the  inside  of 
the  thighs,  or  it  may  be  localized  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  wound  or 
in  the  irritated  skin  of  a  pair  of  greasy  heels.  It  consists  of  a  vary- 
ing number  of  little  nodes  which,  on  a  mucous  membrane,  as  in  the 
nostrils  or  vagina,  or  on  soft  unpigmented  skin,  appear  red  and  feel 
at  first  like  shot  under  the  epidermis.  These  nodes  soften  and  show  a 
yellowish  spot  in  the  center  when  they  become  pustules.  The  epider- 
mis is  dissolved  and  the  matter  escapes  as  a  viscid  fluid  at  first  citrine 
and  later  cloudy  and  purulent,  which  dries  rapidl}',  forming  scabs;  if 
those  fall  off  or  are  removed  they  leave  a  little  shallow  concave  ulcer 
wliicli  heals  in  the  course  of  five  or  six  days.  In  the  softer  skin  if 
pigmented  the  cicatrices  are  white  and  frequently  remain  so  for  about 
a  3'ear,  when  the  pigment  returns.  The  lips  or  genital  organs  of  a 
colored  horse,  if  covered  with  a  number  of  small  white  spots  about 
the  size  of  a  pea,  will  usuall}^  indicate  that  the  animal  has  been  affected 
with  the  horsepox. 

At  times  the  pustules  may  become  confluent  and  produce  large  super- 
ficial serpentine  ulcers  on  the  membrane  of  the  nostrils,  around  the 
lips  or  e3'elids,  or  on  the  borders  of  wounds  and  in  greasy  heels;  in 
this  case  the  part  becomes  swollen,  hot,  painful,  and  is  covered  with 
a  profuse  discharge  of  matter.  In  this  form  there  is  f requentl}^  a  sec- 
ondar}^  fever  lasting  for  a  day  or  two. 

In  severe  cases  there  may  be  a  suppurative  adenitis,  or  inflammation 
of  the  lymphatic  glands  which  are  fed  from  the  affected  part.  If  the 
eruption  is  around  the  nostrils  and  lips,  the  glands  between  the  jaws 


52(5  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

(suhmaxillarv)  form  abscesses  as  in  a  case  of  strangles;  if  the  eruption 
is  in  a  pair  of  greasy  heels  abscesses  ma}'  form  in  the  fold  of  the  groin 
(inguinal).  There  ma}^  be  so  much  tumefaction  of  the  nostrils  as  to 
produce  difficulty  in  breathing. 

Complications. — A  case  of  horsepox  ma}'  be  attended  witli  ^arious 
complications  of  varying  degrees  of  importance.  Adenitis,  or  sup- 
puration of  the  glands,  has  just  been  mentioned.  Confluent  eruptions 
irritate  the  part  and  induce  the  animal  to  rub  the  inflamed  part  against 
the  manger  or  scratch  it  in  other  ways,  and  thus  produce  troublesome 
ulcers,  which  may  leave  ugly  scars.  Irritation  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  nose  causes  severe  corj^za  with  purulent  discharge. 

The  eruption  may  occur  in  the  throat  or  in  the  air  tubes  to  the  lungs, 
developing  an  acute  laryngitis  or  bronchitis.  If  the  animal  is  exposed 
to  cold,  or  worked  so  as  to  engorge  the  lungs  with  blood  at  the  termi- 
nation of  the  specific  fever,  just  when  the  eruption  is  about  to  localize, 
it  may  be  determined  to  the  lungs.  In  this  case  we  have  a  short,  dry 
cough,  labored  breathing,  the  development  of  a  secondar}-  fever  of 
some  gravity,  and  all  of  the  external  s3'mptoms  of  a  pneumonia. 
This  pneumonia  difi'ers,  however,  from  an  ordinar}'  pneumonia  in  the 
sj-mptoms  furnished  by  the  examination  of  the  lungs  themselves.  In 
place  of  a  large  mass  of  the  lung  tissue  being  affected  the  inflamma- 
tion is  disseminated  in  smaller  spots  over  the  entire  lung. 

Diagnosis. — The  diagnosis  of  horsepox  is  to  be  based  on  the  pres- 
ence of  a  continuous  fever,  with  rosy  mucous  membranes,  for  several 
days,  and  the  appearance  of  the  characteristic  eruption.  If  the  erup- 
tion is  in  the  nasal  cavities,  marked  b}^  a  considerable  discharge  and 
attended  by  submaxillary  abscesses,  it  maj'  be  confounded  with  stran- 
gles. If  the  throat  is  affected  it  ma}'  be  confounded  with  an  angina 
(laryngitis  or  pharyngitis),  but  in  the  latter  the  local  trouble  precedes 
or  is  concomitant  with  the  fever,  while  in  the  former  the  fever  pre- 
cedes the  local  trouble  bj-  several  days.  Vaiiola  maj"  be  confounded 
with  bronchitis  or  pneumonia  if  complicated  with  these  troul)les  and 
the  eruption  is  absent  from  the  exterior,  but  it  is  of  little  moment,  as 
the  treatment  for  both  will  be  much  the  same.  When  the  eruption  is 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  genital  organs  this  disease  has  been  mistaken 
for  the  dourine.  In  variola  the  eruption  is  a  temporary  one;  the  nodes 
and  pustules  are  followed  by  shallow  ulcers  and  rapid  cicatrization 
unless  continued  in  the  vagina  or  on  the  penis  by  the  rubbing  of  the 
walls  and  filth  which  accumulates;  there  are  apt  to  be  pustules  at  other 
parts  of  the  body.  In  the  venereal  disease  the  local  trouble  commences 
as  a  papule  and  breaks  into  an  ulcer  without  having  formed  a  pustule. 
The  ulcer  has  not  the  convex  ros}- appearance  of  that  of  the  less  serious 
discharge;  the  symptoms  last  for  a  longer  period,  by  which  time  others 
aid  in  differentiating  the  two.  In  glanders  the  tubercle  is  hard,  and, 
after  breaking  into  an  ulcer,  the  indurated  bottom  remains,  grayish  or 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  527 

dirty  white  in  color,  ragged,  and  exuding  a  viscous,  oily  discharge. 
There  is  no  disposition  to  suppuration  of  the  neighboring  glands.  In 
variola  the  ros}"  shallow  ulcer  and  healthy  pus,  with  the  acutely  tumi- 
fied  glands,  should  not  be  mistaken,  at  least  after  a  day.  I  have  seen 
acute  glanders  in  mules  which  required  a  dnj^s  delay  to  differentiate 
from  strangles;  at  that  time  the  farcy  buds  appeared. 

Prognosis. — The  average  case  of  horsepox  runs  a  course  of  dejec- 
tion, loss  of  appetite,  and  more  or  less  fever  for  about  four  days,  fol- 
lowed by  a  rapid  convalescence,  and  leaves  the  animal  as  well  and  as 
sound  as  before.  If  the  eruption  has  been  excessive  or  confluent,  the 
ulcerations  ma}'^  act  as  irritants  and  render  the  animal  unfit  for  use  for 
several  weeks.  Laryngitis,  pharyngitis,  bronchitis,  and  pneumonia  in 
this  disease  are  not  of  greater  gravity  than  they  are  when  occurring 
from  other  causes.  The  spots  denuded  of  pigment  left  by  the  pustules 
on  the  lips  and  genitals  may  temporaril}^  depreciate  the  value  of  the 
animal  to  a  slight  degree. 

Treatment. — As  this  is  a  disease  unattended  by  alterations  of  the 
blood  itself,  although  a  specific  fever,  and  is  of  a  sthenic  tvpe,  active 
remedies  are  admissible  and  indicated.  The  horse  should  be  placed 
on  a  low  diet  (little  or  no  oats) — bran  mashes,  a  moderate  quantit}"  of 
good,  sound  hay,  a  few  carrots  or  apples,  which  will  act  as  laxatives, 
and  slop  feed.  Barley  flour  is  more  cooling  for  mashes  than  bran  or 
oatmeal.  Water  ma}^  be  given  as  the  animal  desires  it,  but  it  should 
not  be  cold;  if  a  half  bucketful  of  water  is  kept  in  the  manger  the 
hoi'se  will  take  but  a  few  swallows  at  a  time.  One-dram  doses  of 
nitrate  of  potfish  or  1-ounce  doses  of  sweet  spirits  of  niter  are  useful 
in  the  drinking  water.  If  the  fever  is  high  the  antip\'retics  are  indi- 
cated: Sulphate  of  quinine  in  1-dram  doses;  iodide  of  potash  in  1-dram 
doses;  infusion  of  pine  tops,  of  juniper  leaves,  of  the  aromatic  herbs, 
or  (;f  English  breakfast  tea  are  useful  in  the  later  stages.  If  compli- 
cations of  the  air  passages  or  lungs  are  threatened,  a  large  mustard 
poultice  should  be  applied  to  the  belh'  and  sides  of  the  chest.  Oxide 
of  zinc  ointment  should  be  used  on  confluent  eruptions,  and  if  the 
ulceration  is  excessive  it  may  have  to  be  touched  with  caustic. 

Great  care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  animal  protected  from  cold 
drafts  of  air  or  other  exposure.  Blankets  or  sheets  should  be  used  on 
the  bod}^  and  bandages  on  the  legs.  After  convalescence  is  established, 
nutritious  food  of  easy  digestion  and  walking  exercise  are  all  that  is 
needed,  except  perhaps  a  little  Glauber's  salts  to  prevent  constipation. 

P/'oj)hyI.actic  treatment. — ^Vhen  horsepox  breaks  out  among  a 
large  number  of  horses,  especially  on  a  farm  where  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  colts,  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  greater  majoritj'  will  contract 
the  disease,  and  it  is  more  economical  that  they  should  have  it  and  be 
through  v.'ith  it  at  once.  If  the  weather  is  moderate  all  the  animals 
which  have  not  been  affected  can  be  inoculated,  which  will  produce  the 


528  BUEEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

disease  in  a  mild  form,  with  the  eruption  at  a  point  of  election,  and 
render  the  danj^er  of  complication  a  minimum  one.  For  inoculation 
the  discharge  from  the  pustules  of  a  mild  case  should  be  selected  and 
inoculated  by  scarification  on  the  belly  or  the  under  surface  of  the 
neck. 

AXTHEAX. 

[Synonyms:  Carbuncle,  splenic  fever,  splenic  apojAexy,  hraxi/  (in  sheep),  etc.;  sneer 
ignis,  pustula  maligna,  anthrax,  Latin;  charbon,  sang  de  rate,  Frencli;  miltzbrand, 
German;  carbone,  carhoncMo,  fiioco  de  St.  Antonio,  Italian;  jasim,  siberskaji  jas^ra, 
Russian.  ] 

Dcfinitloii. — Anthrax  is  a  severe  and  usuall}'  fatal  contagious  disease, 
characterized  b}"  chills,  great  depression  and  stupor  of  the  animal,  and 
a  profound  alteration  of  the  blood,  ^.i  is  caused  \)y  the  entrance  into 
the  animal's  body  of  a  bacterium,  known  as  the  BaciUns  anthracir,^  or 
its  spores. 

Practically  all  animals  are  susceptible  to  anthrax.  The  hcrbiv^- 
ora  are  especially  susceptible,  in  the  following  order:  The  sheep,  tlie 
ox,  and  the  horse.  The  guinea  jjig,  the  hog,  the  rabbit,  mice,  and 
other  animals  die  cptickly  from  its  effects.  Man,  the  dog,  and  other 
omnivora  and  carnivora  may  be  attacked  b}^  it  in  a  constitutional  form 
as  fatal  as  in  the  herbivora,  but  fortunate!}',  in  many  cases,  develop 
from  it  only  local  trouble,  followed  by  recovery. 

Anthrax  has  been  a  scourge  of  the  animals  of  the  civilized  world 
since  the  first  written  history  we  have  of  any  of  their  diseases.  In 
1709-1712  A.  D.  extensive  outbreaks  of  anthrax  occurred  in  German}', 
Hungary,  and  Poland.  In  the  first  half  of  the  present  century  it  had 
become  an  extensively  spread  disease  in  Russia,  Holland,  and  Eng- 
land, and  for  the  last  century  has  been  gradually  spreading  in  the 
Americas — more  so  in  South  America  than  here.  In  1864,  in  the  five 
governments  of  Petersburg,  Novgorod,  Olonetz,  Twer,  and  Jaroslaw, 
in  Russia,  over  10,000  horses  and  nearly  1,000  persons  perished  from 
the  disease. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  anthrax  were  for  a  long  time  attributed 
entirely  to  climatic  influence,  soil,  and  atmospheric  temperature,  and 
they  are  still  recognized  as  predisposing  factors  in  the  development  of 
the  disease,  for  it  is  usually  found,  especially  when  outbreaks  over  any 
number  of  animals  occur,  in  low,  damp,  marshy  countries  during  the 
warm  seasons.  It  is  more  frequent  in  districts  where  marshy  lands  dry 
out  during  the  heat  of  summer  and  are  then  covered  with  light  rains. 
Decaying  vegetable  matter  seems  most  favorable  for  nourishing  and 
preserving  the  virus. 

The  direct  cause  of  anthrax  is  always  infection  of  a  previously  sound 
animal,  either  directly  from  a  diseased  animal  or  through  various  media 
which  contain  excretions  or  the  debris  from  the  body  of  a  previously 
infected  animal. 


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DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  529 

The  specific  virus  of  anthrax  was  first  discovered  b}'  Davaine  in 
1851.  He  recognized  in  the  blood  of  animals  suffering  from  anthrax 
microscopic  bodies  in  the  form  of  little  rods.  It  was  not,  however, 
till  a  quarter  of  a  century  later  that  Pasteur  defined  the  exact  nature 
of  the  bacillus,  the  mode  of  its  propagation,  and  its  exact  relationship 
to  anthrax  as  the  sole  cause  of  the  disease.  In  the  animal  body  the 
bacilli  have  a  tendency  to  accumulate  in  the  spleen,  liver,  and  else- 
where, so  that  these  organs  are  much  more  virulent  than  the  muscles 
or  less  vascular  tissues.  When  eliminated  from  the  animal  in  the 
excretions,  or  when  exposed  to  outside  influences  by  the  death  of  the 
animal  and  the  disintegration  of  the  tissues,  the  body  of  the  rod  is 
destroj^ed  and  the  spores  onl}^  remain.  These  spores,  which  may  be 
called  the  seeds  of  the  bacilli,  retain  their  vitality  for  a  long  period; 
the}^  resist  ordinary  putrefaction;  they  are  unchanged  by  moisture; 
and  they  are  not  affected  by  moderate  heat.  If  scattered  with  the 
debris  of  a  dead  animal  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  the}^  ma^^  remain 
around  the  roots  of  the  grass  in  a  pasture  or  ma}"  be  washed  to  the 
nearest  low-lying  ground  or  marsh.  If  buried  in  the  body  of  an  ani- 
mal dead  from  anthrax,  they  may  be  washed  deep  into  the  ground,  and 
in  later  jenvs  (in  one  proven  case  17  years)  be  brought  to  the  surface 
and  infect  other  animals.  They  are  frequentlj^  brought  to  the 'surface 
of  the  earth,  having  been  swallowed  b}"  earthworms,  in  the  bodies  of 
which  they  have  been  found. 

This  accounts  for  the  outbreaks  at  the  time  of  the  first  rains  after  a 
dr}^  season.  During  the  latter  the  earthworm  goes  deep  in  the  ground 
in  search  of  moisture;  it  finds  the  spore  which  has  been  washed  there 
in  past  years,  swallows  it,  and  afterwards  brings  it  to  the  surface. 
The  virus  is  carried  with  the  wool  from  infected  sheep  and  remains  in 
it  through  the  process  of  manufacture  into  cloth.  The  spores  remain 
in  the  hides  of  animals  which  have  died  of  anthrax  and  retain  their 
vitality  throughout  months  of  soaking  in  the  tanners'  pits,  the  work- 
ing of  the  harness  maker  or  the  cobbler,  and  after  the  oiling  of  the 
completed  leather.  The  dried  spores  in  the  dust  from  anj-  of  these 
products  may  be  carried  by  the  atmosphere. 

Infection  of  an  animal  takes  place  througli  inoculation  or  contact  of 
the  bacillus  or  its  spores  with  an  abraded  surface  or  mucous  membrane 
on  a  sound  animal.  In  an  infected  district  horses  may  eat  the  rich 
pasturage  of.  spring  and  early  summer  with  impunity,  but  when  grass 
becomes  low  they  crop  it  close  to  the  ground,  pull  up  the  roots  around 
which  the  virus  may  be  lodged,  and  under  these  conditions  the  animals 
are  more  apt  to  have  abrasions  of  the  lips  or  tongue  by  contact  witii 
dried  stubble  and  the  dirt  on  the  roots,  which  favors  the  introduction 
of  the  germs  into  the  system.  The  virus  may  be  introduced  with  food 
and  enter  the  blood-vessel  S3^stem  from  the  stomach  and  intestines.  If 
contained  in  the  dust,  dried  hay,  or  on  the  parched  pasture  of  late 
14384—03 34 


530  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

summer,  the  virus  ma}'  be  inhaled  and  be  absorbed  from  the  lining  of 
the  lungs.  If  contained  in  harness  leather,  it  needs  but  an  abrasion 
of  the  skin,  as  the  harness  rubs  it,  to  transfer  the  spore  from  the 
leather  to  the  circulation  of  the  animal. 

The  wi"iter  saw  a  case  of  anthrax  occur  in  a  groom  from  thg  use  of  a 
new  horse-brush.  The  strap  which  passes  over  the  back  of  the  hand 
inoculated  an  abrasion  on  the  knuckle  of  the  first  fingei",  and  in  twelve 
hours  a  "pustule"  had  formed  and  the  arm  had  become  infected. 

Symptoms. — The  S3^mptoms  of  anthrax  usuall}"  develop  with  extreme 
rapidity.  The  horse  is  dejected  and  falls  into  a  state  of  profound 
stupor,  attended  by  great  muscular  weakness.  The  feeble,  indolent 
animal,  if  forced  to  move,  drags  its  legs.  There  are  severe  chills, 
agitation  of  the  muscles,  sjanptoms  of  vertigo,  and  at  times  colicky 
pains.  The  mucous  membranes  turn  a  deep  ocher  or  bluish  red  color. 
The  body  temperature  is  rapidly  elevated  to  104'^  or  lOo'^  F.  The 
breathing  is  increased  to  thirty  or  fort}'  respirations  in  the  minute 
and  the  pulse  is  greatly  accelerated,  but  while  the  arteries  arc  soft  and 
almost  imperceptible,  the  heart  beats  can  be  felt  and  heard,  violent  and 
tumultuous.  In  some  cases,  when  inoculation  is  through  the  skin, 
large  subcutaneous  swellings  appear;  these  may  involve  a  leg,  a  shoul- 
der, one  side  of  the  body,  or  the  neck  or  head.  The  swelling  is  at 
first  hot  and  painful,  but  afterwards  it  becomes  necrotic  and  sensation 
is  lost.  The  symptoms  last  but  two,  three,  or  four  days  at  most,  when 
the  case  usually  terminates  fatally.  An  examination  of  the  blood 
shows  a  dark  fluid  which  will  not  clot,  and  which  remains  black  after 
exposure  to  the  air.  After  death  the  bodies  putrify  rapidly  and  bloat 
up;  the  tissues  are  filled  with  gases,  and  a  bloody  foam  exudes  from 
the  mouth,  nostrils,  and  anus,  and  frequently  the  mucous  membranes 
of  the  rectum  protrude  from  the  latter.  The  haii-s  detach  from  the 
skin.  Congestion  of  all  the  organs  and  tissues  is  found,  with  intersti- 
tial hemorrhages.  The  muscles  are  frial)le  and  are  covered  with 
ecchymotic  spots.     This   is  specially  marked  in  the  heart. 

The  black,  uncoagulated,  and  incoagulable  blood  shows  an  iridescent 
scum  on  its  surface,  which  is  due  to  the  fat  of  the  animal  dissolved  by 
the  ammonia  produced  by  the  decomposed  tissues.  The  serum  oozes 
out  of  every  tissue  and  contains  broken-down  blood,  which,  when 
examined  microscopically,  is  found  to  have  the  red  globules  crenated 
and  the  leucocytes  granular.  A  ligh  power  of  the  microscope  also 
reveals  the  bacteria  in  the  shape  of  little  rod-like  bodies  of  homoge- 
neous texture  with  their  brilliant  spores. 

The  lymphatic  ganglia  are  increased  four,  five,  six,  or  ten  times  their 
natural  size,  enlarged  by  the  engorgement  of  blood.  The  spleen  shows 
nodulated  black  spots  containing  a  muddy  blood,  which  is  found  teem- 
ing with  the  virus.  This  organ  is  nmch  enlarged  and  is  quite  friable. 
The  mucous  membranes  of  the  intestines  are  congested  and  reddish 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  531 

brown;  the  surface  of  the  intestines  is  in  many  places  denuded  of  its 
lining-  membrane,  showing  fissures  and  hemorrhagic  spots.  The  liver 
has  a  cooked  appearance;  Ihe  kidneys  are  congested  and  friable;  the 
urine  is  red;  the  pleura,  lungs,  and  the  meninges  are  congested;  and 
the  bronchi  of  the  lungs  contain  a  bloody  foam. 

Treatment. — The  treatment  of  anthrax  has  little  in  it  to  encourage 
one.  The  curative  treatment,  for  which  almost  every  drug  in  the 
pharmacopeia  has  been  used,  is  practiealh'  without  avail. 

The  j)roph3dactic  treatment  formerlj^  consisted  in  the  avoidance  of 
certain  fields  and  marshes  which  were  recognized  as  contaminated  dur- 
ing the  months  of  August  and  September  and  had  been  occupied  the 
years  in  which  the  outbreaks  usually  occurred.  It  underwent,  how- 
ever, a  revolution  after  the  discovery  by  Pasteur  of  the  possibility  of 
a  prophylactic  inoculation  or  vaccination  which  granted  immunity 
from  future  attacks  of  the  disease  similar  to  that  granted  b}^  the  recov- 
ery of  an  animal  from  an  ordinary  attack  of  the  disease. 

This  treatment  consists  in  the  use  of  a  vaccine  which  is  made  by  the 
artificial  cuiltivation  of  the  virus  of  anthrax  in  broth  and  in  the  treat- 
ment of  it  bj^  means  of  continued  exposure  to  a  high  temperature  for 
a  certain  length  of  time,  which  weakens  the  virus  to  such  an  extent 
that  it  is  onlj^  capable  of  producing  a  verj^  mild  and  not  dangerous 
attack  of  anthrax  in  the  animal  in  which  it  is  inoculated,  and  thus  pro- 
tects the  animal  from  inoculation  of  a  stronger  virus.  The  production 
of  this  virus,  which  is  carried  on  in  some  countries  at  the  expense  of 
the  government  and  is  furnished  at  a  small  cost  to  the  farmers  in 
regions  where  the  disease  prevails,  in  this  countrj'  is  made  in  private 
laboratories  onh\ 

GLANDERS    ANI>    FARCY. 

[Synonyms:  Glanders,  farcy,  one  form  of  nasal  gleet;  Malleus  liwnidus,  Equina  nasalis, 
Equina  aposiematos,  Latin;  rotz,  rotzkrankheit,  German;  snot,  verroting,  Dutch;  moccio, 
cidiiwrro,  Italian;  viuervw,  Spanish;  morre,  farcin,  French.] 

Definition. — Let  it  be  understood  at  the  outset  that  glanders  and 
in.YQ.y  are  one  and  the  same  disease,  differing  only  in  that  the  first  term 
is  applied  to  the  disease  when  the  local  lesions  predominate  in  the 
internal  organs,  especially  in  the  nostrils,  lungs,  and  air  tubes;  and 
that  the  second  term  is  applied  to  it  w^hen  the  principal  manifestation 
is  an  outbreak  of  the  lesions  on  the  exterior  or  skin  of  the  animal. 
The  term  glanders  applies  to  the  disease  in  both  forms,  while  the  term 
farcy  is  limited  to  the  visible  appearance  of  external  trouble  onl}^; 
but  in  the  latter  case  internal  lesions  always  exist,  although  they  may 
not  be  evident. 

Glanders  is  a  contagious  constitutional  disease  of  the  genus  Equus 
(the  horse,  ass,  and  mule),  readily  communicable  to  man,  the  dog, 
the  cat,  the  rabbit,  and  the  guinea  pig.     It  is  transmitted  with  diffi- 


532  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

culty  to  sheep  and  goats,  and  cattle  seem  to  be  eutirel}'  unmiinc.  It 
runs  a  variable  course  and  usually  produces  the  death  of  the  animal 
affected  with  it.  It  is  characterized  by  the  formation  of  neoplasms, 
or  nodules,  of  connective  tissue,  which  degenerate  into  ulcers  from 
which  exude  a  peculiar  discharge.  It  is  accompanied  bj^  a  variable 
amount  of  fever,  according  to  the  rapidit}'^  of  its  course.  It  is  subject 
to  various  complications  of  the  lymphatic  glands,  of  the  lungs,  of  the 
testicles,  of  the  internal  organs,  and  of  the  subcutaneous  connective 
tissue. 

Histoi'y. — Glanders  is  one  of  the  oldest  diseases  of  which  we  have 
definite  knowledge  in  the  history  of  medicine.  Absj'rtus,  the  Greek 
veterinarian  in  the  arm}^  of  Constantine  the  Great,  described  this  dis- 
ease with  considerable  accuracy  and  recognized  the  contagiousness  of 
its  character.  Another  Greek  veterinarian,  Vegetius  Renatus,  who 
lived  in  the  time  of  Thcodosius  (381  A.  D.),  described,  under  the  name 
of  Malleus  humldus,  a  disease  of  the  horse  characterized  by  a  nasal  dis- 
charge and  accompanied  by  superficial  ulcers.  He  recognized  the  con- 
tagious properties  of  the  discharge  of  the  external  ulcers,  and  recom- 
mended that  all  animals  sick  with  the  disease  should  be  separated  at 
once  with  the  greatest  care  from  the  others,  and  should  be  pastured  in 
separate  fields  for  fear  the  other  animals  should  become  afi'ected. 

In  1682  Sollysel,  the  stable  master  of  Louis  XIV,  published  an 
account  of  glanders  and  farcy,  which  he  considered  closel}^  related  to 
each  other,  although  he  did  not  recognize  them  as  identical.  He 
admitted  the  existence  of  a  virus  which  communicated  the  disease  from 
an  infected  animal  to  a  sound  one.  He  called  special  attention  to  the 
feed  troughs  and  water  buckets  as  being  the  medium  of  contagion. 
He  divided  glanders  into  two  forms— one  malignant  and  contagious 
and  the  other  benign — and  he  stated  that  there  was  alwa^'s  danger  of 
infection. 

Garsault,  in  ITtiG,  said  "that  as  this  disease  is  comnmnicatcd  ver}- 
easily,  and  can  infect  in  a  verj^  short  time  a  prodigious  number  of 
horses  by  means  of  the  discharges  which  may  l)e  licked  up,  animals 
infected  with  glanders  should  be  destroyed." 

Bourgelat,  the  founder  of  veterinary  schools,  in  his  ''Elements  of 
Hippiatary,"  published  in  1755,  establishes  glanders  as  a  virulent 
disease. 

Extensive  outbreaks  of  glanders  are  described  as  prevailing  in  the 
great  armies  of  continental  Europe  and  England  from  time  to  time 
during  the  periods  of  all  the  wars  of  the  last  few  centuries. 

Glanders  was  imported  into  America  at  the  close  of  the  last  century, 
and  before  the  end  of  the  first  half  of  the  present  century  had  spread 
to  a  considerable  degree  among  the  horses  of  the  Middle  and  immedi- 
atel}^  adjoining  Southern  States.  This  disease  Avas  unknown  in  Mexico 
until  carried  there  during  the  Mexican  war  by  the  badly  diseased  horses 
of  the  United  States  Army.     During  the  first  half  of  the  present  cen- 


DISEASES-  OF    THE    HORSE.  533 

tary  n  large  body  of  veterinarians  and  medical  men  protested  against 
the  contagious  character  of  this  disease,  and  prevailed  by  their  opinion 
to  such  an  extent  against  the  common  opinion  that  several  of  the  gov- 
ernments of  Europe  undertook  a  series  of  experiments  to  determine 
the  right  between  the  contesting  parties. 

At  the  veterinary  school  at  Alfort,  and  at  the  farm  of  Lamirault  in 
France,  several  hundred  horses  which  had  passed  examination  as  sound 
had  placed  among  them  glandered  horses  under  various  conditions. 
The  results  of  these  experiments  proved  conclusively  the  contagious 
character  of  the  disease. 

In  1881  Professor  Bouchard,  of  the  faculty  of  medicine  in  Paris, 
assisted  bj"  Drs.  Capitan  and  Charrin,  undertook  a  series  of  experiments 
with  matter  taken  from  the  farcy  ulcer  of  a  human  being.  They  after- 
ward continued  their  experiments  with  matter  taken  from  horses  and 
succeeded  in  showing  in  1883  that  glanders  is  caused  by  a  bacterium 
which  is  capable  of  propagation  and  reproduction  of  others  of  its  own 
kind  if  placed  in  the  proper  media.  In  1882  the  specific  germ  of 
glanders  was  first  discovered  and  described  by  Loeffler  and  Schuetz  in 
German}". 

When  we  come  to  study  the  eliology  of  glanders,  the  difference  of 
suscoptibilit}'  en  the  part  of  different  species  of  animals,  or  even  on 
the  part  of  individuals  of  the  same  species,  and  when  we  come  to  find 
proof  of  the  slow  incubation  and  latent  character  of  the  disease  as  it 
exists  in  certain  individuals,  we  will  understand  how  in  a  section  of 
countr}^  containing  a  number  of  glandered  animals  others  can  seem  to 
contract  and  develop  the  disease  without  having  ajDparently  been 
exposed  to  contagion. 

Causes. — The  contagious  nature  of  glanders,  in  no  matter  what 
form  it  appears,  being  to-day  definitely  demonstrated,  we  can  recog- 
nize but  one  cau^e  for  all  cases,  and  that  is  contagion  hy  means  of  the 
specific  virus  of  the  disease. 

In  studjang  the  writings  of  the  older  authors  on  glanders,  and  the 
works  of  those  authors  who  contested  the  contagious  nature  of  the 
disease,  we  find  a  large  number  of  predisj)osing  causes  assigned  as  fac- 
tors in  the  development  of  the  malad3\ 

While  a  virus  from  a  case  of  glanders  if  inoculated  into  an  animal  of 
the  genus  Equus  will  inevitably  produce  the  disease,  we  find  a  vast 
difference  in  the  contagious  activity"  of  different  cases  of  glanders.  We 
find  a  great  variation  in  the  manner  and  rapidity  of  the  development 
of  the  disease  in  different  individuals  and  that  the  contagion  is  much 
more  apt  to  be  carried  to  sound  anim.als  under  certain  circumstances 
than  it  is  under  others.  Onl}^  certain  species  of  animals  are  suscepti- 
ble of  contracting  the  disease,  and  while  some  of  these  contract  it  as 
a  general  constitutional  malad}",  in  others  it  only  develops  as  a  local 
sore. 

In  acute  glanders  the  contagion  is  found  in  its  most  virulent  form. 


534  BUREAU    OF    AI^IMAL    INDUSTRY. 

as  is  shown  bj'  the  inevitable  infection  of  susceptible  animals  inocu- 
lated Avitli  the  disease,  while  the  discharge  from  chronic  semilatent 
glanders  and  fare}'  may  at  times  be  inoculated  with  a  negative  result; 
again,  in  acute  glanders,  as  we  have  a  free  discharge,  a  much  greater 
quantity  of  A'irus-containing  matter  is  scattered  in  the  neighborliood 
of  an  infected  horse  to  serve  as  a  contagion  to  others  than  is  found  in 
the  small  amount  of  discharge  of  the  chronic  cases. 

The  chances  of  contagion  are  much  greater  when  sound  horses,  asses, 
or  mules  are  placed  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  glandcred 
horses,  drink  from  the  same  bucket,  stand  in  the  next  stall  or  work  in 
the  same  wagon,  or  are  fed  from  feed  boxes  or  mangers  which  have 
been  impregnated  b^'  the  saliva  and  soiled  by  the  discharge  of  sick  ani- 
mals. Transmission  occurs  b}^  direct  contact  of  the  discharges  of  a 
glandered  animal  with  the  tissues  of  a  sound  one,  either  on  the  exterior, 
when  swallowed  mixed  with  food  into  the  digestive  tract  or  when 
dried  and  inhaled  as  dust. 

The  stable  attendants  serve  as  one  of  the  most  common  carriers  of 
the  virus.  Dried  or  fresh  discharges  are  collected  from  the  infected 
animal  in  cleaning,  harnessing,  feeding,  and  by  means  of  the  hands, 
clothing,  the  teeth  of  the  currycomb,  the  sponge,  the  bridle,  and  the 
halter,  and  are  thus  carried  to  other  animals. 

An  animal  affected  with  chronic  glanders  in  a  latent  form  is  moved 
from  one  part  of  the  stable  to  another,  or  works  hitched  with  one  horse 
and  then  with  another,  and  ma}'^  be  an  active  agent  in  the  spreading 
of  the  disease  without  the  cause  being  recognized. 

Glanders  is  found  frequently  in  the  most  insidious  forms,  and  we 
recognize  that  it  can  exist  without  being  apparent;  that  is,  it  may 
affect  a  harse  for  a  long  period  without  showing  any  symptoms  that 
will  allow  even  the  most  experienced  veterinarian  to  make  a  diagnosis. 
An  old  gray  mare  belonging  to  a  tavern  keeper  was  reserved  for 
family  u^e  with  good  care  and  light  work  for  a  period  of  eight  years, 
during  which  tiiHe  other  horses  in  the  ta\ern  stal^le  were  from  time 
to  time  affected  with  glanders  without  an  apparent  cause.  The  mare, 
whoso  only  trouble  was  an  apparent  attack  of  heaves,  was  sold  to  a 
huckster  who  placed  her  at  hard  w^ork.  Want  of  feed  and  overwork 
and  exposure  rapidly  developed  a  case  of  acute  glanders,  from  which 
the  animal  died,  and  at  the  autopsy  were  found  the  lesions  of  an  acute 
pneumonia  of  glanders  grafted  on  chronic  lesions,  consisting  of  old 
nodules  which  had  undoubtedly  existed  for  j^ears. 

In  a  case  that  once  came  under  the  care  of  the  writer,  a  coach  horse 
was  examined  for  soundness  and  passed  aw  sound  by  a  prominent 
veterinarian,  who  a  few  months  afterwards  treated  the  horse  for  a 
skin  eruption  from  which  it  recovered.  Twelve  months  afterwards  it 
came  into  the  hands  of  the  w^-iter,  hidebound,  with  a  slight  cough  and 
a  slight  eruption  of  the  skin,  which  was  attributed  to  clipping  and  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOUSE.  535 

rubbing  of  the  harness,  but  which  bad  nothing*  suspicious  in  its  char- 
acter. The  horse  was  placed  on  tonics  and  put  to  regular  light  driving. 
In  six  weeks  it  developed  a  bronchitis  without  having  been  specially 
exposed,  and  in  two  days  this  trouble  was  followed  by  a  lobular 
pneumonia  and  the  breaking  of  an  abscess  in  the  right  lung.  Farcy 
^buds  developed  on  the  surface  of  the  bod}^  and  the  animal  died.  The 
autops}^  showed  the  existence  of  a  number  of  old  glanderous  nodules 
in  the  lungs  which  must  have  existed  previous  to  purchase,  more  than 
a  year  before. 

Public  watering  troughs  and  the  feed  boxes  of  boarding  stables  and 
the  tavern  stables  of  market  towns  are  among  the  most  common 
recipients  fcjr  the  virus  of  glanders,  which  is  most  dangerous  in  its 
fresh  state,  but  cases  have  been  known  to  be  caused  by  feeding  animals 
in  the  box  or  stall  in  which  glandered  animals  had  stood  several  months 
before.  While  the  discharge  from  a  case  of  chronic  glanders  is  much 
less  apt  to  contain  many  active  bacilli  than  that  from  a  case  of  acute 
glanders,  the  former,  if  it  infects  an  animal,  will  produce  the  same 
disease  as  the  latter.  It  may  assume  from  the  outset  an  acute  or 
chronic  form,  according  to  the  susceptibility  of  the  animal  infected, 
and  this  does  not  depend  upon  the  character  of  the  disease  from  which 
the  virus  was  derived. 

The  animals  of  the  genus  E<2uu>i — the  horse,  the  ass,  and  the  mule — 
are  those  which  are  the  most  susceptible  to  contract  glanders,  but  in 
these  we  find  a  much  greater  receptivity  in  the  ass  and  mule  than  we 
do  in  the  horse.  In  the  ass  and  mule  in  almost  all  cases  the  period 
of  incubation  is  short  and  the  disease  develops  in  an  acute  form.  We 
find  that  the  kind  of  horse  infected  has  an  influence  on  the  character 
of  the  disease;  in  full-blooded  fat  horses  of  a  sanguinary  temperament, 
the  disease  usually  develops  in  an  acute  form,  while  in  the  l^'mphatic, 
cold-blooded,  more  common  race  of  horses  the  disease  usuall}^  assumes 
a  chronic  form.  If  the  disease  develops  first  in  the  chronic  form  in  a 
horse  in  fair  condition,  starvation  and  overwork  are  apt  to  bring  on 
an  acute  attack,  but  when  the  disease  is  inoculated  into  a  debilitated 
and  impoverished  animal  it  is  apt  to  start  in  the  latent  form.  Inocu- 
lation on  the  lips  or  the  exterior  of  the  animal  is  frequently  followed 
by  an  acute  attack,  while  infection  by  ingestion  of  the  virus  and 
inoculation  by  means  of  the  digestive  tract  is  often  followed  b}^  the 
trouble  in  the  chronic  latent  form. 

In  the  dog  the  inoculation  of  glanders  may  develop  a  constitutional 
disease  with  all  the  symptoms  which  are  found  in  the  horse,  but  more 
frequently  the  virus  pullulates  onl}^  at  the  point  of  inoculation,  remain- 
ing for  some  tune  as  a  local  sore,  which  ma^^  then  heal,  leaving  a  per- 
fectly sound  animal;  but  while  the  local  sore  is  continuing  to  ulcerate, 
and  specific  virus  exists  in  it,  it  may  be  the  carrier  of  contagion  to  other 
animals.     In  man  we  find  a  greater  receptivit}- to  glanders  than  in  the 


536  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

(log,  and  in  many  unfortunate  cases  the  virus  spreads  from  the  point 
of  inoculation  to  the  entire  sj'stem  and  destroys  the  wretched  mortal 
by  extensive  ulcers  of  the  face  and  hemorrhage  or  by  destruction  of  the 
lung  tissue;  in  other  cases,  however,  glanders  may  develop,  as  in  the 
dog,  in  local  form  onl}^  not  infecting  the  constitution  and  terminat- 
ing in  recovery,  while  the  specific  ulcer  by  proper  treatment  is  turned 
into  a  simple  one.  In  the  feline  species  glanders  is  more  destructive 
than  in  the  dog.  The  point  of  inoculation  ulcerates  rapidly  and  the 
entire  S3''stem  becomes  infected. 

While  a  student  the  writer  saw  a  lion  in  the  service  of  Professor 
Trasbot,  at  Alfort,  which  had  contracted  the  disease  by  eating  glan- 
dcred  meat  and  died  with  the  lung  riddled  with  nodules.*  A  litter  of 
kittens  lapped  the  blood  from  the  lungs  of  a  glandcred  horse  on  which 
an  autops}^  was  being  made,  and  in  four  days  almost  their  entire  faces, 
including  the  nasal  bones,  were  eaten  away  by  rapid  ulceration.  Nod- 
ules were  found  in  the  lungs.  A  pack  of  wolves  in  the  Philadelphia 
Zoological  Garden  died  in  ten  days  after  being  fed  with  the  meat  of  a 
glandercd  horse.  The  rabbit,  guinea  pig,  and  mice  are  specially  sus- 
ceptible to  the  inoculation  of  glanders,  and  these  animals  are  conven- 
ient witnesses  and  proofs  of  the  existence  of  suspected  cases  of  the 
glanders  in  other  animals  by  the  resiilts  of  successful  inoculations. 

The  primary  lesions  in  any  form  is  a  local  point  in  which  occurs 
a  rapid  proliferation  of  the  cell  elements  which  make  up  the  animal 
tissue  with  formation  of  new  connective  tissue,  with  a  crowding- 
together  of  the  elements  until  their  own  pressure  on  each  other 
cuts  off  the  circulation  and  nutrition,  and  death  takes  place  in  them  in 
the  form  of  ulceration  or  gangrene.  Following  this  primary  lesion 
we  have  an  extension  of  infection  by  means  of  the  spread  of  the  bacilli 
into  those  tissues  immediately  surrounding  the  first  infected  spot, 
which  are  most  suitable  for  the  development  of  simple  inflammatory 
phenomena  or  the  specific  virus.  The  primaly  symptoms  are  the  result 
of  specific  reaction  at  the  point  of  inoculation,  but  at  a  later  time  the 
virus  is  carried  by  means  of  the  blood  vessels  and  lymphatic  vessels  to 
other  parts  of  the  body  and  becomes  lodged  at  different  places  and 
develops  in  them;  again,  when  the  disease  has  existed  in  the  latent 
form  in  the  lungs  of  the  animal  and  the  virus  is  wakened  into  action 
from  any  cause,  we  have  it  carried  to  various  parts  of  the  body  and 
developing  in  the  most  susceptible  regions  or  organs.  The  points  of 
development  are  most  frequently  determined  by  the  activity  of  the 
circulation  and  the  effects  of  exterior  irritants.  For  example,  if  a 
horse  which  has  been  so  slightly  affected  with  the  virus  of  glanders  that 
no  symptoms  are  visible  is  exposed  to  cold,  rain,  or  sleet,  or  by  the 
rubbing  of  the  harness  on  the  body  and  the  irritation  of  mud  on  the 
legs,  the  disease  is  apt  to  develop  on  the  exterior  in  the  form  of  farcy, 
while  a  full-blooded  horse  which  is  employed  at  speed  and  has  its 


DISEASES    OE   THE    HOESE.  537 

lungs  and  respirator}'  tract  gorged  vrith  blood  from  the  extreme  use 
of  these  organs  will  develop  glanders  as  the  local  manifestation  of  the 
disease  in  the  respiratory  tract. 

The  previous  reference  to  the  existence  of  glanders  under  the  two 
forms  more  commonly  differentiated  as  glanders  and  as  farcy,  and  our 
reference  to  the  various  conditions  in  which  it  may  exist  as  acute, 
chronic,  and  latent,  show  that  the  disease  may  assume  several  different 
phases.  Without  losing  sight  for  a  moment  of  the  fact  that  all  of 
these  varied  conditions  are  identical  in  their  origin  and  in  their  essence, 
for  convenience  of  study  v;e  may  divide  glanders  into  three  classes — 
chronic  farc}^,  chronic  glanders,  and  acute  glanders  with  or  without 
farcy. 

CUEONIC    FARCY. 

Si/)nj)coms. — In  farcy  the  sjaiiptoms  commence  by  formation  of 
little  nodes  on  the  under  surface  of  the  skin,  which  rapidly  infringe  on 
the  tissues  of  the  skin  itself.  These  nodes,  which  are  known  as  farcy 
"buds"  and  farcy  "buttons,"  are  from  the  size  of  a  bullet  to  the  size 
of  a  walnut.  They  are  hot,  sensitive  to  the  touch,  at  first  elastic  and 
afterwards  become  soft;  the  tissue  is  destroyed,  and  infringing  on  the 
substance  of  the  skin  the  disease  produces  an  ulcer,  which  is  known  as 
a  chancre.  This  ulcer  is  irregular  in  shape,  with  ragged  edges  which 
overhang  the  sore;  it  has  a  graj^-,  dirt}^  bottom  and  the  discharge  is 
sometimes  thin  and  sometimes  purulent;  in  either  case  it  is  mixed  with 
a  viscous,  stick}^,  yellowish  material  like  the  white  of  an  egg  in  con- 
sistency and  like  olive  oil  in  appearance.  The  discharge  is  almost 
diagnostic;  it  resembles  somewhat  the  discharge  which  we  have  in 
greas}^  heels  and  in  certain  attacks  of  lymphangitis,  but  to  the  expert 
the  specific  discharge  is  characteristic.  The  discharge  accumulates  on 
the  hair  surrounding  the  ulcer  and  over  its  surface  and  dries,  forming 
scabs  which  become  thicker  by  successive  deposits  on  the  under  surface 
until  they  fall  off,  to  be  replaced  by  others  of  the  same  kind;  and  the 
excess  of  discharge  may  drop  on  the  hairs  below  and  form  similar 
brownish  yellow  crusts.  The  farcy  ulcers  may  retain  their  specific 
form  for  a  considerable  time — days  or  even  weeks;  but  eventually  the 
discharge  becomes  purulent  in  character  and  assumes  the  appearance 
of  healthy  matter.  The  surface  of  the  gangrenous  bottom  of  the  ulcer 
is  replaced  b}''  rosy  granulations,  the  ragged  edges  are  beveled  off,  and 
the  chancre  is  turned  into  a  simple  ulcer  which  rapidly  heals. 

The  farc}^  buttons  occur  most  frequently  on  the  sides  of  the  lips, 
the  sides  of  the  neck,  the  lower  part  of  the  shoulders,  the  inside  of  the 
thighs,  or  the  outside  of  the  legs,  but  may  occur  on  an}^  part  of  the 
body. 

We  have  next  an  irritation  of  the  13'mphatic  vessels  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  chancres.     These  become  swollen  and  then  indurated  and 


538  BUREAU    OF    AJslMAL    IJfDUSTRY. 

appear  like  great  ridges  underneatb  the  skin;  thej  are  hot  to  the  touch 
and  sensitive.  The  cords  may  remain  for  a  considerable  time  and  then 
graduall}'  disappear,  or  the}^  may  ulcerate  like  a  farcy  bud  itself,  form- 
inj>-  elongated,  irregular,  serpentine  ulcers  with  a  characteristic,  dirty, 
gray  bottom  and  ragged  edges,  and  pour  out  a  viscous,  oih'  discharge 
like  the  chancres  themselves. 

The  essential  s^nnptoms  of  farcy  are,  as  above  described,  the  button, 
the  chancre,  the  cord,  and  the  discharge.  We  have  in  addition  to 
these  symptoms  a  certain  number  of  accessory  s3^mptom8,  which, 
while  not  diagnostic  in  themselves,  are  of  great  service  in  aiding  the 
diagnosis  in  cases  where  the  eruption  takes  place  in  small  quantities, 
and  when  the  ulcers  are  not  characteristic. 

Epistaxis,  or  bleeding  from  the  nose  without  previous  work  or  other 
apparent  cause,  is  one  of  the  frequent  concomitant  symptoms  in  glan- 
ders, and  such  a  hemorrhage  from  the. nostrils  should  always  be 
regarded  with  suspicion.  The  animal  with  farc}^  frequently  develops 
a  cough,  resembling  much  that  which  w^e  find  in  heaves — a  short,  drj^, 
aborted,  hacking  cough,  with  little  or  no  discharge  from  the  nostrils. 
With  this  we  find  an  irregular  movement  of  the  flanks,  and  on  auscul- 
tation of  the  lungs  w^e  find  sibilant  or  at  times  a  few  mucous  rales. 
Another  common  symptom  is  a  sudden  swelling  of  one  of  the  hind 
legs;  it  is  found  suddenly  swollen  in  the  region  of  the  cannon,  the 
enlargement  extending  below  to  the  pastern  and  above  as  high  as  the 
stifle.  This  swelling  is  hot  and  painful  to  the  touch,  and  renders 
the  animal  stiff  and  lame.  On  pressure  with  the  finger  the  swelling 
can  be  indented,  but  the  pits  so  formed  soon  fill  up  again  on  removal 
of  the  pressure.  In  severe  cases  we  may  have  ulceration  of  the  skin, 
and  scrum  pours  out  from  the  surface,  resembling  the  oozing  w^hich  we 
have  after  a  blister  or  in  a  case  of  grease.  This  swelling  is  not  to  be 
confounded  with  the  stocking  in  Ij'mphatic  horses  or  the  edema  which 
we  have  in  chroni<;  heart  or  in  kidne}"  trouble,  as  in  the  last  the  sw^elling 
is  cool  and  not  painful  and  the  pitting  on  pressure  remains  for  some 
time  after  the  latter  is  withdrawn.  It  is  not  to  be  confounded  with 
greasy  heels.  In  these  the  disease  commences  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  pastern  and  gradually  extends  up  the  leg,  rarelv  passing  beyond 
the  neighborhood  of  the  hock.  The  swollen  leg  in  glanders  almost 
invariably  swells  for  the  entire  length  in  a  single  night  or  within  a 
ver}'^  short  period.  When  greasy  heels  are  complicated  b}'  lymphan- 
gitis we  have  a  condition  very  much  resembling  that  of  farcy.  The 
swelled  leg  in  farcy  is  frequently  followed  by  an  outbreak  of  farcy 
buttons  and  ulcers  over  its  surface.  In  the  entire  horse  the  testicles 
are  frcquentl}'^  swollen  and  hot  and  sensitive  to  the  touch,  but  they  have 
no  tendency  to  suppuration.  The  acute  inflammation  is  rapidl}^  fol- 
lowed by  the  specific  induration,  which  corresponds  to  the  local  lesions 
in  other  parts  of  the  body. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  539 

Chronic  farcy  in  the  ass  and  mule  is  an  excessively  rare  condition, 
but  sometimes  occurs. 

CHKOXIC   GLANDERS. 

Symptoms. — -In  chronic  glanders  we  find  the  same  train  of  inflam- 
matory phenomena,  varying  in  appearance  from  those  of  chronic 
farc}^  onl}^  b}^  the  difference  of  the  tissues  in  which  the}^  are  located. 
In  chronic  glanders  there  is  first  the  nodule,  from  the  size  of  a  shot  to 
that  of  a  small  pea,  which  forms  in  the  mucous  membranes  of  the 
respiratory  tract.  This  may  be  just  inside  of  the  wings  of  the  nostrils 
or  on  the  septum  which  divides  the  one  nasal  cavity  from  the  other 
and  be  easily  detected,  or  it  ma}'  be  higher  in  the  nasal  cavities  on  the 
turbinated  bones,  or  it  may  form  in  the  larynx  itself  or  on  the  surface 
of  the  trachea  or  deep  in  the.  lungs. 

The  nodules,  which  are  first  red  and  hard  and  consist  of  new  connect- 
ive tissue,  soon  soften  and  become  yellow;  the  j-ellow  spots  break  and 
we  have  a  small  ulcer  the  size  of  the  preceding  nodule,  which  has  a 
gray,  dirty  bottom  and  ragged  edges  and  is  known  as  a  chancre.  This 
ulcer  pours  from  its  surface  a  viscous,  oily  discharge  similar  to  that 
which  we  have  seen  in  the  farcy  ulcer.  The  irritation  of  the  discharge 
may  ulcerate  the  lining  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose,  causing  serpen- 
tine gutters  with  bottoms  resembling  those  of  the  chancres  themselves. 
If  the  nodules  have  formed  in  large  numbers  we  may  have  them  caus- 
ing an  acute  inflammation  of  the  Schneiderian  membrane,  with  a 
catarrhal  discharge  which  va^j  mark  the  specific  discharge,  or  that 
which  comes  from  the  ulcers  and  resembles  the  discharge  of  strangles 
or  simple  inflammatory  diseases. 

The  eruption  of  the  ulcers  and  discharge  soon  cause  an  irritation  of 
the  neighboring  lymphatics;  and  in  the  intermaxillary  space,  deep 
inside  of  the  jaws,  we  find  an  enlargement  of  the  glands,  which  for  the 
first  few  da^'s  may  seem  soft  and  edematous,  but  which  rapidlj'  becomes 
confined  to  the  glands,  these  being-  from  the  size  of  an  almond  to  that 
of  a  small  bunch  of  berries,  exceedingly  hard  and  nodulated.  This 
enlargement  of  the  glands  is  found  high  up  on  the  inside  of  the  jaws, 
firmly  adherent  to  the  base  of  the  tongue.  It  is  not  to  be  confounded 
with  the  puff}',  edematous  swelling,  which  is  not  separated  from  the 
skin  and  subcutaneous  connective  tissues  found  in  strangles,  in 
laryngitis,  and  in  other  simple  iuflammator}^  troubles. 

These  glands  bear  a  great  resemblance  to  the  hard,  indurated  glands 
which  we  find  in  connection  with  the  collection  of  pus  in  the  sinuses; 
but  in  the  latter  disease  the  glands  have  not  the  extreme  nodulated  feel 
which  the}'  have  in  glanders.  With  the  glands  we  find  indurated  cords, 
feeling  like  balls  of  tangled  wire  or  twine,  fastening  the  glands 
together. 

The  essential  symptoms  of  glanders  are  the  nodule,  the  chancre, 


540  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

the  glands,  and  the  discharge.  With  the  development  of  the  nodules 
in  the  respiratory  tract,  according  to  their  number  and  the  amount 
cf  eruption  which  they  cause,  we  may  find  a  cough  which  resembles 
that  of  a  coryza,  a  laryngitis,  a  bronchitis,  or  a  broncho-pneumonia, 
according  to  the  location  of  the  lesions.  In  chronic  glanders  we 
find  the  same  accessory  symptoms  that  occur  in  chronic  farcy,  the 
hemorrhage  of  the  nose,  the  swelling  of  the  legs,  the  chronic  cough, 
and,  in  the  entire  horse,  the  swelling  of  the  testicles. 

On  healing,  the  chancres  on  the  mucous  membranes  leave  small, 
whitish,  star-shaped  scars,  hard  and  indurated  to  the  touch,  and  which 
remain  for  almost  an  indefinite  time.  The  chancres  heal  and  the  other 
local  symptoms  disappear,  with  the  exception  of  the  enlargement  of 
the  glands,  and  we  find  these  so  diminished  in  size  that  thej^  are  scarcely 
perceptible  on  examination.  During  the  subacute  attacks,  with  a  mini- 
mum Ciuantity  of  local  troubles,  in  chronic  glanders  and  in  chronic 
farcy  the  animal  rarely  shows  any  amount  of  fever,  but  does  have  a 
general  depraved  appearance;  it  loses  flesh  and  becomes  hidebound; 
the  skin  becomes  dry  and  the  hairs  stand  on  end.  There  is  a  cachexia, 
however,  which  resembles  greatly  that  of  any  chronic,  organic  trouble, 
hut  is  not  diagnostic,  although  it  has  in  it  certain  appearances  and 
conditions  which  often  render  the  animal  suspicious  to  the  eye  of  the 
expert  veterinarian,  while  without  the  presence  of  local  lesions  he 
■v^'ould  be  unable  to  state  on  what  he  has  based  his  opinion. 

ACUTE    GLAXDKKS. 

Symptoms. — In  the  acute  form  of  glanders  we  find  the  symp- 
toms which  we  have  just  studied  in  chronic  farcy  and  in  chronic  glan- 
ders in  a  more  acute  and  aggravated  form.  There  is  a  rapid  outbreak 
of  nodules  in  the  respiratory  tract  which  rapidly  degenerate  into  chan- 
cres and  pour  out  a  considerable  discharge  from  the  nostrils.  There 
is  a  cough  of  more  or  less  severity  according  to  the  amount  and  site  of 
tiie  local  eruption.  Over  the  surface  of  the  bod}^  swellings  occur  which 
are  rapidly  followed  by  farcy  buttons,  which  break  into  ulcers;  we 
find  the  indurated  cords  and  enlargement  of  the  lymphatics. 

Bleeding  from  the  nose,  sudden  swelling  of  one  of  the  hind  legs,  and 
the  swelling  of  the  testicles  arc  apt  to  precede  an  acute  eruption  of 
glanders.  As  the  symptoms  become  more  marked  the  animal  has  diffi- 
cult}^ of  respiration,  the  flanks  heave,  the  respiration  becomes  rapid, 
the  pulse  becomes  quickened,  and  the  temperature  becomes  elevated 
to  103°,  104°,  or  105°  F. 

With  the  other  symptoms  of  an  acute  fever  the  general  appearance 
and  station  of  the  animal  is  that  of  one  sufi'ering  from  an  acute  pneu- 
monia, but  upon  examination,  while  we  may  find  sibilant  and  mucous 
rales  over  the  side  of  the  chest,  and  may  possibly  hear  tubular  mur- 
murs at  the  base  of  the  neck  over  the  trachea,  we  fail  to  find  the  tubu- 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESEo  541 

lar  murmur  or  the  large  area  of  dullness  on  percussion  over  the  sides 
of  the  chest  which  belongs  to  simple  pneumonia. 

Where  there  is  doubt  as  to  the  diagnosis  the  mallein  or  the  inocula- 
tion test  may  be  emploj^ed.  The  mallein  test  is  made  by  injecting; 
mallein  (a  sterilized  extract  from  a  culture  of  glanders  bacilli)  beneath 
the  skin.  If  the  horse  has  glanders  there  results  a  febrile  reaction  and 
a  swelling  at  the  point  of  injection.  If  the  horse  does  not  have  glan- 
ders the  mallein  has  no  effect  or,  at  most,  it  produces  a  slight  swelling 
only  at  the  point  of  injection.  The  inoculation  test  consists  in  the  inoc- 
ulation of  a  susceptible  animal  (usually  a  guinea  pig)  with  some  of  the 
suspected  discharge  from  the  nose  or  a  farcy  ulcer.  If  the  material 
is  properly  used,  and  if  it  contains  bacilli  of  glanders,  the  experimental 
animal  will  develop  the  disease.  Neither  of  these  tests  should  be  put 
into  use  excepting  by  a  competent  veterinarian. 

The  postmortem  examination  of  the  lungs  shows  that  the  pneumonia 
of  glanders  is  a  lobular,  V-shaped  pneumonia  scattered  through  the 
lungs  and  caused  b}^  the  specific  inflammator}^  process  taking  place  at 
the  divergence  of  the  smaller  air  tubes  of  the  lungs.  In  some  cases  of 
acute  glanders  the  formation  of  nodules  ma}^  so  irritate  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  respiratory  tract  and  cause  such  a  profuse  discharge 
of  mucopurulent  or  purulent  matter  that  the  specific  character  of  the 
original  discharge  is  entirely  masked.  In  this  case,  too,  the  submax- 
illary space  ma}"  for  a  few  daj's  so  swell  as  to  resemble  the  edematous 
inflamed  glands  of  strangles,  equine  variola,  or  larjmgiiis.  This  con- 
dition is  cspeciall}"  apt  to  be  marked  in  an  acute  outbreak  of  glanders 
in  a  drove  of  mules. 

Cases  of  chronic  farcy  and  glanders,  if  not  destroyed,  may  live  in  a 
depraved  condition  until  the  minimal  dies  from  general  emaciation  and 
anemia,  but  in  the  majoritj^  of  cases,  from  some  sudden  exposure  to 
cold,  it  develops  an  acute  pneumonia  or  other  simple  inflammator}^ 
trouble  which  starts  up  the  latent  disease  and  the  animal  has  acute 
glanders. 

In  the  ass,  mule,  and  plethoric  horses,  acute  glanders  usually  termi- 
nates b}^  lobular  pneumonia.  In  other  cases  the  general  sj^mptoms 
may  subside.  The  S3miptoms  of  pneumonia  gradually  disappear,  the 
temperature  lowers,  the  pulse  becomes  slower,  the  ulcers  heal,  leaving 
small  indurated  cicatrices,  and  the  animal  m.ay  return  to  apparent 
health,  or  ma}"  at  least  be  able  to  do  a  small  amount  of  work  with  but 
'a  few  symptoms  of  the  disease  remaining  in  a  chronic  form.  During 
the  attack  of  acute  glanders  the  inflammation  of  the  nasal  cavities  fre- 
quently spreads  into  the  sinuses  or  air  cells,  which  are  found  in  the 
forehead  and  in  front  of  the  eyes  on  either  side  of  the  face,  and  cause 
abscesses  of  these  cavities,  which  may  remain  as  the  only  visible 
symptom  of  the  disease.  An  animal  which  has  recovered  from  a  case 
of   acute  glanders,  like  the  animals  which  are  affected   by  chronic 


542  liUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUtiTKY. 

gliindors  and  chronic  fare}',  are  apt  to  bo  affected  with  eniphy.sema  of 
the  Unions  or  the  heaves,  and  to  have  a  chronic  cou<;h.  In  this  condi- 
tion they  may  continue  for  a  loni^  period,  serving  as  dangerous  sources 
of  contagion,  the  more  so  because  the  slight  amount  of  discharge  does 
not  serve  as  a  warning  to  the  owner  or  driver  as  profuse  discharge 
does  in  the  more  acute  cases. 

At  the  postmortem  examination  of  an  animal  which  has  been  de- 
stroyed or  has  died  of  glanders  we  find  evidences  of  the  various  lesions 
which  we  have  studied  in  the  symptoms.  In  addition  to  this,  we  lind 
nodules  similar  to  those  which  we  have  seen  on  the  exterior  through- 
out the  various  organs  of  the  body.  Nodules  may  be  found  in  the 
liver,  in  the  spleen,  and  in  the  kidneys.  We  may  find  inflammation  of 
the  periosteum  of  the  bones,  and  we  have  excessive  alterations  in  the 
marrow  in  the  interior  of  the  bones  themselves.  Both  of  these  con- 
ditions during  the  life  of  the  animal  may  have  been  the  cause  of  the 
lamenesses  which  were  difficult  to  diagnose. 

In  one  case  Avhich  came  under  the  observation  of  the  writer,  a  lame 
horse  was  destroyed  and  found  to  have  a  large  abscess  of  the  bone  of 
the  arm,  with  old  nodules  of  the  lungs.  When  an  animal  has  died 
immediately  after  an  attack  of  a  primary  acute  case  of  glanders,  we 
find  small  V-shaped  spots  of  acute  pneumonia  in  the  lungs.  If  the 
animal  has  made  an  apparent  recover}'  from  acute  glanders,  and  in 
cases  of  chronic  fare}'  and  chronic  glanders  no  matter  how  f')\v  the 
external  and  visible  symptoms  may  have  been,  there  is  a  deposit 
of  nodules — small,  hard,  indurated  nodes  of  new  connective  tissue  to 
be  found  in  the  lungs.  "When  these  have  existed  for  some  time  we 
may  find  a  deposit  of  lime  salts  in  them.  These  indurated  nodules 
retain  the  virus  and  their  power  to  give  out  contagion  for  almost  an 
indefinite  time,  and  predispose  to  the  causes  which  we  have  studied  as 
the  common  factors  in  developing  a  chronic  case  into  an  acute  case; 
that  is,  an  inflanunatory  process  wakens  up  their  vitalit\'  and  produces 
a  reinfection  of  the  entire  animal.  The  blood  of  an  animal  suffering 
from  chronic  glanders  and  farcy  is  not  virulent  and  is  unaltered,  but 
during  the  attack  of  acute  glanders,  Avhile  the  animal  has  fever,  the 
blood  becomes  virulent  and  remains  so  for  a  few  days. 

Trtxdinenf. — Almost  the  entire  list  of  drugs  in  the  pharmacopeia 
has  been  tested  in  the  treatment  of  glanders.  Good  h3'gienic  sur- 
roundings, good  food,  with  alteratives  and  tonics,  frequently  amelio- 
rate the  symptoms,  and  often  do  so  to  such  an  extent  that  the  animal 
would  pass  the  examination  of  any  expert  as  a  perfectly  sound  animal. 
But  while  in  this  case  the  number  of  nodules  of  the  lungs,  which  are 
invariably  there,  maj^  be  so  few  as  not  to  cause  sufficient  disturbance 
in  the  respiration  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  examiner,  the}'^ 
exist,  and  will  remain  there  almost  indefinitcl}'  with  the  constant  pos- 
sibility of  a  return  of  acute  sj'mptoms. 

It  is  probable  that  some  horses  may  recover  from  glanders  if  the 


LHWEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  513 

infection  is  slight,  but  it  will  not  j^ct  do  to  depend  upon  this  excepting 
under  the  most  stringent  veterinary  supervision.  With  good  care, 
good  food,  and  good  surroundings  and  little 'work,  an  animal  atfected 
Avith  glanders  ma}'  live  for  months  or  even  3'cars  in  an  apparent  state 
of  perfect  health,  but  with  the  first  deprivation  of  food,  with  a  few  daj'S 
of  severe  hard  work,  with  exposure  to  cold  or  with  the  attack  of  a 
simple  fever  or  inflamatory  trouble  from  other  causes,  the  latent  seeds 
of  the  disease  break  out  and  develop  the  trouble  again  in  an  acute 
form. 

In  several  celebrated  cases  horses  which  have  been  affected  Avith 
glanders  have  been  known  to  work  for  j^ears  and  die  from  other  causes 
without  ever  having  had  the  return  of  symptoms;  but,  allowing  that 
these  cases  may  occur,  they  are  fso  few  and  far  between,  and  the  danger 
of  infection  of  glanders  to  other  horses  and  to  the  stable  attendants  is 
so  great,  that  no  animal  which  has  once  been  affected  with  the  disease 
should  be  allowed  to  live  unless  repeated  mallcin  tests  have  shown  him 
to  have  become  free  from  taint  of  glanders. 

In  all  civilized  countries,  with  the  exception  of  some  of  the  States 
in  the  United  States,  the  laws  are  most  stringent  regarding  the  prompt 
declaration  on  the  part  of  the  owner  and  attending  veterinarian  at  the 
first  suspicion  of  a  case  of  glanders,  and  they  allow  indenuiit}'  for  the 
animal.  When  this  is  done,  in  all  cases  the  animal  is  destro3'ed  and 
the  articles  with  which  it  has  been  in  contact  are  thoroughl^^  disin- 
fected. When  the  attendants  have  attempted  to  hide  the  presence  of 
the  disease  in  a  comnmnit\',  punishment  is  meted  to  the  owner,  attend- 
ing veterinarian,  or  other  responsible  parties.  Several  States  have 
passed  excellent  laws  in  regard  to  glanders,  but  these  laws  are  not 
alwaj'S  carried  out  with  the  rigidity  with  which  they  should  be.  Tlie 
disease  is  verv  prevalent  in  Massachusetts,  in  New  York  Cit}',  and  in 
some  of  the  Western  States.  It  has  been  almost  completely  eradicated 
from  Pennsylvania  and  several  other  States. 

RABIES    IN    THK    HORSE. 

[SvxoxYiis:  Hydrophobia,  madness;  lysaa,  Greek;  rage,  French;  vmthkrankhelt,  Ger- 
man.] 

Definition. — Rabies  is  a  contagious  disease  which  is  asuallv  trans- 
mitted by  a  bite  and  by  the  introduction  of  a  virus  contained  in  the 
saliva  of  an  affected  animal.  It  may,  however,  be  transmitted  in  other 
ways.  It  is  characterized  b}'  sj^mptoms  of  aberration  of  the  nervous 
system,  and  invariabh'  terminates  fatally.  It  is  accompanied  by  lesions, 
inflammation,  and  degenei"ation  in  the  central  nervous  s^'stem.  It  is  a 
disease  that  is  most  common  in  the  dog,  but  is  transmitted  to  the 
horse,  either  from  dogs  or  from  an}^  other  animal  affected  with  it. 

As  a  disease  of  the  horse  it  is\iseless  to  enter  into  the  etiology*  fur- 
ther than  to  state  that  in  this  animal  it  is  invariably  the  result  of  the 
bite  of  a  rabid  animal,  usually'  a  dog. 


54-1  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

Perhaps  no  disease  in  medicine  has  been  the  object  of  move  contro- 
versy than  rabies.  Certain  medical  men  of  prominence  have  even 
doubted  the  existence '  of  the  disease.  Many  medical  men  have 
claimed  for  it  a  spontaneous  origin.  The  experience,  however,  of 
ages  has  shown  that  contagion  can  be  proved  in  the  great  majority  of 
cases,  and,  l)y  analog}'  with  other  contagious  diseases,  we  maj'^  onl}' 
believe  that  the  development  of  one  case  requires  the  preexistence 
of  a  case  from  which  the  virus  has  been  transmitted.  M.  Pasteur 
has  further  added  to  our  knowledge  of  the  disease  by  showing  that 
a  virus  capable  of  cultivation  exists  in  the  nervous  system,  espe- 
cially in  the  lower  part  of  the  brain  (medulla  oblongata)  and  in  the 
anterior  part  of  the  spinal  column.  M.  Pasteur  has  further  shown 
that  that  portion  of  the  nervous  S5^stem  which  contains  the  virus,  the 
exact  nature  of  which  has  not  yet  been  demonstrated,  will  retain  it 
for  a  very  long  time  if  kept  at  a  very  low  temperature  or  if  left  sur- 
rounded b}^  carbonic  acid;  but  if  the  nerve  matter,  which  is  virulent  at 
first,  is  exposed  to  the  air  and  is  kept  from  putrefaction  by  substances 
which  will  absorb  the  surrounding  moisture,  it  will  gradualh'  lose 
its  virulence  and  become  inoffensive  in  about  fifteen  daj's.  He  has 
further  shown  that  the  action  of  a  weak  virus  on  an  animal  will  pre- 
vent the  development  of  a  stronger  virus,  and  from  this  he  has  formu- 
lated his  method  of  proph3^1actic  treatment.  This  treatment  consists 
in  the  successive  inoculation  of  portions  of  the  nerve  matter  contain- 
ing the  virus  from  a  rabid  animal  which  has  been  exposed  to  the 
atmosphere  for  thirteen  days,  ten  days,  seven  days,  and  four  days, 
until  the  virulent  mattor  which  will  produce  rabies  in  any  unprotected 
animal  can  be  inoculated  with  impunit}'^.  A  curious  result  of  the 
experiments  of  M.  Pasteur  is  that  an  animal  which  has  first  been  inocu- 
lated with  a  virus  of  full  strength  can  be  protected  by  subsequent 
inoculations  of  attenuated  virus  repeated  in  doses  of  increasing 
strength. 

Symjjtoms. — From  the  moment  of  inoculation  l)y  the  bite  of  a  rabid 
dog  or  other  rabid  animal  or  b}'  otiier  means,  a  variable  time  elapses 
before  the  development  of  anj^  symjjtoms.  This  time  may  be  eight 
days  or  it  may  be  several  months;  it  is  usuall}^  about  four  weeks. 
The  first  symptom  is  an  irritation  of  the  original  wound.  This 
wound,  which  mav  have  healed  completely,  commences  to  itch  until 
the  horse  rubs  or  bites  it  into  a  new  sore.  The  horse  then  becomes 
irritable  and  vicious.  It  is  especially  susceptible  to  moving  objects; 
excessive  light,  noises,  the  entrance  of  an  attendant,  or  any  other  dis- 
turbance will  cause  the  patient  to  be  on  the  defensive.  It  apparently 
sees  imaginary  objects;  the  slightest  noise  is  exaggerated  into  threaten- 
ing.violence;  the  approach  of  an  attendant  or  another  animal,  espe- 
cially a  dog,  is  interpreted  as  an  assault  and  the  horse  will  strike 
and  bite.     The  violence  on  the  part  of  the  rabid  horse  is  not  for  a 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  545 

moment  to  be  confounded  with  the  fury  of  the  same  animal  suffering- 
from  mojiiuo-itis  or  an}^  other  trouble  of  the  brain.  But  in  rabies 
there  is  a  volition,  a  premeditated  method,  in  the  attacks  which  tha 
animal  will  make,  which  is  not  found  in  the  other  diseases.  Between 
the  attacks  of  fury  the  animal  ma,j  become  calm  for  a  variable  period. 
The  writer  attended  a  case  in  which,  after  a  violent  attack  of  an  hour, 
the  horse  was  sufficiently  calm  to  be  walked  ten  miles  and  only 
developed  violence  again  an  hour  after  being  placed  in  the  new  stable. 
In  the  period  of  fury  the  horse  will  bite  at  the  reopened  original 
wound;  it  will  rear  and  attempt  to  break  its  halter  and  fastenings;  it 
will  bite  at  the  woodwork  and  surrounding  objects  in  the  stable.  If 
the  iinimal  lives  long  enough  it  shows  paralytic  symptoms  and  falls  to 
the  ground,  unable  to  use  two  or  more  of  its  extremities,  but  in  the 
majority  of  cases,  in  its  excesses  of  violence,  it  does  physical  injury  to 
itself.  It  breaks  its  jaws  in  biting  at  the  manger  or  fractures  other 
bones  in  throwing  itself  on  the  ground  and  dies  of  hemorrhage  or 
internal  injuries.  At  times  throughout  the  course  of  the  disease  there 
is  an  excessive  sensibility  of  the  skin  which,  if  irritated  by  the  touch, 
will  bring  on  attacks  of  violence.  The  animal  may  have  appetite  and 
desire  water  throughout  the  course  of  the  disease,  but  on  attempting 
to  swallow  has  a  spasm  of  the  throat,  which  renders  the  act  impossible. 
This  latter  condition,  which  is  common  in  all  rabid  animals,  has  given 
the  disease  the  name  of  hydrophobia  (fear  of  water). 

In  a  case  under  the  care  of  the  writer  a  horse,  four  weeks  after 
being  bitten  on  the  forearm  by  a  rabid  dog,  developed  local  irritation 
in  the  healed  wound  and  tore  it  with  its  teeth  into  a  large  ulcer.  This 
was  healed  by  local  treatment  in  ten  days  and  the  horse  was  kept 
under  surveillance  for  over  a  month.  On  the  advice  of  another  prac- 
titioner  the  horse  was  taken  home  and  put  to  work,  and  within  three 
days  it  developed  violent  symptoms  and  had  to  be  destroyed. 

Diagnosis, — The  diagnosis  of  rabies  in  the  horse  is  to  be  made  from 
the  various  brain  troubles  to  which  the  animal  is  subject;  first,  by  the 
history  of  a  previous  bite  of  a  rabid  animal  or  inoculation  by  other 
means;  second,  b}'  the  evident  volition  and  consciousness  on  the  part  of 
the  animal  in  its  attacks,  offensive  and  defensive,  on  persons,  animals, 
or  other  disturbing  surroundings.  The  irritation  and  reopening  of  the 
original  wound  or  point  of  inoculation  is  a  valuable  factor  in  diagnosis. 

Recovery  from  rabies  may  be  considered  as  a  question  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  original  diagnosis.     Rabies  is  always  fatal. 

Treatment. — No  remedial  treatment  has  ever  been  successful.  All  of 
the  anodj^nes  and  anesthetics,  opium,  belladonna,  bromide  of  potash, 
ether,  chloroform,  ctc.^  have  been  used  without  avail.  The  prophy- 
lactic treatment  of  successive  inoculations  is  being  used  on  human 
beings,  and  has  experimentally  proved  efficacious  in  dogs,  but  would  be 
impracticable  in  the  horse  unless  the  conditions  were  quite  exceptional. 
14:38-1—03 35 


SURRA." 

By  Ch.  Wardell  Stiles,  Ph.  D., 

Consulting  Zoologist,  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry;  Zoologist,  United  States  Public  Jlealth 
and  Marine-Hospital  Service. 

Surra  is  not  known  to  occur  in  the  United  States.;  but  it  is  more  or 
less  common  in  the  Philippine  Islands  and  India.  It  is  caused  by  a 
microscopic,  flagellate  animal  parasite,  known  as  Trypanosoina  Evann't., 
20  to  30  yw  long  by  1  to  2  ;<  broad,  which  liv^  es  in  the  blood  and  destro\'s 
the  rod-blood  corpuscles.  In  general,  the  disease  is  very  similar  to, 
and  belongs  in  the  same  general  class  with,  tsetse-fly  disease,  or  nagana, 
of  xVfrica  and  mal  de  caderas  of  South  America. 

CLIMATIC    CONDITIONS. 

Surra  is  a  wet  weather  disease,  occurring  chiefly  during  or  imn)e- 
diately  after  heavy  rainfalls,  floods,  or  inundations. 

ANIMALS   AFFKCTED. 

Surra  attacks  especially  horses,  asses,  and  mules,  but  it  may  occur 
in  kerabau,  camels,  elephants,  cats,  and  dogs,  and  has  been  transmitted 
to  cattle,  buffaloes,  sheep,  goats,  rabbits,  guinea  pigs,  rats,  and  mon- 
keys. No  birds,  reptiles,  amphil)ia  (frogs,  etc.),  or  fish  are  known  to 
suffer  from  it.  It  attacks  both  male  and  female  animals,  young  and 
old.  Australian  breeds  of  horses  and  white  and  gray  mules  are  said 
to  be  more  susceptible  than  animals  of  other  breeds  and  color. 

LETHALITY—  DURATION. 

Surra  in  equines  and  camels  is  said  to  be  an  invariabh^  fatal  disease, 
but  cattle  occasionall}'  recover  from  it.  There  is  no  histoiy  of  a 
definite  onset  of  the  disease,  and  the  condition  is  progressive,  usually 
with  a  number  of  relapses.  The  period  of  incubation  may  vary  some- 
what; in  experimental  cases  it  is  from  two  to  seventy-five  (usually  six 
to  eight)  days,  according  to  conditions.  The  duration  varies  with  tlio 
species  of  animal  attacked,  their  age,  and  general  condition.  Th. 
average  duration  in  the  horse  is  reported  as  less  than  two  months, 
though  some  cases  may  terminate  fatalh""  'n  less  than  one  to  two  weeks. 

«  For  a  more  detailed  discussion  of  this  disease  see  Salmon  &  Stiles,  1902,  Emer- 
gency report  on  surra   <Bul.  42,  Bureau   Animal   Industry,   U.  S.  Dept.  Agric, 
Wash.,  pp.  1-152,  figs.  1-112.     Eeprinted  in  Eighteenth  Annual  Report  (for  1901), 
Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  pp.  41-182,  figs.  1-112. 
546 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  547 

METHOD    OF    INFECTION. 

All  evidence  now  available  .seems  to  indicate  that  surra  is  strictl}'  a 
wound  disease,  nanieh^  that  the  parasite  ma}^  enter  the  bod}'^  only 
through  a  wound  of  some  kind.  Apparently  by  far  the  most  common 
method  is  through  wounds  produced  by  biting  flies,  whose  mouth 
parts  are  moist  with  the  infected  blood  of  some  animal  bitten  by  the 
same  flies  immediately  previous  to  biting  the  healthy  animal.  Crows 
may  also  transmit  the  infection  by  pecking  at  sores  on  a  diseased 
anim.al,  soiling  their  beaks  with  blood,  and  transferring  this  infected 
bloo4  to  a  healthy  animal.  Likewise,  if  a  scratch  is  made  on  a  horse 
and  then  infected  blood  is  rubbed  on  the  scratch,  the  horse  will 
become  diseased.  If,  in  experiment,  infected  blood  is  fed  to  a  healthy 
animal,  the  latter  may  contract  surra  in  case  it  has  an  abraded  or 
wounded  spot  in  its  mouth;  but  if  no  part  of  the  lining  of  the  alimen- 
tary canal  is  wounded,  infection  does  not  take  place.  Thus  dogs  and 
cats  may  contract  the  disease  b}^  wounding  the  lining  of  the  mouth  (as 
with  splinters  of  bone)  while  feeding  on  the  carcasses  of  surra  sub- 
jects. All  available  evidence  indicates  that  under  normal  conditions 
of  pregnancy  the  disease  is  not  transmitted  from  mother  to  fetus. 

There  is  a  popular  view  that  surra  may  be  contracted  by  drinking 
stagnant  water  and  hy  eating  grass  and  other  vegetation  grown  upon 
land  subject  to  inundation,  but  there  is  no  good  experimental  evidence 
to  support  this  view.  Probably  the  correct  interpretation  of  the  facts 
cited  in  support  of  this  theory  is  that  biting  flies  are  numerous  around 
bodies  of  stagnant  water  and  in  inundated  pastures,  hence  that  a  great 
number  of  possible  transmitters  of  the  disease  are  present  in  these 
places. 

SYMPTOMS. " 

Symiytoins  of  the  disease  as  ohserved  lohen  contracted  naturally. — The 
invasion  of  this  disease  is  usuall}^  marked  b}"  symptoms  of  a  trivial 
character;  the  skin  feels  hot,  and  there  may  be  more  or  less  fever; 
there  is  also  slight  loss  of  appetite,  and  the  animal  appears  dull  and 
stumbles  during  action;  early  a  symptom  sometimes  appears  which 
ma}'  be  the  first  intimation  received  of  the  animal's  indisposition,  and 
which,  as  a  guide  to  diagnosis,  is  of  great  importance;  it  is  the  pres- 
ence of  a  general  or  localized  urticarial  eruption.  If  the  blood  be 
examined  microscopicall}',  it  may  be  found  to  present  a  normal  appear- 
ance; but  in  the  majority  of  cases  a  few  small,  rapidly  moving  organ- 
isms will  be  observed,  giving  to  the  blood,  as  it  passes  among  the 
corpuscles,  a  peculiar  vibrating  movement,  which  if  once  observed 
will  not  easily  be  forgotten.  If  the  parasite  has  not  Ijeen  discovered 
in  the  blood  for  some  days,  the  symptoms  mentioned  above  may  be 

«iyiis  summary  of  symptoms  is  based  upon  work  by  Lingard,  as  summarized  in 
the  Emergency  Report. 


548  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

the  onl}'  ones  noticed,  and,  as  a  rule,  when  treated  with  febrifuges, 
the  horse  quickly  improves  in  health  and  the  appetite  returns.  This 
condition  does  not  last  for  more  than  a  few  days,  when  the  animal  is 
again  observed  to  present  a  dull  and  dejected  appearance,  and  on 
examination  well-marked  symptoms  are  found;  the  skin  is  hot,  the 
temperature  more  or  less  elevated — 101.7*^  to  104°  F. ;  the  pulse  full  and 
frequent — 56  to  64  beats  per  minute;  the  visible  mucous  membranes 
may  appear  clean,  but  the  conjunctival  membranes,  especially  those 
covering  the  membrana  nictitans,  are  usually  the  seat  of  dark-red 
patches  of  ecchymosis,  varying  in  size  in  different  animals.  There  is 
more  or  less  thirst  and  slight  loss  of  appetite;  the  animal  eats  its 
grain  and  green  grass,  but  leaves  all  or  a  portion  of  the  hay  with 
which  it  has  been  supplied.  At  the  same  time  there  are  slight  catarrhal 
symptoms  present,  including  lachrymation  and  a  little  mucous  dis- 
charge from  the  nostrils.  Occasionally  at  this  period  of  the  disease 
the  submaxillary  glands  may  be  found  enlarged  and  perhaps  some- 
what tender  on  manipulation.  One  symptom  is  markedl}'  absent, 
namely,  the  presence  of  rigors  or  the  objective  sign  of  chilliness. 
In  addition,  it  will  be  noted  that  there  is  some  swelling  and  edema 
of  the  legs,  generally  between  the  fetlock  and  the  hock,  which  pits 
but  is  not  painful  on  pressure,  and  in  cases  of  horses  there  ma}^  be 
present  also  at  this  stage  of  the  disease  some  swelling  of  the  sheath. 
When  the  fever  and  concomitant  S3^mptoms  have  declared  themselves 
for  a  short  period,  one  thing  becomes  especially  noti<'eable  in  every 
animal  attacked,  namel}'^,  the  rapidity  with  which  it  loses  flesh.  If 
the  blood  has  been  examined  microscopically  during  the  second  period 
of  fever,  at  first  a  few  parasites  will  have  been  observed  in  it,  which 
day  by  day  increase  in  number  and  reach  a  maximum,  where  they 
remain  for  a  varying  period,  or  at  once  suddenly  or  gradually  disap- 
pear during  the  period  of  apyrexia.  After  the  fever  and  the  accom- 
panying S3miptoms  have  for  the  second  time  been  present  for  some 
days — the  period  varying  from  one  to  six — the  animal  is  found  to 
have  lost  the  dull,  dejected  apj^earance  and  to  look  bright.  The  tem- 
perature has  fallen  and,  in  some  cases,  has  attained  normal  or  even 
subnormal  limits.  The  visible  mucous  membranes  are  clean  and  the 
conjunctival  petechias  begin  to  fade;  the  pulse,  however,  will  be  found 
to  be  weak  and  thready  in  character,  but  the  appetite  excellent,  and, 
in  fact,  if  it  were  not  for  the  loss  of  flesh  and  slight  edema  of  the 
legs,  there  would  be  little  to  show  that  the  animal  was  sick.  But 
unfortunately  this  condition  does  not  continue  for  any  length  of  time, 
for  again  the  temperature  is  elevated;  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours 
the  thermometer  registers  a  still  higher  degree,  the  animal  is  dull  and 
dejected,  and  by  the  following  day  the  visible  mucous  membranes 
present  a  yellow  tinge;  large  ecchymoses,  dark  in  color,  appear  on 
the  conjunctival  membranes,  the  action  of  the  heart  is  irritable',  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  549 

pulse  full  and  quick,  or  at  times  intermittent,  and  regurgitation  may 
be  observed  in  the- jugulars,  the  breathing  is  quickened,  and  the  indi- 
vidual respirations  shallow.  On  watching  an  animal  in  this  condition 
it  may  be  noticed  that  it  takes  7  to  8  ver}^  short  inspirations,  and  these 
are  followed  b}^  a  much  more  prolonged  and  sonorous  one;  at  the 
same  time  the  breathing  is  more  abdominal  than  thoracic  in  character. 
On  examination  of  the  legs  it  will  be  found  that  the  swelling  and 
edema  have  increased  considerabl}",  and  that  on  the  under  surface  of 
the  ab.domen,  where  it  was  previously  confined  to  the  sheath,  it  has 
now  commenced  to  spread  forward  along  the  subcutaneous  tissue 
between  the  skin  and  the  muscles.  During  the  whole  of  this  time  the 
appetite  will  have  varied  little,  and  the  evacuations  will  be  only  slightly, 
if  at  all,  altered  in  character.  In  the  blood  a  repetition  of  the  previous 
events  takes  place,  the  parasites  make  their  appearance  and  increase  to 
a  maximum  and  again  suddenl}^  or  gradually  disappear,  according  to 
the  length  of  the  fever  period.  These  periods,  alternating  with  and 
without  fever,  may  go  on  for  a  considerable  time.  The  progress  of 
the  disease  is  variable  and  greatly  depends  upon  the  condition  of  the 
animal  attacked,  the  weak  one  succumbing  very  rapidlj'',  but  each 
return  of  the  fever  brings  with  it,  as  a  rule,  an  increase  in  the  sever- 
ity of  the  symptoms.  There  is  increased  ^^ellowness  of  the  mem- 
branes, fresh  crops  of  petechias  on  the  conjunctiva,  a  collection  of 
gelatinous  material  at  the  inner  angle,  which  at  times  becomes  red  in 
color  from  an  admixture  of  blood,  and  which  on  microscopic  examina- 
tion is  found  to  contain  a  varying  number  of  the  surra  parasites; 
increased  swelling  and  edema  of  the  extremities  and  abdomen,  which 
now  extends  between  the  fore  limbs  and  up  the  chest.  During  this 
time  the  wasting  has  been  steadily  progressive,  especially  of  the 
muscles  of  the  back  and  those  surrounding  the  hip  joint  and  the  glutei. 
Toward  the  termination  of  the  disease  it  will  be  noticed  that  an 
animal  is  disinclined  to  move,  and  when  made  to  do  so  there  will  be 
manifest  loss  of  power  over  the  hind  quarters,  somewhat  simulating  a 
slight  partial  paralysis,  and  the  hind  quarters  of  the  animal  reel  from 
side  to  side.  In  connection  with  this  it  may  be  noted  that  there  is  fre- 
quentl}^  present  paral3^sis  of  the  sphincter  ani  and  a  dilated  condition  of 
the  anus.  These  symptoms  taken  together  point  to  some  interference 
with  the  normal  functions  of  the  spinal  cord  in  the  lower  dorsal  and 
lumbar  regions,  and  are  probably  due  to  pressure  caused  by  an  exu- 
dation within  the  spinal  membranes.  In  many  cases  shortly  before 
death  the  heart's  action  becomes  exceedingly  violent,  shaking  the 
whole  frame  at  each  beat,  so  that  the  sound  can  be  heard  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  animal.  In  some  of  these  cases  the  animal  may  sud- 
denly drop  dead;  in  others  the  emaciation  and  weakness  become  so 
pronounced  that  the  animal  falls  to  the  ground,  and,  after  a  short 
struggle,  succumbs  to  the  disease.     In  other  cases,  again,  the  animal 


550  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTKY. 

falls  to  the  ground  and  appears  to  be  suffering  from  acute  pain, 
struggles  violent!}',  sweat  covers  the  body,  and  respiration  is  very 
hurried.  The  struggles  soon  exhaust  the  patient's  strength,  and  for 
a  time  it  lies  quiet;  soon,  however,  the  struggles  commence  again, 
and  this  continues  until  death  occurs.  In  some  cases  the  appetite 
is  voracious. 

Symptoms  of  the  disease  as  obsei'ved  in  experhrientally  inoculated, 
animals. — Twenty-four  hours  after  the  subcutaneous  injection  of  a 
small  quantity  of  surra  blood,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  a  small  cir- 
cumscribed and  somewhat  raised  swelling  is  noticed  at  the  seat  of  the 
inoculation.  After  forty-eight  hours  the  tumor  has  increased  in  size 
and  is  accompanied  by  some  edema;  it  presents  a  certain  amount  of 
tension  of  the  parts  involved,  and  is  generall}''  tender  on  manipulation. 
These  conditions  continue  to  increase,  until  b}-  the  fourth  day  the 
tumor  may  measure  3  or  4  inches  in  one  direction  by  2  or  3  in  the 
other,  and  raised  to  the  extent  of  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  a  half  above 
the  surrounding  tissues,  or  in  some  cases  the  tumor  presents  an  almost 
circular  form  throughout.  It  will  be  also  found  that,  if  the  tumor  be 
lirmh'  grasped,  it  is  not  fixed,  but  can  be  lifted  up  from  the  subcuta- 
neous tissue.  According  to  the  nature  and  amount  of  the  inoculated 
blood,  these  symptoms  rapidly  present  themselves,  and  either  attain  a 
maximum  or  are  retarded  until,  varying  from  the  fourth  to  the  thir- 
teenth day,  the  tumor  at  the  seat  of  inoculation  will  be  found  to  have 
lost  a  certain  amount  of  its  tension  and  tenderness.  From  this  date 
the  swelling  and  edema  will  gradually  begin  to  grow  less,  until  linallj', 
after  a  period  of  ten  to  fourteen  days,  the  onl}'  sign-  left  of  the  for- 
mer swelling  will  be  slight  thickening  of  the  skin  over  the  point  of 
the  injection;  but  at  the  moment  when  the  tension  and  tenderness 
of  the  parts  at  the  seat  of  inoculation  become  suddenly  decreased,  a 
symptom  of  the  utmost  clinical  importance  takes  place,  namel}',  at 
that  moment  the  parasite  of  surra  enters  the  blood  of  the  general 
circulation. 

The  temperature  on  the  day  of  inoculation,  and,  in  fact,  for  several 
days  afterwards,  may  remain  normal  in  character,  there  being  only  a 
few  degrees  difference  between  the  morning  and  evening  observations. 
In  other  cases  there  may  be  a  slight  rise  from  the  first  evening,  and  a 
gradual  progressive  rise  until  the  swelling  at  the  seat  of  inoculation 
shows  signs  of  reduction  in  size,  when  the  temperature  generall}^  takes  a 
decided  rise  again,  and  ma}'  attain  104°  or  105.8^  F.  This  elevation  will 
last  a  varying  period  of  from  two  to  six  daj'^s,  and  on  the  day  follow- 
ing its  onset  the  ordinary  symptoms  of  fever  will  be  noticed,  and  in 
addition  there  will  be  petechise  on  the  conjunctival  membranes,  lach- 
rymation,  a  slight  mucous  discharge  from  the  nose,  and  in  severe  cases 
some  edema  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  legs,  and  perhaps  of  the  sheath 
in  horses.     At  the  termination  of  the  period  of  fever  the  temperature 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  551 

will  be  found  to  have  fallen  to  normal  or  nearly  so;  the  animal  will 
present  a  brighter  aspect,  and  there  is  every  appearance  of  its  return 
to  health;  but  in  a  few  da3^s  the  animal  again  appears  dull  and  half 
asleep;  the  temperature  becomes  elevated,  and  a  relapse  takes  place, 
and  a  repetition  of  all  the  symptoms  in  the  primary  paroxj^sm,  includ- 
ing the  reappearance  of  the  parasite,  is  observed. 

DIAGNOSIS. 

Certain  symptoms  (anemia,  fever,  petechias,  ravenous  appetite, 
extreme  emaciation,  high  mortality,  etc.)  would  naturally  give  rise  to 
a  suspicion  of  surra.  The  positive  diagnosis  should,  however,  be  made 
with  a  microscope.  In  case  of  suspected  surra  no  delay  in  confirming 
or  disproving  the  suspicion  should  be  permitted. 

TREATMENT. 

No  satisfactory  treatment  is  known.  Intravenous  injections  of 
Fowler's  solution  of  arsenic  give  temporary  relief,  but  relapses  occur. 
In  view  of  the  great  economic  importance  of  this  disease,  it  would 
not  be  advisable  to  attempt  to  treat  any  sporadic  cases  should  they 
occur  in  this  country.  On  the  contrary,  the  animals  should  be  slaugh- 
tered immediately  and  their  carcasses  promptly  burned. 


SHOEING. 

By  John  W.  Adams,  A.  B.,  V.  M.  !>., 

,  Professor  of  Surgery  and  Lecturer  on  Shoeing,  Veterinary  Department,  University  of 
Prnr^ylvania. 

Bad  and  indifferent  .shoeing  so  frequently  leads  to  diseases  of  the 
feet  and  to  irregularities  of  gait,  which  may  render  a  horse  unservice- 
able, that  it  has  been  thought  appropriate  to  conclude  this  book  with 
a  brief  chapter  on  the  principles  involved  in  shoeing  healthy  hoofs. 

In  unfolding  this  subject  in  the  limited  space  at  my  disposal,  I  can 
only  hope  to  give  the  intelligent  horse  owner  a  sufficient  number  of 
facts,  based  on  experience  and  upon  the  anatomy  and  physiology  of 
the  foot  and  leg,  to  enable  him  to  avoid  the  more  serious  consequences 
of  improper  shoeing. 

Let  us  first  examine  this  vital  mechanism,  the  foot,  and  learn  some- 
thing of  its  structure  and  of  the  natural  movements  of  its  component 
parts,  that  we  may  be  prepared  to  recognize  deviations  from  the  nor- 
mal and  to  apply  the  proper  corrective. 

GROSS    ANATOMY    OF    THE    FOOT. 

The  hones  of  the  foot  are  four  in  number,  three  of  which — the  long 
pastern,  short  pastern,  and  coffinbone,  placed  end  to  end — form  a  con- 
tinuous straight  column  passing  downward  and  forward  from  the  fet- 
lock joint  to  the  ground.  A  small  accessory  bone,  the  navicular,  or 
"shuttle,"  bone,  lies  crosswise  in  the  foot  between  the  wings  of  the 
coffinbone  and  forms  part  of  the  joint  surface  of  the  latter.  The  short 
pastern  projects  about  1^  inches  above  the  hoof  and  extends  about  an 
equal  distance  into  it. 

The  pasterns  and  the  coffinbone  are  held  together  by  strong  fibrous 
cords  passing  between  each  two  bones  and  placed  at  the  sides  so  as  not 
to  interfere  with  the  forward  and  backward  movement  of  the  bones. 
The  joints  are  therefore  hliKje  joints^  though  imperfect,  because  while 
the  chief  movements  are  those  of  extension  and  flexion  in  a  single 
plane,  some  slight  rotation  and  lateral  movements  are  possible. 

The  bones  are  still  further  bound  together  and  supported  by  three 
long  fibrous  cords,  or  tendons.  One,  the  extensor  tendon  of  the  toe, 
passes  down  the  front  of  the  pasterns  and  attaches  to  the  coffinbone 
just  below  the  edge  of  the  hair;  when  pulled  upon  by  its  muscle  this 
tendon  draws  the  toe  forward  and  enables  the  horse  to  place  the  hoof 
552 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  553 

flat  upon  the  ground.  The  other  two  tendons  are  placed  behind  the 
pasterns  and  are  caWedjiexors,  because  they  flex,  or  bend,  the  pasterns 
and  coflinbone  backward.  One  of  these  tendons  is  attached  to  the 
upper  end  of  the  short  pastern,  while  the  other  passes  down  between 
the  heels,  glides  over  the  under  surface  of  the  navicular  bone,  and 
attaches  itself  to  the  under  surface  of  the  cofSnbone.  These  two  ten- 
dons not  only  flex,  or  fold  up,  the  foot  as  the  latter  leaves  the  ground, 
during  motion,  but  at  rest  assist  the  suspensor}^  ligament  in  support- 
ing the  fetlock  joint. 

The  foot-axhi  is  an  iniagiaarjf  line  passing  from  the  fetlock  joint 
through  the  long  axes  of  the  two  pasterns  and  cofiinbone.  This 
imaginary  line,  which  shows  the  direction  of  the  pasterns  and  coflan- 
l)one,  should  always  be  straight — that  is,  never  broken,  either  forward 
or  backward  when  viewed  from  the  side,  or  inward  or  outward  when 
observed  from  in  front.  Viewed  from  one  side,  the  long  axis  of  the 
long  pastern,  when  prolonged  to  the  ground,  should  be  parallel  to 
the  line  of  the  toe.  Viewed  from  in  front,  the  long  axis  of  the  long 
pastern,  when  prolonged  to  the  ground,  should  cut  the  hoof  exactly 
at  the  middle  of  the  toe. 

Raising  the  heels  or  shortening  the  toe  not  onl}"  tilts  the  cofiinbone 
forvs'ard  and  makes  the  hoof  stand  steeper  at  the  toe,  but  slackens  the 
tendon  that  attaches  to  the  under  surface  of  the  cofiinbone  (perforans 
tendon),  and  therefore  allows  the  fetlock  joint  to  sink  downward  and 
backward  and  the  long  pastern  to  assume  a  more  nearly  horizontal 
position.  The  foot-axis,  viewed  from  one  side,  is  now  broken  for- 
ward; that  is,  the  long  pastern  is  less  steep  than  the  toe,  and  the  heels 
are  cither  too  long  or  the  toe  is  too  short.  On  the  other  hand,  raising 
the  toe  or  lowering  the  heels  of  a  foot  with  a  straight  foot-axis  not 
only  tilts  the  coffinbone  backward  and  renders  the  toe  more  nearly 
horizontal,  but  tenses  the  perforans  tendon,  which  then  forces  the  fet- 
lock joint  forward,  causing  the  long  pastern  to  stand  steeper.  •  The 
foot-axis,  seen  from  one  side,  is  now  broken  backward — an  indication 
that  the  toe  is  relativelv  too  long  or  that  the  heels  are  relativelv  too 
low. 

The  elastic  tissues  of  the  fooz  are  preeminent!}^  the  lateral  cartilages 
and  the  plantar  cushion.  The  lateral  cartilages  are  two  irregularly 
four-sided  plates  of  gristle,  one  on  either  side  of  the  foot,  extending 
from  the  wings  of  the  cofiinbone  backward  to  the  heels  and  upward  to 
a  distance  of  an  inch  or  more  above  the  edge  of  the  hair,  where  they 
may  be  felt  by  the  fingers.  When  sound,  these  plates  are  elastic  and 
yield  readih'  to  moderate  finger  pressure,  but  from  various  causes 
may  undergo  ossification,  in  which  condition  the}^  are  hard  and 
unyielding.  The  plantar  cushion  is  a  wedge-shaped  mass  of  tough, 
elastic,  fibro-fattj^  tissue  filling  all  the  space  between  the  lateral  car- 
tilages, forming  the  fleshj^  heels  and  the  fleshy  frog,  and  serving  as  a 


554  BUKEAU    OF    AI^IMAL    INJDUSTKY. 

buffer  to  disperye  sbock  when  the  foot  i.s  set  to  the  ground.  It 
extends  forward  underneath  the  navicuhir  bone  and  perforans  tendon, 
and  protects  these  structures  from  injurious  pressure  from  below. 
Instantaneous  photographs  show  that  at  speed  the  horse  sets  the  heels 
to  the  ground  before  other  parts  of  the  foot — conclusive  proof  that 
the  function  of  this  tough,  elastic  structure  is  to  dissipate  and  render 
harmless  violent  impact  of  the  foot  with  the  ground. 

The  horn-producing  rnemhrane^  or  "quick,"  as  it  is  commonly  termed, 
is  merel}'  a  downward  prolongation  of  the  '"derm,"  or  true  skin,  and 
ma}"  be  conveniently  called  the  2^ododerm  (foot  skin).  The  pododerm 
closely  invests  the  coflSnbone,  lateral  cartilages,  and  plantar  cushion, 
much  as  a  sock  covers  the  human  foot,  and  is  itself  covered  by  the 
horny  capsule,  or  hoof.  It  differs  from  the  external  skin,  or  hair  skin, 
in  having  no  sweat  or  oil  glands,  but,  like  it,  is  richly  supplied  with 
blood  vessels  and  sensitive  nerves.  And,  just  as  the  derm  of  the  hair 
skin  produces  upon  its  outer  surface  laj'er  upon  layer  of  horny  cells 
(epiderm),  wdiich  protect  the  sensitive  and  vascular  derm,  so,  likewise, 
in  the  foot  the  pododerm  produces  over  its  entire  surface  soft  cells, 
which,  pushed  away  by  more  recent  cells  forming  beneath,  lose  mois- 
ture by  evaporation  and  are  rapidly  transformed  into  the  corneous 
material  which  we  call  the  hoof.  It  is  proper  to  regard  the  hoof  as 
a  greatly  thickened  epiderm  having  manv  of  the  qualities  possessed 
b}'  such  epidermal  structures  as  hair,  feathers,  nails,  claws,  etc. 

The  functions  of  the  pododerm  are  to  produce  the  hoof  and  to  unite 
it  firmly  to  the  foot. 

There  are  five  parts  of  the  pododerm,  easily  distinguishable  when 
tlje  hoof  has  been  removed,  namely:  (1)  T\\q,  pey^iopUc  hand^  a  narroAV 
ridge  from  one- sixteenth  to  one-eighth  of  an  inch  wide,  running  along 
the  edge  of  the  hair  from  one  heel  around  the  toe  to  the  other.  This 
band  produces  the  perloplic  horn^  the  thin  varnish-like  layer  of  glis- 
tening horn,  which  forms  the  surface  of  the  Avail,  or  "crust,"  and 
whose  purpose  seems  to  be  to  retard  evaporation  of  moisture  from 
the  wall.  (2)  Tie  coronary  hand^  a  prominent  fleshy  cornice  encir- 
cling the  foot  just  below  and  parallel  to  the  perioplic  band.  At  the 
heels  it  is  reflected  forward  along  the  sides  of  the  fleshj^  frog  to 
become  lost  near  the  apex  of  this  latter  structure.  The  coronet  pro- 
duces the  middle  layer  of  the  wall,  and  the  reflected  portions  produce 
the  "bars,"  which  are,  therefore,  to  be  regarded  mereh'  as  a  turning 
forward  of  the  w^all.  (3)  TXiq  fleshy  leaves,  500  to  600  in  number,  par- 
allel to  one  another,  running  downward  and  forward  from  the  lower 
edge  of  the  coronarj-  band  to  the  margin  of  the  fleshy  sole.  They 
produce  the  soft,  light-colored  horny  leaves  which  form  the  deepest 
layer  of  the  wall,  and  serve  as  a  strong  bond  of  union  between  the 
middle  layer  of  the  wall  and  the  fleshy  leaves  with  which  they  dovetail. 
(4)  The  fleshy  sole,  which  covers  the  entire  under  surface  of  the  foot, 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE.  555 

excepting  the  flesh}^  frog  and  bars.  The  horny  sole  is  produced  by 
the  fleshy  sole.  (5)  Th&feshyfi^og,  which  covers  the  under  surface  of 
the  plantar  cushion  and  produces  the  horny  frog. 

The  horny  hox^  or  hoof^  consists  of  wall  and  bars,  sole  and  frog.  The 
wall  is  all  that  part  of  the  hoof  which  is  visible  when  the  foot  is  on 
the  ground  (see  fig.  8).  As  alread}^  stated,  it  consists  of  three  layers — 
the  perioplo,  the  middle  layer,  and  the  leaf}^  la3'er. 

The  hars  (see  fig\  Ic)  are  forward  prolongations  of  the  wall,  and  are 
gradually  lost  near  the  point  of  the  frog.  The  angle  between  the  wall 
and  a  bar  is  called  the  ."buttress."  Each  bar  lies  against  the  horny 
frog  on  one  side  and  incloses  a  wing  of  the  sole  on  the  other,  so  that 
the  least  expansion  or  contraction  of  the  horn}^  frog  separates  or 
approximates  the  bars,  and  through  them  the  lateral  cartilages  and  the 
walls  of  the  quarters.  The  lower  border  of  the  wall  is  called  the 
"bearing  edge,"  and  is  the  surface  against  which  the  shoe  bears.  By 
dividing  the  entire  lower  circumference  of  the  wall  into  five  equal 
parts,  a  toe,  two  side  walls,  and  two  quarters  will  be  exhibited.  The 
"heels,"  strictly  speaking,  are  the  two  rounded  soft  prominences  of 
the  plantar  cushion,  lying  one  above  each  quarter.  The  outer  wall  is 
usually  more  slanting  than  the  inner,  and  the  more  slanting  half  of  a 
hoof  is  always  the  thicker.  In  front  hoofs  the  wall  is  thickest  at  the 
toe  and  gradually  thins  out  toward  the  quarters,  where  in  some  horses 
it  may  not  exceed  one-fourth  of  an  inch.  In  hind  hoofs  there  is  much 
less  difference  in  thickness  between  the  toe,  side  walls,  and  quarters. 
The  horny  sole,  from  which  the  flakes  of  old  horn  have  been  removed, 
is  concave  and  about  as  thick  as  the  wall  at  the  toe.  It  is  rough, 
uneven,  and  often  covered  by  flakes  of  dead  horn  in  process  of  being 
loosened  and  cast  off.  Behind,  the  sole  presents  an  opening  into  which 
are  received  the  bars  and  horn}'  frog.  This  opening  divides  the  sole 
into  a  body  and  two  wings. 

The  periphery  of  the  sole  unites  with  the  lower  border  of  the  wall 
and  bars  through  the  medium  of  the  vjhite  line,  which  is  the  cross- 
section  of  the  leafy  horn  layer  of  the  wall,  and  of  short  plugs  of  horn 
which  grow  down  from  the  lower  ends  of  the  fleshy  leaves.  This 
white  line  is  of  much  importance  to  the  shoer,  since  its  distance  from 
the  outer  border  of  the  hoof  is  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  and  in  the 
white  line  all  nails  should  be  driven. 

The  frog,  secreted  by  the  pododerm  covering  the  plantar  cushion  or 
fatty  frog,  and  presenting  almost  the  same  form  as  the  latter,  lies  as  a 
soft  and  very  elastic  wedge  between  the  bars  and  between  the  edges  of 
the  sole  just  in  front  of  the  bars.  A  broad  and  shallow  depression  in 
its  center  divides  it  into  two  branches,  which  diverge  as  the}^  pass 
backward  into  the  horn}'  bulbs  of  the  heel.  In  front  of  the  middle 
cleft  the  two  branches  unite  to  form  the  body  of  the  frog,  which  ends 
in  the  point  of  the  frog.     The  bar  of  a  bar  shoe  should  rest  on  the 


556  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

branches  of  the  frog.  In  unshod  hoofs  the  bearing-  edge  of  the  wall, 
the  sole,  frog,  and  bars  are  all  on  a  level;  that  is,  the  under  surface 
of  the  hoof  is  perfecth^  flat,  and  each  of  these  structures  assists  in 
bearing  the  body  weight. 

With  respect  to  solidity,  the  different  parts  of  the  hoof  vary  widely. 
The  middle  layer  of  the  wall  is  harder  and  more  tenacious  than  the 
sole,  for  the  latter  crumbles  away  or  passes  off  in  larger  or  smaller 
flakes  on  its  under  surface,  while  no  such  spontaneous  shortening  of 
the  wall  occurs.  The  white  line  and  the  frog  are  soft  horn  structures, 
and  differ  from  hard  horn  in  that  their  horn  cells  do  not,  under 
natural  conditions,  become  hard  and  hornlike.  They  are  very  elastic, 
absorb  moisture  rapidly,  and  as  readily  dry  out  and  become  hard, 
brittle,  and  easily  fissured.  Horn  of  good  quality  is  fine-grained  and 
tough,  while  bad  horn  is  coarse-grained,  and  either  mellow  and  friable 
or  hard  and  brittle.  All  horn  is  a  poor  conductor  of  heat,  and  the 
harder  (dryer)  the  horn,  the  more  slowly  does  it  transmit  extremes  of 
temperature. 

THE    PHYSIOLOGICAL    MOVEMENTS   OF    THE    HOOF. 

A  hoof  while  supporting  the  body  weight  has  a  different  form,  and 
the  structures  inclosed  within  the  hoof  have  a  different  position  than 
when  not  bearing  weight.  Since  the  amount  of  weight  borne  b)^  a 
foot  is  continualh'  changing,  and  the  relations  of  internal  pressure  are 
continuously  varying,  a  foot  is,  from  a  phj'siological  viewpoint,  never 
at  rest.  The  most  marked  changes  of  form  of  the  hoof  occur  when 
the  foot  bears  the  greatest  weight,  namcl}^,  at  the  time  of  the  greatest 
descent  of  the  fetlock.  Briefly,  these  changes  of  form  are:  (1)  An 
expansion  or  widening  of  the  whole  back  half  of  the  foot  from  the 
coronet  to  the  lo\\er  edge  of  the  quarters.  This  expansion  varies 
between  one-fiftieth  and  one-twelfth  of  an  inch.  (2)  A  narrowing  of 
the  front  half  of  the  foot,  measured  at  the  coronet.  (3)  A  sinking  of 
the  heels  and  a  flattening  of  the  wings  of  the  sole.  These  changes  are 
more  marked  in  the  half  of  the  foot  that  bears  the  greater  weight. 

The  changes  of  form  occur  in  the  following  order:  When  the  foot 
is  set  to  the  ground  the  body  weight  is  transmitted  through  the  bones 
and  sensitive  and  horny  leaves  to  the  wall.  The  coflinboue  and  navi- 
cular bone  sink  a  little  and  rotate  backward.  At  the  same  time  the 
short  pastern  sinks  backward  and  downward  between  the  lateral  carti- 
lages and  presses  the  perf  orans  tendon  upon  the  plantar  cushion.  This 
cushion  being  compressed  from  above  and  being  unable  to  expand  down- 
ward by  reason  of  the  resistance  of  the  ground  acting  against  the 
horny  frog,  acts  like  any  other  elastic  mass  and  expands  toward  the 
sides,  pushing  before  it  the  yielding  lateral  cartilages  and  the  wall  of 
the  quarters.  This  expansion  of  the  heels  is  assisted  and  increased  by 
the  simultaneous  flattening  and  lateral  expansion  of  the  resilient  horny 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  557 

frog,  which  crowds  the  bars  apart.  Of  course,  when  the  lateral  carti- 
lag-es  are  ossified  not  only  is  no  expansion  of  the  quarters  possible, 
but  frog  pressure  often  leads  to  painful  compression  of  the  plantar 
cushion  and  to  increase  of  lameness.  Frog  pressure  is  therefore 
contra-indicated  in  lameness  due  to  sidebones  (ossified  cartilages). 
Under  the  descent  of  the  coffinbone  the  horny  sole  sinks  a  little;  that 
is,  the  arch  of  the  sole  around  the  point  of  the  frog,  and  the  wings  of 
the  sole  become  somewhat  flattened.  All  these  changes  of  form  are 
most  marked  in  sound  unshod  hoofs,  because  in  them  ground  pressure 
on  the  frog  and  sole  is  pronounced;  they  are  more  marked  in  fore 
hoofs  than  in  hind  hoofs. 

The  movement  of  the  diflierent  structures  within  the  foot  and  the 
changes  of  form  that  occur  at  ever}^  step  are  indispensable  to  the  health 
of  the  hoof,  so  that  these  elastic  tissues  must  be  kept  active  by  regu- 
lar exercise,  with  protection  against  dr^ung  out  of  the  hoof.  Long 
continued  rest  in  the  stable,  drjung  out  of  the  hoof,  and  shoeing 
decrease  or  alter  the  ph3'siological  movements  of  the  hoof  and  some- 
times lead  to  foot  diseases.  Since  these  movements  are  complete  and 
spontaneous  only  in  unshod  feet,  shoeing  must  be  regarded  as  an  evil, 
albeit  a  necessary  one,  and  indispensable  if  we  wish  to  keep  horses 
continuously  serviceable  on  hard  artificial  roads.  However,  if  in 
shoeing  we  bear  in  mind  the  structure  and  functions  of  the  hoof  and 
apply  a  shoe  whose  branches  have  a  wide  and  level  bearing  surface, 
so  as  to  interfere  as  little  as  may  be  with  the  expansion  and  contrac- 
tion of  the  quarters,  in  so  far  as  this  is  not  hindered  by  the  nails,  we 
need  not  be  apprehensive  of  trouble,  provided  the  horse  has  reason- 
able work  and  his  hoofs  proper  care. 

GROWTH    OF   THE    HOOF. 

All  parts  of  the  hoof  grow  downward  and  forward  with  equal 
rapidit}',  the  rate  of  growth  being  largely  dependent  upon  the  amount 
of  blood  supplied  to  the  pododerm,  or  "  quick."  Abundant  and  reg- 
ular exercise,  good  grooming,  moistness  and  suppleness  of  the  hoof, 
going  barefoot,  plent}'  of  good  food,  and  at  proper  intervals  removing 
the  overgrowth  of  hoof  and  regulating  the  bearing  surface,  by  increas- 
ing the  volume  and  improving  the  quality  of  the  blood  flowing  into 
the  pododerm,  favor  the  rapid  growth  of  horn  of  good  qualit}^;  while 
lack  of  exercise,  drj^ness  of  the  horn,  and  excessive  length  of  the  hoof 
hinder  growth. 

The  average  rate  of  growth  is  about  one- third  of  an  inch  a  month. 
Hind  hoofs  grow  faster  than  fore  hoofs  and  unshod  ones  faster  than 
shod  ones.  The  time  required  for  the  horn  to  grow  from  the  coronet 
to  the  ground,  though  influenced  to  a  slight  degree  by  the  precited 
conditions,  varies  in  proportion  to  the  distance  of  the  coronet  from  the 
ground.     At  the  toe,  depending  on  its  height,  the  horn  grows  down . 


558  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

in  eleven  to  thirteen  months,  at  the  side  wall  in  yix  to  eight  months, 
and  at  the  heels  in  three  to  five  months.  We  can  thus  estimate  with 
tolerable  accurac}^  the  time  required  for  the  disappearance  of  such 
defects  in  the  hoof  as  cracks,  clefts,  etc. 

Irregular  growth  is  not  infrequent.  The  almost  invariable  cause  of 
this  is  an  improper  distribution  of  the  body  weight  over  the  hoof — 
that  is,  an  unbalanced  foot.  Colts  running  in  soft  pasture  or  confined 
for  long  periods  in  the  stable  are  frequently  allowed  to  grow  hoofs  of 
excessive  length.  The  long  toe  becomes  '*  dished  " — that  is,  concave  . 
from  the  coronet  to  the  ground — the  long  quarters  curl  forwa\rd  and 
inward  and  often  completely  cover  the  frog  and  lead  to  contraction  of 
the  heels,  or  the  whole  hoof  bends  outward  or  inward,  and  a  crooked 
foot,  or,  even  worse,  a  crooked  leg,  is  the  result  if  the  long  hoof  be 
allowed  to  exert  its  powerful  and  abnormally  directed  leverage  for 
but  a  few  months  upon  young  plastic  bones  and  tender  and  lax  articu- 
lar ligaments.  All  colts  are  not  foaled  with  straight  legs,  but  failure 
to  regulate  the  length  and  beariner  of  the  hoof  may  make  a  straight 
leg  crooked  and  a  crooked  leg  worse,  just  as  intelligent  care  during 
the  growing  period  can  greatly  improve  a  congenitally  crooked  limb. 
If  breeders  were  more  generalh'  cognizant  of  the  power  of  overgrown 
and  unbalanced  hoofs  to  divert  the  lower  bones  of  young  legs  from 
their  proper  direction,  and,  therefore,  to  cause  them  to  be  moved 
improperly,  with  loss  of  speed  and  often  with  injury'  to  the  limbs,  we 
might  hope  to  see  fewer  knock-kneed,  bow-legged,  "  splaj'-footed." 
"pigeon-toed,"'  cow-hocked,  interfering,  and  paddling  horses. 

If  in  shortening  the  hoof  one  side-wall  is,  from  ignorance,  left  too 
long  or  cut  down  too  low  with  relation  to  the  other,  the  foot  will  be 
unbalanced,  and  in  traveling  the  long  section  will  touch  the  ground 
first  and  will  continue  to  do  so  till  it  has  been  reduced  to  its  proper 
level  (length)  b}-  the  increased  wear  which  will  take  place  at  this  point. 
While  this  occurs  rapidly  in  unshod  hoofs,  the  shoe  prevents  wear  of 
the  hoof,  though  it  is  itself  more  rapidl}'  worn  away  beneath  the  high 
(long)  side  than  elsewhere,  so  that  by  the  time  the  shoe  is  worn  out  the 
tread  of  the  shoe  ma}^  be  flat.  If  this  mistake  be  repeated  from  month 
to  month,  the  part  of  the  wall  left  too  high  will  grow  more  rapidly 
than  the  low  side  whose  pododerm  is  relativeh'  anemic  as  a  result  of 
the  greater  weight  falling  into  this  half  of  the  hoof,  and  the  ultimate 
result  will  be  a  "wry,"  or  crooked  foot. 

THE    CARE    OF   UNSHOD    HOOFS. 

The  colt  should  have  abundant  exercise  on  dry  ground.  The  hoofs 
will  then  wear  graduall}^  and  it  will  only  be  necessar}'  from  time  to 
time  to  regulate  an}"  uneven  wear  with  the  rasp  and  to  round  ofl'  the 
sharp  edge  about  the  toe  in  order  to  prevent  l)reaking  a'^ay  of  the 
wall. 


DISEASES    OF   THE    HORSE. 


559 


Colts  in  the  stable  can  not  wear  down  their  hoofsj^so  that  cveiy  four 
to  six  weeks  the}^  should  be  rasped  down  and  the  lower  edge  of  the 
wall  well  rounded  to  prevent  chipping.  The  soles  and  clefts  of  the 
frog  should  be  picked  out  ever}^  few  daj's  and  the  entire  hoof  washed 
clean,  Plent}-  of  clean  straw  litter  should  be  provided.  Hoofs  that 
are  becoming  "awry"  should  have  the  wall  shortened  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  straighten  the  foot-axis.  This  will  ultimately  produce  a 
good  hoof  and  will  improve  the  position  of  the  limb. 


CHARACTERISTICS   OF   A    HEALTHY   HOOF. 

A  healthy  hoof  (figs.  1  and  8)  is  equalh'  warm  at  all  parts,  and  is  not 
tender  under  pressure  with  the  hands  or  moderate  compression  with 
pincers.     The  coronet  is  soft 

and  elastic  at  aU  points   and  ]^  u 

does   not   project  beyond   the  ■    —L        . 

surface  of  the  wall.  The  wall 
(fig.  8)  is  straight  from  coronet 
to  ground,  so  that  a  straight- 
edge laid  against  the  wall  from 
coronet  to  ground  parallel  to 
the  direction  of  the  horn  tubes 
will  touch  at  every  point.  The 
wall  should  be  covered  with 
the  outer  varnish-like  layer 
(periople)  and  should  show  no 
cracks  or  clefts.  Everv  hoof 
shows  "ring-formation,''  but 
the  rings  should  not  bo  strongl}^ 
marked  and  should  alwaj's  run 
parallel  to  the  coronary  band. 
Strongly  marked  ring-forma- 
tion over  the  entire  wall  is  an 
evidence  of  a  weak  hoof,  but 
when  limited  to  a  part  of  the 
wall  is  evidence  of  previous 
local  inflammation.  The  bulbs  of  the  heels  should  be  full,  rounded, 
and  of  equal  height.  The  sole  (fig.  1)  should  be  well  hollowed  out, 
the  white  line  solid,  the  frog  well  developed,  the  middle  cleft  of  the 
frog  broad  and  shallow,  the  spaces  between  the  bars  and  the  frog  wide 
and  shallow,  the  bars  straight  from  the  buttresses  toward  the  point  of 
the  frog,  and  the  buttresses  themselves  so  far  apart  as  not  to  press 
against  the  branches  of  the  frog.  A  hoof  can  not  be  considered  healthy 
if  it  presents  reddish  discolored  horn,  cracks  in  the  wall,  white  line, 
bars,  or  frog,  thrush  of  the  frog,  contraction  or  displacement  of  the 
heels.     The  lateral  cartilages  should  j'ield  readih'  to  finger  pressure. 


'■^ 


Fig.  1.— Ground  purfaoe  of  a  right  fore  lioof  of  the  regu 
lar  form:  a,  a,  wall;  a-a,  the  toe;  a-b,  the  side  walls; 
b-d,  the  quarters;  c,  c,  the  bars;  d,  d,  the  buttresses; 
e,  lateral  cleft  of  the  frog;  /,  body  of  the  sole:  ri.  a',  g". 
leafy  layer  (white  line)  of  the  toe  and  bars;  h,  body 
of  the  frog;  i,  i,  branches  of  the  frog;  Ar,  k,  horny  Iiulbs 
<if  (he  heels;  I,  middle  cleft  of  the  frog. 


560  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

VARIOUS    FORMS   OF    HOOFS. 

As  among  a  thousand  human  faces  no  two  are  alike,  so  among  an 
equal  number  of  horses  no  two  have  hoofs  exactly  alike.  A  little 
study  of  different  forms  soon  shows  us,  however,  that  the  form  of 
everj'  hoof  is  dependent  in  great  measure  on  the  direction  of  the  two 
pastern  bones  as  viewed  from  in  front  or  behind,  or  from  one  side; 
and  that  all  hoofs  fall  into  three  classes  when  we  view  them  from  in 
front  and  three  classes  when  we  observe  them  in  profile.  Inasmuch 
as  the  form  of  every  foot  determines  the  peculiarities  of  the  shoe  that 
is  best  adapted  to  it,  no  one  who  is  ignorant  of,  or  who  disregards 
the  natural  form  of,  a  hoof  can  hope  to  luiderstand  plnsiological 
shoeing. 

FORMS  OF  FEET  VIEWED  FROM  IN  FRONT  AND  IN  PKOFILE. 

Whether  a  horse's  feet  be  observed  from  in  front  or  from  behind, 
their  form  corresponds  to,  or  at  least  resembles,  cither  that  of  the  refj- 

ular  position  (fig.  2),  the  hase- 
||.  I  M.  h   j  \  wide  or  toe-wide  position  (fig. 

.1^'  I  ^  E  '  •:P  ^)'  ^^  ^^  'base-narroin  or  toe- 

yki:X::-m  narroio  position  (fig.  4). 


Ba'  the  direction  of  the  imag- 
inar}'  line  passing  through  the 
long  axes  of  the  two  pasterns 
(figs.  2,  -i,  5)  we  determine 
whether  or  not  the  hoof  and 
pasterns  stand  in  proper  nui- 

FiG.  2.— Pair  of  fore  feet  of  regular  form  in  regular      j-,,„i   "olofinn 
standing  position.  LUai  leiaiion. 

In  the  regular  standing po><l- 
tian  (fig.  2)  the  foot-axis  runs  straight  downward  and  forward;  in  the 
base-wide  position  (fig.  3)  it  runs  obliquely  downward  and  outward, 
and  in  the  base  narrow  position 
(fig.  4)  it  runs  obliquely  down- 
ward and  inward. 

Viewing  the  foot  in  profile, 
we  distinguish  the  regular  posi- 
tion (fig.  oh)  and  designate  all  /' 
forward  deviations  as  acute- 
angled  (long  toe  and  low  heel, 
fig.  5tf),  and  all  deviations  back- 
ward  from  the  regular  (steep  —  ~~"^ 

toe    and    hijjh    heel      figf.     5c)    as      Fig.  3.— Pair  of  forefeet  of  base-wide  form  in  toe- wide 
,  J  '  ,,^,  standing  position. 

steep-toed,  or  stiimjyy.      \\  hen 

the  body  weight  is  evenly  distributed  over  all  four  limbs,  the  foot-axis 
should  be  straight;  the  long  pastern,  short  pastern,  and  wall  at  the  toe 
should  have  the  same  slant. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE. 


561 


A  front  lioof  of  the  regular  standing  j^osition. — The  outer  wall  is  a- 
little  more  slanting'  and  somewhat  thicker  than  the  inner.  The  lower 
border  of  the  outer  quarter  describes  the  arc  of  a  smaller  circle,  that 
is,  is  more  sharpl}^  bent  than  the  inner  quarter.  The  weight  falls  near 
the  center  of  the  foot  and  is  evenly  distributed  over  the  whole  bottom' 
of  the  hoof.  The  toe  forms  an  angle  with  the  ground  of  45"^  to  50°  and 
is  parallel  to  the  direction  of  the  long  pastern.  The  toe  points  straight 
ahead,  and  when  the  horse 
is  moving  forward  in  a 
straight  line  the  hoofs  are 
picked  up  and  carried  for- 
ward in  a  line  parallel  to 
the  middle  line  of  the  body, 
and  are  set  down  fiat. 
Coming  straight  toward 
the  observer  the  hoofs  seem 
to  rise  and  fall  perpendic- 
ularly. 

A  hoof  of  the  hase-wlde 
position  is  always  awr3^  The  outer  wall  is  mo^e  slanting,  longer,  and 
thicker  than  the  inner,  the  outer  quarter  more  curved  than  the  inner, 
and  the  outer  half  of  the  sole  wider  than  the  inner.  The  weight  falls 
largely  into  the  inner  half  of  the  hoof.  In  motion  the  hoof  is  moved 
in  a  circle.  From  its  position  on  the  ground  it  breaks  over  the  inner 
toe,  is  carried  forward  and  inward  close  to  the  supporting  leg,  thence 


Fig.  4.— Pair  of  fore  feet  of  base-narrow  form  in  toe-iiarrow» 
standing  position. 


Fig.  b.—a,  side  view  of  an  acute-angled  fore  foot  (shod);  6,  side  view  of  a  regular  fore  foot,  showing- 
the  most  desirable  degree  of  obliquity  (45°) ;  c,  side  view  of  a  stumpy,  or  ' '  upright, ' '  fore  foot;  obliq- 
uity above  50°.  In  a,  h,  c,  note  particularly  the  relation  between  the  length  of  the  shoe  and  tlic- 
overhanging  of  the  heels.    Note  also  the  toe  roll  of  the  shoes. 

forward  and  outward  to  the  ground,  which  the  hoof  meets  first  with 
the  outer  toe.  Horses  that  are  toe-wide  ("  splay-footed" — toes  turned 
outward)  show  all  these  peculiarities  of  hoof -form  and  hoof -flight  to 
a  still  more  marked  degree  and  are  therefore  more  prone  to  "inter- 
fere" when  in  motion. 

A  hoof  of  the  hase-7iarroio  position  is  awry,  but  not  to  so  marked  a 
degree  as  the  base-wide  hoof.     The  inner  wall  is  usually  a  little  more- 
14384—03 36 


562  BUKEAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY. 

slanting  tlian  the  outer,  the  inner  half  of  the  sole  wider  than  the  outer, 
and  the  inner  quarter  more  curved  than  the  outer.  The  outer  quarter 
is  often  flattened  and  drawn  in  at  the  bottom.  The  weight  falls  largely 
into  the  outer  half  of  the  hoof.  In  motion  the  hoof  breaks  over  the 
outer  toe,  is  carried  forward  and  outward  at  some  distance  from  the 
supporting  leg,  thence  forward  and  inward  to  the  ground,  which  it 
generallj'^  meets  with  the  outer  toe.  The  foot  thus  moves  in  a  circle 
whose  convexity  is  outward,  a  manner  of  flight  called  "paddling."  A 
base-narrow  horse  whose  toes  point  straight  ahead  frequently  "inter- 
feres," while  a  toe-narrow  (pigeon-toed)  animal  seldom  does. 

A  regular  hoof  (fig.  55),  viewed  from  one  side,  has  a  straight  foot- 
axis  inclined  to  the  horizon  at  an  angle  of  45°  to  50°.  The  weight  falls 
near  the  center  of  the  foot  and  there  is  moderate  expansion  of  the 
quarters. 

An  acute-angled  hoof  (fig.  5a)  has  a  straight  foot-axis  inclined  at  an 
angle  less  than  45°  to  the  horizon.  The  weight  falls  more  largel}^  in 
the  back  half  of  the  hoof  and  there  is  greater  length  of  hoof  in  contact 
with  the  ground  and  greater  expansion  of  the  heels  than  in  the  regular 
hoof. 

In  the  ujprlght,  or  stampy,  hoof  (fig.  5c)  the  foot-axis  is  straight  and 
more  than  55°  steep.  The  hoof  is  relatively  short  from  toe  to  heel, 
the  weight  falls  farther  forward  and  there  is  less  expansion  of  the  heels 
than  in  the  regular  hoof. 

Finally,  there  are  wide  hoofs  and  narrow  hoofs,  dependent  solely 
upon  race  and  breeding.  The  wide  hoof  is  almost  circular  on  the 
ground  surface,  the  sole  but  little  concave,  the  frog  large,  and  the 
quality  of  the  horn  coarse.  The  narrow  hoof  has  a  strongly  "  cu,.^,.,^" 
sole,  a  small  frog,  nearly  perpendicular  side  walls,  and  fine-grained, 
tough  horn. 

Jllnd  hoofs  are  influenced  in  shape  by  different  directions  of  their 
pasterns  much  as  front  feet  are.  A  hind  hoof  is  not  round  at  the  toe 
as  a  front  hoof  is,  but  is  more  pointed.  Its  greatest  width  is  two-thirds 
of  the  way  back  from  toe  to  heel,  the  sole  is  more  concave,  the  heels 
relativel}'^  wider,  and  the  toe  about  10°  steeper  than  in  front  hooi 

EXAMINATION    PRELIMINARY    TO    SHOEING. 

The  object  of  the  examination  is  to  ascertain  the  direction  and  posi- 
tion of  the  limbs,  the  shape,  character,  and  quality  of  the  hoofs,  the 
form,  length,  position,  and  wear  of  the  shoe,  the  number,  distribu- 
tion, and  direction  of  the  nails,  the  manner  in  which  the  hoof  leaves 
the  ground,  its  line  of  flight,  the  manner  in  which  it  is  set  to  the 
ground,  and  all  other  peculiarities,  that  at  the  next  and  subsequent 
shoeings  proper  allowances  may  be  made  and  observed  faults  corrected. 
The  animal  must,  therefore,  be  observed  both  at  rest  and  in  motion. 


DISEASES    OB^   THE    HORSE. 


563 


At  rest,  the  observer  should  stand  in  front  and  note  the  slant  of  the 
long  pasterns.  Do  they  drop  perpendicularly,  or  slant  downward  and 
outward  (base-wide  foot),  or  downward  and  inward  (base-narrow  foot)? 
Whatever  be  the  direction  to  the  long  pastern,  an  imaginary  line  pass- 
ing through  its  long  axis,  when  prolonged  to  the  ground,  should  appar- 
entl}'  pass  through  the  middle  of  the  toe.  But  if  such  line  cuts 
through  the  inner  toe  the  foot-axis  is  not  straight,  as  it  should  be,  but 
is  broken  inward  at  the  coronet,  an  indication  that  either  the  outer 
wall  of  the  hoof  is  too  long  (high)  or  that  the  inner  wall  is  too  short 
(low).  On  the  contrar}",  if  the  center  line  of  the  long  pastern  falls 
through  the  outer  toe  the  foot-axis  is  broken  outward  at  the  coronet, 
an  indication  that  either  the  inner  wall  is  too  long  or  the  outer  wall 
too  short. 

The  observer  should  now  place  himself  at  one  side,  two  or  three 
paces  distant,  in  order  to  view  the  limb  and  hoof  in  profile.  Note  the 
size  of  the  hoof  in  relation  to  the  heierht  and  weie'ht  of  the  animal,  and 


Fig.  0.— a,  Side  view  of  foot  with  the  foot-axis  broken  backward  as  a  result  of  too  long  a  toj.  The 
amount  of  horn  to  be  removed  from  the  toe  in  order  to  straighten  the  foot-axis  is  denoted  by  a  dotted 
line;  b,  side  view  of  a  properly  balanced  foot,  with  a  straight  foot-axis  of  desirable  slant;  c,  side  view 
of  stumpy  foot  with  foot-axis  broken  forward,  as  a  result  of  overgrowth  of  the  quarters.  The  amount 
of  horn  to  be  removed  in  order  to  straighten  the  foot-axLs  is  shown  by  a  dotted  line. 

the  obliquity  of  the  hoof.  Is  the  foot-axis  straight?  that  is,  does 
the  long  pastern  have  the  same  slant  as  the  toe  ?  or  does  the  toe  of  the 
hoof  stand  steeper  than  the  long  pastern  (fig.  6c)? — in  which  case  the 
foot-axis  is  broken  forward  at  the  coronet,  an  indication,  usuallj',  that 
the  quarters  are  either  too  high  or  that  the  toe  is  too  short. 

If  the  long  pastern  stands  steeper  than  the  toe  (fig.  G«)  the  foot-axis 
is  broken  backward,  in  which  case  the  toe  is  too  long  or  the  quarters 
are  too  low  (short).  In  figures  Ga  and  Gc  the  dotted  lines  passing 
from  toe  to  quarters  indicate  the  amount  of  horn  which  must  be 
removed  in  order  to  straighten  the  foot-axis,  as  shown  in  figiire  6b. 
Note  also  the  length  of  the  shoe. 

Next,  the  feet  should  be  raised  and  the  examiner  should  note  the 
outline  of  the  foot,  the  conformation  of  the  sole,  form  and  quality 
of  the  frog,  form  of  the  shoe,  wear  of  the  shoe,  and  the  number  and 


56-i  BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  IXDUSTRY. 

disa-ibution  of  the  nails.  Does  the  shoe  fully  cover  the  entire  lower 
border  of  the  wall?  or  is  it  too  narrow  or  fitted  so  full  on  the  inside 
that  it  has  gi^'en  rise  to  interfering?  or  has  the  shoe  been  nailed  on 
crooked?  or  has  it  become  loose  and  shifted?  is  it  too  short  or  so  wide 
at  the  ends  of  the  branches  as  not  to  support  the  buttresses  of  the 
hoof?  Does  the  shoe  correspond  with  the  form  of  the  hoof?  Are  the 
nails  distributed  so  as  to  interfere  as  little  as  possible  with  the  expan- 
sion of  the  quarters?  are  there  too  many?  are  the}^  too  large?  driven 
too  "fine"  or  too  high?  These  are  questions  which  the  observer 
should  put  to  himself. 

Note  carefully  the  wear  of  the  old  shoe.  It  is  the  unimpeachable 
evidence  of  the  manner  in  which  the  hoof  has  been  set  to  the  ground 
since  the  shoe  was  nailed  to  it,  and  gives  valuable  "pointers"  in  lev- 
eling the  hoof.  Wear  is  the  effect  of  friction  between  the  shoe  and 
the  ground  at  the  moment  of  contact.  Since  the  properly  leveled 
hoof  is  set  flat  to  the  ground,  the  "grounding  w'ear"  of  a  shoe  should 
be  uniform  at  every  point,  though  the  toe  will  always  show  wear  due 
to  scouring  at  the  moment  of  "breaking  over."  Everj^thing  which 
tends  to  lengthen  the  stride  tends  also  to  make  the  "grounding  wear" 
more  pronounced  in  the  heels  of  the  shoe,  while  all  causes  which 
shorten  the  stride,  as  stiffening  of  the  limbs  through  age,  overwork, 
or  disease,  bring  the  grounding  wear  nearer  the  toe. 

An  exception  should  be  noted,  however,  in  founder,  in  which  the 
grounding  wear  is  most  pronounced  at  the  heels. 

If  one  branch  of  the  shoe  is  found  to  be  worn  much  thinner  than 
the  other,  the  thinner  branch  has  either  been  set  too  near  the  middle 
line  of  the  foot  (fitted  too  close),  where  it  has  been  bearing  greater 
weight  while  rubbing  against  the  ground,  or,  what  is  much  more 
often  the  case,  the  section  of  wall  above  the  thinner  branch  has  been 
too  long  (too  high),  or  the  opposite  section  of  wall  has  been  too  short 
(too  low).  "One-sided  wear,  uneven  setting  down  of  the  feet,  and  an 
unnatural  course  of  the  wall  are  often  found  together."  How  much  an 
old  shoe  can  tell  us,  if  we  take  time  and  pains  to  decipher  its  scars! 

The  horse  shoukl  next  be  observed  at  a  walk  and  at  a  trot  or  pace, 
from  in  front,  from  behind,  and  from  the  side,  and  the  "breaking 
over,"  the  carriage  of  the  feet,  and  the  manner  of  setting  them  to  the 
ground  carefully  noted  and  remembered.  A  horse  does  not  always 
move  just  as  his  standing  position  would  seem  to  imply.  Often  there 
is  so  great  a  difference  in  the  form  and  slant  of  two  fore  hoofs  or  two 
hind  hoofs  that  we  are  in  doubt  as  to  their  normal  shape,  when  a  few 
steps  at  a  trot  will  usually  solve  the  problem  instantly  b}"  showing  us 
the  line  of  flight  of  the  hoofs  and  referring  them  to  the  regular,  base- 
wide,  or  base- narrow  form. 

No  man  is  competent  either  to  shoe  a  horse  or  to  direct  the  work 
till  he  has  made  the  precited  observations. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE.  565 

PREPARATION    OF    THE    HOOF    FOR   THE    SHOE. 

After  raising  the  clinches  of  the  nails  with  a  rather  dull  clinch- 
cutter  ("  buffer  ")  and  drawing  the  nails  one  at  a  time,  the  old  shoe  is 
critically  examined  and  laid  aside.  Remaining  stubs  of  nails  are  then 
drawn  or  punched  out  and  the  hoof  freed  of  dirt  and  partially  detached 
horn.  The  farrier  has  now  to  "dress"  the  overgrown  hoof  to  receive 
the  new  shoe;  in  other  words,  he  has  to  form  a  base  of  support  so 
inclined  to  the  direction  of  the  pasterns  that  in  motion  this  surface 
shall  be  set  flat  upon  the  ground.  He  must  not  rob  the  hoof  nor 
leave  too  much  horn;  either  mistake  may  lead  to  injury.  If  he  has 
made  a  careful  preliminary  examination  he  knows  what  part  of  the 
wall  requires  removal  and  what  part  must  be  left,  for  he  already 
knows  the  direction  of  the  foot-axis  and  the  wear  of  the  old  shoe,  and 
has  made  up  his  mind  just  where  and  how  much  horn  must  be  removed 
to  leave  the  hoof  of  proper  length  and  the  foot-axis  straight. 

A  greatl}"  overgrown  hoof  may  be  quickly  shortened  with  sharp 
nippers  and  the  sole  freed  of  semidetached  flakes  of  horn.  The  con- 
cave sole  of  a  thick-walled,  strong  hoof  may  be  pared  out  around  the 
point  of  the  frog,  but  not  so  much  as  to  remove  all  evidences  of  exfoli- 
ation. The  wall  should  be  leveled  with  the  rasp  till  its  full  thickness, 
the  white  line,  and  an  eighth  of  an  inch  of  the  margin  of  the  sole 
are  in  one  horizontal  plane,  called  the  "  bearing  surface  of  the  hoof." 
The  bars  if  long  may  be  shortened,  but  never  pared  on  the  side.  The 
branches  of  the  sole  in  the  angle  between  the  bars  and  the  wall  of  the 
quarters  should  be  left  a  little  lower  than  the  wall,  so  as  not  to  be 
pressed  upon  by  the  inner  web  of  the  shoe.  "Corns,"  or  bruises  of 
the  pododerm,  are  usually  a  result  of  leaving  a  thick  mass  of  dry, 
unj'ielding  horn  at  this  point.  The  frog  should  not  be  touched  fur- 
ther than  to  remove  tags  or  layers  that  are  so  loose  as  to  form  no 
protection.  A  soft  frog  will  shorten  itself  spontaneously  by  the  exfo- 
liation of  superficial  layers  of  horn,  while  if  the  frog  is  dry,  hard,  and 
too  prominent  it  is  better  to  soften  it  by  applying  moisture  in  some 
form  and  to  allow  it  to  wear  away  naturally  than  to  pare  it  down. 
It  is  of  advantage  to  have  the  frog  project  below  the  level  of  the  wall 
an  amount  equal  to  the  thickness  of  a  plain  shoe,  though  we  rarely  see 
frogs  of  such  size  except  in  draft  horses.  The  sharp  lower  border  of 
the  wall  should  be  rounded  with  the  rasp  to  prevent  its  being  bent 
outward  and  broken  away.  Finall}^,  the  foot  is  set  to  the  ground  and 
again  observed  from  all  sides  to  make  sure  that  the  lines  bounding  the 
hoof  correspond  with  the  direction  of  the  long  pastern. 

THE    SHOE. 

The  shoe  is  an  artificial  base  of  support,  b}^  no  means  ideal,  because 
it  interferes  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  with  the  physiology  of  the 


566  BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

foot,  but  indispensable  except  for  horses  at  slow  work  on  soft  ofround. 
Since  a  proper  surface  of  support  is  of  the  greatest  importance  in  pre- 
serving the  health  of  the  feet  and  legs,  it  is  necessary  to  consider  the 
various  forms  of  shoes  best  adapted  to  the  diflfercnt  forms  of  hoofs. 
Certain  properties  are  common  to  all  shoes  and  may  be  considered 
first.  They  are  form,  width,  thickness,  length,  surfaces,  borders, 
'•fullering,"  nail  holes,  and  clips. 

Form. — Every  shoe  should  have  the  form  of  the  hoof  for  which  it 
is  intended,  provided  the  hoof  retains  its  proper  shape;  but  for  every 
hoof  that  has  undergone  change  of  form  we  must  endeavor  to  give  the 
shoe  that  form  which  the  hoof  originally  possessed.  Front  shoes  and 
hind  shoes,  rights  and  lefts,  should  be  distinctl}^  different  and  easily 
distinguishable. 

Width. — All  shoes  should  be  wider  at  the  toe  than  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches.  The  average  width  should  be  about  double  the  thickness  of 
the  wall  at  the  toe. 

Thichiess. — The  thickness  should  be  sufficient  to  make  the  shoe  last 
about  four  weeks  and  should  be  uniform  except  in  special  cases. 

Length. — ^This  will  depend  upon  the  obliquity  of  the  hoof  viewed  in 
profile.  The  acute-angled  hoof  (fig.  Scr)  has  long  overhanging  heels, 
and  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  weight  borne  by  the  leg  falls 
in  the  posterior  half  of  the  hoof.  For  such  a  hoof  the  branches  of  the 
shoe  should  extend  back  of  the  buttresses  to  a  distance  nearly  double 
the  thickness  of  the  shoe.  For  a  hoof  of  the  regular  form  (figs.  5J 
and  8)  the  branches  should  project  an  amount  equal  to  the  thickness 
of  the  shoe.  In  a  stumpy  hoof  (fig.  5c')  the  shoe  need  not  project  more 
than  one-eighth  of  an  inch.  In  all  cases  the  shoe  should  cover  the 
entire  "bearing  surface"  of  the  wall. 

Surfaces. — The  surface  that  is  turned  toward  the  hoof  is  known  as 
the  "upper,"  or  "hoof  surface,"  of  the  shoe.  That  part  of  the  hoof 
surface  which  is  in  actual  contact  with  the  horn  is  called  the  "bearing 
surface"  of  the  shoe.  The  "bearing  surface"  should  be  perfectly 
horizontal  from  side  to  side  and  wide  enough  to  support  the  full  thick- 
ness of  the  wall,  the  white  line,  and  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  of 
the  margin  of  the  sole.  The  bearing  surface  should  also  be  perfectly 
flat,  except  that  it  may  be  turned  up  at  the  toe  ("rolling-motion" 
shoe,  fig.  5  a,  h,  c).  The  surface  between  the  bearing  surface  and  the 
inner  edge  of  the  shoe  is  often  beaten  down  or  concaved  to  prevent 
pressure  too  far  inward  upon  the  sole.  This  "concaving,"  or  "seat- 
ing," should  be  deeper  or  shallower  as  the  horny  sole  is  less  or  more 
concave.  As  a  rule  strongly  "cupped"  soles  require  no  concaving 
(hind  hoofs,  narrow  fore  hoofs). 

Borders. — The  entire  outer  border  should  be  beveled  under  the 
foot.  Such  a  shoe  is  not  so  readily  loosened,  nor  is  it  so  apt  to  lead  to 
interfering. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE. 


567 


Fullering. — This  is  a  groove  in  the  ground  surface  of  the  shoe.  It 
should  pass  through  two-thirds  of  the  thickness  of  the  shoe,  be  clean, 
and  of  uniform  width.  It  is  of  advantage  in  that  it  makes  the  shoe 
lighter  in  proportion  to  its  width,  and,  by  making  the  ground  surface 
somewhat  rough,  tends  to  prevent  slipping. 

Nail  holes. — The  shoe  must  bo  so  "punched''  that  the  nail  holes  will 
fall  directl}'  on  the  white  line.  The}^  should  be  confined  to  the  fore 
half  of  front  shoes,  but  may  occupy  the  anterior  two-thirds  of  hind 
shoes.  For  a  medium-weight  shoe  three  nail  holes  in  each  branch  are 
sufficient,  but  for  heavier  shoes,  especially  those  provided  with  long 
calks,  eight  holes  are  about  right,  though  three  on  the  inside  and  four 
on  the  outside  may  do. 

Clips. — These  are  half -circular  .''*"^     "  " 

ears  drawn  up  from  the  outer 
edge  of  the  shoe  either  at  the  toe 
or  opposite  the  side  wall.  The 
height  of  a  clip  should  equal  the 
thickness  of  the  shoe,  though  they 
should  be  even  higher  on  hind 
shoes  and  when  a  leather  sole  is 
interposed  between  shoe  and 
hoof.  Clips  secure  the  shoe 
against  shifting.  K  side  clip 
should  always  be  drawn  up  on 
that  branch  of  the  shoe  that  first 
meets  the  ground  in  locomotion. 


SPECIAL    PECULIARITIES    OF    THE 
CHIEF   CLASSES   OF   SHOES. 


I 


\A 


Fig.  7.— Left  fore  hoof  of  regular  form,  shod  with  a 
plain  "fullered"  shoe.  Note  the  distribution  of 
the  nails,  length  of  the  fuller  (crease),  and  the 
closeness  of  the  ends  of  the  shoe  to  the  branches 
of  the  frog. 


(1)  A  shoe  for  a  regular  hoof 
(figs.  7  and  8)  fits  when  its  outer 
border  follows  the  wall  closelj^  in 
the  region  of  the  nail  holes  and 
from  the  last  nail  to  the  end  of 
the  branch  gradually  projects  beyond  the  surface  of  the  wall  to  an 
eighth  of  an  inch  and  extends  back  of  the  buttresses  an  amount  equal 
to  the  thickness  of  the  shoe.  The  shoe  must  be  straight,  firm,  air- 
tight, its  nail  holes  directly  over  the  white  line,  and  its  branches  far 
enough  from  the  branches  of  the  frog  to  permit  the  passage  of  a  foot 
pick.     Branches  of  the  shcre  must  be  of  equal  length. 

In  fitting  a  shoe  to  a  hoof  of  regular  form  we  follow  the  form  of  the 
hoof,  but  in  base-wide  and  base-narrow  hoofs,  which  are  of  irregular 
form,  we  must  paj^  attention  not  only  to  the  form  of  the  hoof,  but 
also  to  the  direction  of  the  pasterns  and  the  consequent  distribution  of 
weight  in  the  hoof,  because  where  the  most  weight  falls  the  surface  of 


568  BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 

support  of  the  foot  must  be  widened,  und  where  the  least  weight  falls 
(opposite  side  of  the  ho(jf)  the  surface  of  support  should  be  narrowed. 
In  this  wa}'  the  improper  distribution  of  weight  within  the  hoof  is 
evenl}"  distributed  over  the  surface  of  support. 

(2)  A  slwefor  a  hase-wide  Acr?/* should  be  fitted  full  on  the  inner  side 
of  the  foot  and  fitted  close  on  the  outer  side,  because  the  inner  side 
bears  the  most  wejght.  The  nails  in  the  outer  branch  are  placed  well 
back,  but  in  the  inner  branch  are  crowded  forward  toward  the  toe. 

(3)  A  shoe  for  a  'base-narrow  /lo^y  should  bo  just  the  reverse  of  the 
preceding.  The  outer  branch  should  be  somewhat  longer  than  the 
inner. 

(■i)  A  shoe  for  an  acute-angled  hoof  should  be  long  in  the  branches, 
because  most  of  the  weight  falls  in  the  posterior  half  of  the  foot. 
The  support  in  front  should  be  diminished  either  by  turning  the  shoe 
up  at  the  toe  or  by  beveling  it  under  the  toe  (fig.  ha). 


Fig.  8. — Side  view  of  hoof  and  shoe  shown  in  fig.  7.  Note  tlie  straight  toe,  weak  ring  formation 
running  parallel  to  the  coronet,  clinches  low  down  und  on  a  level,  length  of  the  shoe,  and  the 
under-bevel  at  the  toe  and  heel. 

(5)  A  shoe  for  a  stumpy  Aw;/*  should  be  short  in  the  branches,  and 
for  pronounced  cases  should  increase  the  support  of  the  toe,  where 
the  most  of  the  weight  falls,  by  being  beveled  downward  and 
forward. 

In  many  cases,  especiall}^  in  draft  horses  whore  the  hoofs  stand  very 
close  together,  the  coronet  of  the  outer  quarter  is  found  to  stand  out 
beyond  the  lower  border  of  the  quarter.  In  such  cases  the  outer 
l)ranch  of  the  shoe  from  the  last  nail  back  must  be  fitted  so  full  that 
an  imaginary  perpendicular  dropped  from  the  coronet  will  just  meet 
the  outer  border  of  the  shoe.  The  inner  branch,  on  the  other  hand, 
must  be  fitted  as  "close"  as  possible.  The  principal  thought  should 
be  to  set  the  new  shoe  farther  toward  the  more  strongly  worn  side. 
Such  a  practice  will  i^ender  unnecessary  the  widespread  and  popular 
fad  of  giving  the  outer  quarter  and  heel  calk  of  hind  shoes  an  extreme 
outward  bend.      Care  should  be  taken,  however,  that  in  fitting  the 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HORSE.  569 

shoe  "full"  at  the  quarter  the  bearing-  surface  of  the  hoof  at  the 
quarter  be  not  left  unsupported  or  incomplete!}'  covered,  to  be  pinched 
and  squeezed  inward  ac^ainst  the  frog.  This  will  be  obviated  by 
making  the  outer  branch  of  the  shoe  sufficiently  wide  and  punching-  it 
so  coarse  that  the  nails  will  fall  upon  the  white  line. 

HOT    FITTING. 

Few  farriers  have  either  the  time  or  the  skill  necessary  to  so  adjust 
a  cold  shoe  to  the  hoof  that  it  will  fit,  as  we  say,  "air-tight."  Though 
the  opponents  of  hot  fitting  draw  a  lurid  picture  of  the  direful  con- 
sequences of  appl3ung  a  hot  shoe  to  the  hoof,  it  is  only  tlie  abuse  of 
the  practice  that  is  to  be  condemned.  If  a  heavy  shoe  at  a  5'ellow 
heat  be  held  tightly  pressed  against  a  hoof  which  has  been  pared  too 
thin,  till  it  embeds  itself,  serious  damage  muy  be  done.  Bat  a  shoe  at 
a  dark  heat  may  be  pressed  against  a  properly  dressed  hoof  long 
enough  to  scorch  and  thus  indicate  to  the  farrier  the  portions  of  horn 
that  should  be  lovrered,  without  appreciable  injury  to  the  hoof,  and  to 
the  ultimate  benefit  of  the  animal. 

The  horse  owner  should  insist  on  the  nails  being  driven  low.  They 
should  pierce  the  wall  not  above  an  inch  and  five  eighths  above  the 
shoe.  A  nail  penetrating  the  white  line  and  emerging  low  on  the 
wall  destro3^s  the  least  possible  amount  of  horn,  has  a  wide  and  strong 
clinch,  rather  than  a  narrow  one  which  would  be  formed  near  the  pomt 
of  the  nail,  and  furthermore  has  the  strongest  possible  hold  on  the 
wall,  because  its  clinch  is  pulling  more  nearly  at  a  right  angle  to  the 
grain  (horn  tubes)  of  the  wall  than  if  driven  high.  Finally,  do  not 
allovf  the  rasp  to  touch  the  wall  above  the  clinches. 

THE    BAR   SHOE. 

The  bar  shoe  (fig.  9)  has  a  variety  of  uses.  It  enables  us  to  give  the 
frog  pressure,  to  restore  it  to  its  original  state  of  activity  and  devel- 
opment when  by  reason  of  disuse  it  has  become  atrophied.  It  gives 
the  hoof  an  increased  surface  of  support  and  enables  us  to  relieve  one 
or  both  quarters  of  undue  pressure  that  may  have  induced  inflamma- 
tion and  soreness.  The  bar  of  the  shoe  should  equal  the  average 
width  of  the  remainder  of  the  shoe  and  should  press  but  lightly  on  the 
branches  of  the  frog.  The  addition  of  a  leather  sole  with  tar  and 
oakum  sole-packing  allows  us  to  distribute  the  weight  of  the  body- 
over  the  entire  ground  surface  of  the  hoof. 

THE    RUBBER   PAD. 

Various  forms  of  rubber  pads,  rubber  shoes,  rope  shoes,  fiber  shoes, 
and  other  contrivances  to  diminish  shock  and  prevent  slipping  on  the 
hard  and  slippery  pavements  of  our  large  cities  are  in  use  in  differ- 


BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


ent  parts  of  the  world.     In  Germany  the  rope  shoe  (a  malleable-iron 
shoe  with  a  groove  in  its  ground  surface  in  which  lies  a  piece  of  tarred 


Fig.  9.— An  acute-angled  left  fore  hoof  shod  with  a  bar  shoe.  Note  the  width  and  position  of  the 
bar  and  the  fact  that  the  nails  are  placed  well  toward  the  toe,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  the 
expansion  of  the  quarters. 

rope)  is  extensivel}'  used  with  most  gratifying  results.     It  is  cheap, 
durable,  easily  applied,  and  effective. 


Fig.  10.— a  fairly  formed  right  loif  ivv  shoe  lor  a  rouusier.  The  toe  and  outer-heel  calks  cut  at  right 
angles,  and  the  inner  heel  calk  is  slender  and  blunt.  The  back  surface  of  the  toe  calk  should  be 
perpendicular. 

In  the  large  cities  of  England  and  the  United  States  rubber  pads  are 
extensively  used.  They  are  rather  expensive,  but  are  quite  efficient 
in  preventing  slipping  on  polished  and  gummy  pavements,  though  not 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOESE. 


571 


SO  effective  on  ice.  Figure  11  is  an  illustration  of  one  of  the  best  of 
many  rubber  pads.  The  rubber  is  stitched  and  cemented  to  a  leather 
sole  and  is  secured  by  the  nails  of 
a  three-quarter  shoe.  Such  a  pad 
will  usually  last  as  long  as  two 
shoes.  They  may  be  used  contin- 
uously, not  only  without  injury  to 


r 


FUt.  11.— Left  fore  foot  of  regular  form  shod  with  a 
1  nbber  pad  and  "  three-quarter  "  shoe.  (Ground 
surface  ) 

the  hoof  but  to  its  great  benefit. 
The  belief,  unsupported  by  evi- 
dence, that  rubber  pads  "  draw  the 
feet"  keeps  many  from  using  them. 
A  human  foot  encased  in  a  rubber 
Fig. r2.-A narrow  ligiit  f.ro  hoof  of  the  base-  \fQo\,  may  eventually  be   blistered 

wide  (toe-wide)  standing  position,  shod  with    ,         .,  ,  -,  ,, 

a  plain,  "dropped-crcase"  shoe  to  prevent  the    by  the  SWeat  pOUred   upOn  the    SUr- 

toe-cutting  (interfering).  The  dotted  line  at  f^ce  of  the  skiu  and  held  there  ]>y 

the  impervious  rubber  till  decom- 
position takes  place  with  the  for- 
mation of  irritating  fatty  acids;  but 
there  is  no  basis  for  an  analogy  in 
the  hoof  of  a  horse. 
Some  drawings,  designed  to  illustrate  shoeing  in  connection  with 

interfeiing"  and  "forging,"  are  given  herewith. 


the  inner  toe  indicates  the  edge  of  the  wall 
wliicli  was  rasped  away  in  order  to  narrow  the 
hoof  along  the  striking  section.  Note  the  in- 
ward bevel  of  the  shoe  at  this  point,  the  dropped 
crease,  the  distribution  of  the  nails,  the  long 
"full"  inner  branch,  and  the  short  "close" 
outer  branch. 


572 


BUREAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY, 


Fig.  13.— Hoof  surface  of  a  right  hind  shoe  to  prevent  interfering.  The  inner  branch  has  no  nail 
holes  and  is  fitted  and  beveled  under  the  hoof.  Note  the  number  and  position  of  the  nail  holes, 
the  clip  on  the  outer  side-wall,  and  the  narrowness  and  bend  of  the  inner  branch. 


Pig.  14.— Ground  surface  of  shoe  shown  in  the  previous  figure.  The  inner  nailless  branch  has  the 
thickness  of  the  outer  branch  plus  its  calk,  so  that  the  inner  and  outer  quarters  of  the  hoof  are 
equidistant  from  the  ground. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    HOKSE. 


573 


^!'h„ 


16.— Side  view  of  a  fore  lioof  shod  so  as  to  quicken  the  "breaking  over"  (quicken  the  action) 
in  a  "  forger."    Note  the  short  shoei  Uecl  calks  iucUded  forward,  and  tlie  rolled  toe. 


Fig.  16.— Side  view  of  a  short-toed  hind  hoof  of  a  forger,  shod  to  slow  the  action  and  to  prevent 
injury  to  the  fore  hecLs  by  the  toe  of  the  hind  shoe.  Note  tlie  elevation  of  the  short  toe  by  means 
of  a  toe  calk  and  the  projection  of  the  toe  beyond  the  shoe.  When  .such  a  hoof  has  grown  more 
toe  the  toe  calk  can  ho  dispensed  with  and  the  shoe  set  fartlier  forward. 


574 


BUKEAU    OF    ANIMAL    INDUSTRY. 


Fig.  17.— a  toe-weight  shoe  to  increase  the  length  of  stride  of  fore  feet.    The  nails  are  placed  too 
far  back,  and  the  shoe  has  no  characteristic  form,  but  the  weight  is  properly  placed. 


te. 


Fig.  18.— Most  common  form  of  punched  heel-weight  shoe  to  induce  high  action  in  fore  feet.  The 
profile  of  the  shoe  shows  a  "  roll "  at  the  toe  and  "swelkd  "  heels.  The  weight  is  well  placed,  but 
"rolling"  the  tec  and  rnising  the  hrcls  Imrcr  action.  The  shoe  would  be  much  more  effective  if 
of  uniform  thickness  and  with  no  roll  at  the  toe. 


IJ^TDEX 


Abdomen —  Page. 

dropsy,  in  foal,  or  ascites,  description  and  treatment 172 

dropsy,  or  ascites,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 71 

limbs,  and  perineum,  dropsy  affecting,  description  and  treatment 159 

sheath,  and  pepis,  swelling,  cause  and  treatment 1 50 

Abortion,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 161 

Abscess — 

and  inflammation  of  lymphatic  glands,  description,  symptoms,  and  treat- 
ment    249 

in  lung  and  suppuration,  symptoms 135 

Abscesses — 

acute,  description  and  treatment 474 

cold,  description  and  treatment 475 

description  and  treatment 474 

in  throat,  treatment 46 

Acariasis,  or  mange,  note 450 

Acari,  parasites  of  eye - 273 

Achorion  schonleini,  vegetable  parasite  of  skin,  description 450 

Adams,  John  W.,  chapter  on  "  Shoeing " 552-574 

Air  embolism,  or  air  in  Aeins,  note 247 

Albumoid  poisoning,  hemoglobinuria,  azoturia,  or  azotemia,  symptoms,  pre- 
vention, and  treatment 82 

Amaurosis,  or  palsy  of  nerve  of  sight,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 210,  272 

Amnion,  dropsy,  descrijition  and  treatment —  158 

Anasarca,  or  jmrpura  hemorrhagica,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 508,  510 

Anatomy  and  physiology  of  brain  and  nervous  system 190 

Anemia — 

spinal,  symptoms  and  treatment 213 

of  brain,  causes,  symptoms,  pathology,  and  treatment 202 

Aneurism — 

description,  symptoms,  pathology,  and  treatment 242 

one  form  caused  by  Strongylu>i  armatus 243 

Anidian  monsters,  or  moles,  description 157 

Animal  parasites,  description  of  kinds 450 

Ankle — 

and  fetlock,  skin,  note 371 

fetlock,  and  foot,  diseases,  chapter  by  A.  A.  Holcombe 369,  430 

Ankles,  cocked,  or  knuckling,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 374 

Anthrax — 

definition,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 528-531 

horsepox,  and  cutaneous  glanders,  reference 447 

Apoplexy,  or  cerebral  hemorrhage,  causes,  symptoms,  pathology,  and  treat- 
ment   200 

Arteries- 
description  227 

diseases,  or  arteritis,  and  endarteritis,  description,  symptoms,  pathology, 

and  treatment 240 

Arteritis,  or  diseases  of  arteries,  or  endarteritis,  description,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 240 

575 


5  i  b  INDEX. 

Artery—  Page, 

constriction,  description 242 

rupture,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 244 

Arthritis,  open  joints,  broken  knees,  and  synovitis,  cautc  and  treatment 332 

Ascaris  equorum,  intestinal  worm,  note GO 

Ascites,  or  dropsy  of  abdomen,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 71,  172 

Asthma,  heaves,  or  broken  wind,  definition,  symptoms,  and  tr^tment 136 

Atheroma,  description 241 

Autumn  mange,  description  and  treatment 452 

Azotemia,    hemoglobinuria,  azoturia,  poisoning  by  albuminoids,  symptoms, 

prevention,  and  treatment 82 

Azoturia,  hemoglobinuria,  azotemia,  poisoning  by  albuminoids,  symptoms, 

prevention,  and  treatment 82 

Balls,  or  pills,  description  and  manner  of  administering 28 

Bar  shoe,  uses ,-69 

Bees,  wasps,  and  hornets,  stings,  treatment 454 

Beets  as  feed 41 

Biliary  calculi,  or  gallstones,  symptoms  and  treatment 74 

Bilocular  cavity,  or  calculus  in  sheath,  or  preputial  calculus,  description  and 

treatment ]  03 

Black  pigment  tumors,  or  melanosis,  description  and  treatment 449 

Bladder- 
calculus,  or  stone,  and  tumor  affecting 1()9 

diseased  growths,  symptoms  and  treatment 92 

eversion,  description  and  treatment 93 

inflammation,  cystitis,  or  urocystitis,  symptoms  and  treatment ViO 

irritable,  cause  and  treatment 91 

neck,  spasms  affecting,  causes,,  symptoms,  and  treatment 87,  205 

paralysis,  description  and  cause 210 

paralysis,  symptoiHS  and  treatment 89 

stone,  vesical    calculus,  or  cystic    calculus,  description,  symptom^,  and 

treatment 100 

worms  of  kidney 87 

Bleeding — 

after  castration,  treatment ]  49 

from  lungs,  or  hemoptysis,  causes,  description,  and  treatment 135 

from  nose,  causes  and  treatment Ill 

or  flooding  from  womb,  treatment 184 

skin  eruptions,  or  Dermatorrhagia jxxrasitica,  description  and  treatment...  441 

Blisters,  inflammation,  or  eczema,  description  and  treatment 437 

Bloat  colic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

Blood- 
circulation  of  heart,  description 226 

clots  in  walls  of  vagina 187 

medicines  administered  into  veins 33 

of  penis,  extravasation,  causes  and  treatment 145 

spavin,  bog  spavin,  and  thorough  pin,  description  and  treatment 331 

Blood  vessels — 

and  heart,  diseases,  remarks 228 

heart,  and  lymphatics,  diseases,  chapter  by  M.  R.  Trumbower 225-250 

physiology  and  anatomy 225 

Bloody  urine,  or  hematuria,  cause  and  treatment 82 

Blowing,  high,  description 118 

Bluebottle  {Lucilia  cxsar),  note 453 

Bog  spavin,  blood  spavin,  and  thoroughpin,  description  and  treatment 331 


INDEX.  577 

Page._ 

Boil  of  eyelid,  description  and  treatment 259  ■ 

Boils— 

or  Dermatitis  granulosa 442  • 

or  furuncles,  description  and  treatment 439^' 

Bone — 

laip,  fracture,  or  os  innominatum,  description,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and 

treatment 317" " 

premaxillary,  fractures,  description  and  treatment 312  : 

spavin.     ((&e  Spavin.) 
Bones — 

cannon,  fractures,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 325'» 

cranial,  fractures,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 310» 

diseases,  description 284 

dislocations  and  luxations,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 336:. 

of  face,  fractures,  description  and  treatment „ 311 

of  fetlock  and  foot,  description - 369' 

of  hip,  fractures,  causes 166.v 

one  system  of  locomotion 275,  27r 

sesamoid,  fractures,  cause,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 328.- 

Botfly,  treatment 01 

Bowels,  twisting,  volvulus,  or  gut-tie,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 56  . 

Brain — 

and  membranes,  inflammation,  description 192, 193  ' 

and  nervous  system,  anatomy  and  physiology 190  ■ 

anemia,  causes,  symptoms,  pathology,  and  treatment 202 ' 

compression,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 201 . 

concussion,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  and  prevention 201 

congestion,  or   megrims,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  treattnent,  and 

prevention 197 

description 191 

dropsy,  or  hydrocephalus,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 203  :. 

Bran,  value  as  feed 40  - 

Broken  knee,  open  joints,  synovitis,  and  arthritis,  cause,  prognosis,  and  treat- 
ment   '. 332; 

Broken  M'ind,  heaves,  or  asthma,  definition,  symptoms,  and  treatment 13C>; 

Bronchitis — 

and  broncho-pneumonia,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 128' 

chronic,  description  and  treatment 119 

Broncho-pleuro-pneumonia,  description 135  ■ 

Broncho-pneumonia  and  bronchitis,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment  ..  128 

Bruise  of  frog,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 399' 

Bruises,  description  and  treatment 464 

Burns  and  scalds,  treatment 455,  471. 

Calculi- 
biliary,  or  gallstones,  symptoms  and  treatment 74 

or  stones,  in  intestines,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment •  55  - 

or  stones,  in  stomach,  symptoms  and  treatment 54 

renal,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 98 

uretral,  description  and  treatment 99-. 

urinary,  classification 98 . 

urinary,  stone,  or  gravel 94,  9Z^ 

Calculus — 

in   sheath,  or   bilocular   cavity,    or   preputial   calculus,   description   and 

treatment 102:; 

14384— r>3 37 


578  ixDEX. 

Calculus — Continued.  Page. 

or  stone,  and  tumor  in  bladder 169 

urethral,  or  stone  in  urethra,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 102 

vesical,  stone  in  bladder,  or  cystic  calculus,  description,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 100 

Calk  wounds,  description  and  treatment 379 

Callosities — 

description 448 

sloughing,  horny  sloughs,  or  sitfasts,  description  and  treatment 448 

Cancer,  epithelial,  or  epithelioma,  description  and  treatment 449 

Canker — 

of  foot,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 392 

or  grease  (inflammation  of  heels  with  sebaceous  secretion),  description, 

causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 444 

Cannon  bone — 

description 369 

fractures,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 325 

Capped  elbow,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 354 

Capped  hock,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 359 

Capped  knee,  description,  cause,  treatment,  etc 357 

Cardiac  enlargement,  or  hypertrophy  of  heart,  description,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 237 

Caries  of  cartilage,  or  tumor  of  haw,  description  and  treatment 261 

Carrots,  value  as  feed 41 

Cartilaginous  quittor,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 389 

Cartilago  uictitans,  or  winking  cartilage  (the  haw),  description 253 

Castration — 

bleeding  after  operation,  treatment 149 

by  covered  operation,  method 151 

of  cryptorchids,  or  ridglings,  method 148 

of  mare,  method 151 

of  staUions,  methods 147 

pain  after  operation,  treatment 149 

successfvil  method _ 148 

Cataract,  remarks 271 

Catarrh — 

chronic,  nasal  gleet,  or  collection  in  sinuses,  causes,  symptoms,  anil  treat- 
ment   .'. 108 

gastro-intestinal,  or  indigestion,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 61 . 

nasal,  or  cold  in  head,  symptoms  and  treatment 107 

Cerebral  hemorrhage,  or  apoplexy,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 200 

Cerebri tis.  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 1 93 

Cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  or  so-called  forage  poisoning,  causes,   symptoms, 

and  treatment 216,  218 

Cervical  choke,  description 47, 48 

Chaff  for  feeding 39 

Chai)s  on  knee  and  hock,  scratches,  or  cracked  heels,  description,  causes,  unci 

treatment 443 

Chest  walls,  wounds  penetrating,  description  and  treatment 139 

Cheyletus,  or  Gamarus  pterojAokles,  animal  parasites 452 

Chicken  acari,  or  Dermanyssus  gcdlin.r,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

Chigoe,  or  jigger — 

larvfc  of  Trombidium,  Leptus  americamis,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

{Pulex  j^enetrans),  bite,  treatment 454 


INDEX.  579 

Choke —  Page, 

cervical,  description 47,  48 

pharyngeal,  cervical,  and  thoracic,  symptoms  and  treatment 47 

Chorea,  or  St.  Vitus  dance,  description  and  treatment 206 

Chorioples — 

bovis  {Symbiotes  cqui,  Dermatophagus  equi),  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

spathiferm,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

Choroiditis,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 265 

Chronic  bronchitis,  description  and  treatment 119 

Circinate  ringworm,  or  Tinea  tonsurans,  description,  symi)toms,  treatment  ...  449 

Circulation  organs,  methods  of  examination 15 

Clubfoot,  description 372 

Clysters,  or  enemas,  description  and  manner  of  administering 32 

Cocked  ankles,  or  knuckling,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 374 

Coffinbone,  description 370 

Coffin  joint,  description 370 

Cold  in  head,  or  nasal  catarrh,  symptoms  and  treatment 107 

Colic- 
bloat,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

cramp,  or  spasmodic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 58 

flatulent,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

obstruction,  caused  by  impaction  of  large  intestine,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment    52 

specific  forms 50 

wind,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

worm,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 59 

tympanitic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

Compression  of  brain,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 201 

Concussion  of  brain,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 201 

Conformation — 

'      of  foot,  faults 372 

of  horse 12 

Congenital  scrotal  hernia,  description  and  treatment 67 

Congestion — • 

active,  causes 485 

and  inflammation  of  skin,  description  of  kinds 434 

and  inflammation  of  testicles,  or  orchitis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treat- 
ment   - 142 

description 484 

of  brain,  or  megrims,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 197 

of  heart,  description  and  symptoms 240 

of  lungs,  description  and  treatment 120 

of  skin,  red  efflorescence,  or  erythema,  description  and  treatment 434 

of  skin,  with  small  pimples,  or  papules,  description  and  treatment 436 

of  spine,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 213 


passive,  causes 


486 


Conjunctivitis,  or  external  ophthalmia,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 262 

Constipation,  or  costiveness,  cause  and  treatment 54, 160 

Constitution  of  horse 12 

Consumption,  or  tuberculosis,  note 136 

Convulsions,  description  and  treatment 206 

Cord- 
spermatic,  strangulated,  cause  and  treatment 149 

spermatic,  tumors,  causes  and  treatment 150 

spinal,  description 192 


580  INDEX. 

Cornea—  rage, 

ulcers,  treatment 265 

white  specks  and  cloudiness,  cause  and  treatment 264 

Corn,  or  maize,  how  to  feed 40 

Corns,  description,  causes,  symptoms  and  treatment 394 

Coronary  band,  description 371 

Coronet — 

description 370 

fractures,  symptoms  and  treatment 327 

Costivcness,  or  constipation,  cause  and  treatment 54, 160 

Cough,  chronic,  description 139 

Cracked  heels,  or  scratches,  causes  and  treatment 443 

Cramp — 

of  hind  limb,  or  spasm  of  thigh,  description  and  treatment 205 

or  spasmodic,  colic,  cause,  symptoms  and  treatment 58 

Cramps — 

of  hind  limbs,  cause  and  treatment 159 

or  spasms,  causes 204 

Cranial  bones,  fractures,  causes,  symptoms  and  treatment 310 

Cranium,  tumor  within,  description  of  kinds 204 

Crookedfoot,  description 373 

Croup  and  diphtheria,  mistakes  in  diagnosis 116 

Curb  of  hock,  cause,  symptoms  and  treatment 349 

Cutaneous  glanders,  or  farcy,  reference 447 

Cutaneous  quittor,  description,  causes,  symptoms  and  treatment 381 

Cuticle,  description 432 

Cryptorchids,  or  ridglings,  castration,  method *. 148 

Cyanosis  of  newborn  foals,  description 240 

Cystic  calculus,  or  stone  in  bladder,  description,  symptoms  and  treatment 100 

Cystic  disease  of  wall  of  womb,  or  vesicular  mole,  description  and  treatment. .  158 
Ojsticercus  fistularis— 

parasite  of  bladder 87 

?  parasite  of  eye 273 

Cystitis,  inflammation  of  bladder,  or  urocystitis,  symptoms  and  treatment 90 

Dermamjssus  galUnx,  or  chicken  acari,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

Dermatitis  granulosa,  or  boils 442 

Bermatocoptes  equi,  animal  parasite  of  skin 451 

Dermatodictes  equi,  animal  parasite  of  skin 451 

Dermatophagus  equi,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

Dermatorrhagia  parasitica,  or  bleeding  skin  eruptions,  description  and  treatment.  441 

Dermis,  or  true  skin,  description 432 

Diabetes — 

insipidus,  diuresis,  polyuria,  or  excessive  secretion  of  urine,  causes,  symp- 
toms and  treatment 79 

mellitus,  saccharine  diabetes,  glycosuria,  or  inosuria,  causes,  symptoms, 

and  treatment 80 

Diaphragmatic  hernia,  description 70 

Diaphragm — 

rupture,  cause  and  symptoms 141 

spasm,  or  thumps,  description  and  treatment 1 40,  205 

Diarrhea,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 62 

Digestive  organs,  diseases,  chapter  by  Ch.  B.  Michener 34-74 

Digestive  tract,  examination 21 

Dilatation — 

of  heart,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 238 

of  veins,  varicose  veins,  or  varix,  causes  and  treatment 246 


INDEX. 


581 


Page. 

Diociophyvie  renale,  roundworm  of  kidney ^' 

Diphtheria  and  croup,  mistakes  in  diagnosis - 1^6 

Diseases,  general,  chapter  by  Rush  Shippen  Huidekoper 482-545 

Dislocations  and  luxations  of  bones,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 33G 

Diuresis,  polyuria,  diabetes  insipidus,  or  excessive  secretion  of  urine,  causes, 

symptoms,  and  treatment '^ 

Douche,  nasal,  in  administering  medicines ^1 

Dourine,  or  maladie  du  coit,  description  and  treatment 146 

Drench,  methods 

Dropsies,  synovial,  remarks 

Dropsy— 

general,  of  fetus,  description  and  treatment ^'J^ 

of  abdomen  in  foal,  or  ascites,  description  and  treatment 172 

of  abdomen,  or  ascites,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 71 

of  amnion,  .description  and  treatment 158 

of  brain,  or  hydrocephalus,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 203 

of  Umbs,  perineum,  and  abdomen,  description  and  treatment 159 

of  scrotum,  or  hydrocele,  symptoms  and  treatment 144 

of  womb,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 158 

Dysentery,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 64 

Echinococcus — 

parasite  of  eye "' 

parasite  of  kidney - 

Ectropion   and  entropion,  or  eversion  and  inversion  of  eyelid,  causes  and 

treatment " 

Eczema,  or  inflammation  with  blisters,  description  and  treatment 4c57 

Edematous  pneumonia,  definition,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 519-523 

Elbow— 

capped,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment "^oi 

muscles,  sprain,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 343 

Electric  shock,  causes,  description,  and  treatment 223 

Electuries,  or  pastes,  description  and  manner  of  atlministering 29 

Embolism— 

air,  or  air  in  veins,  note - ' 

and  thrombus,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 244 


Emphysema,  or  swelling  of  fetus  with  gas,  description  and  treatment 173 

Encephalitis,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 193 

Endarteritis,  and  diseases  of  arteries,  or  arteritis,  description,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 

Endocarditis,  or  inflammation  of  lining  membrane  of  heart,  cause,  symptoms, 

and  treatment ; " 

Enemas,  or  clysters,  description  and  manner  of  administenng rf- 

Engorgement  colic,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 50 

Enteritis,  definition -  - ■ 

Entropion  and  ectropion,  or  inversion  and  eversion  of  eyelid,  causes  and       ^^^ 

treatment __ 

Epilepsy,  or  falling  fits,  symptoms  and  treatment ^"^ 

Epithelial  cancer,  or  epithelioma,  description  and  treatment 44y 

Epithelioma —  ^.^ 

degeneration  of  penis,  or  papillioma 

or  epithelial  cancer,  description  and  treatment -  449 

Equine  variola,  or  horse  pox,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc -  -  5..W// 

Eruptions,  bleeding  skin,  or  Dermalorrhagiaparasilica,  description  and  treat-  ^^^ 

ment 


582  INDEX. 

Paga 

Erysipelas,  description,  cause,  and  treatment 446 

Krytliema,  congestion  of  skin,  or  red  efflorescence,  description  and  treatment.  434 
Efeophagns — 

dilatation,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 49 

or  gullet,  treatment  for  foreign  bodies 46 

stricture,  description  and  treatment 49 

Eversion — 

and  inversion  of  eyelid,  or  ectropion  and  entropion,  causes  and  treatment.  259 

of  bladder,  description  and  treatment 93 

Exostosis,  cause,  descrii>tion,  and  treatment 284 

Extravasation  of  blood  of  penis,  causes  and  treatment 145 

Eye — 

diseases,  chapter  by  James  Law 251-273 

examination 254 

muscles,  description 253 

palsy  of  nerve  of  sight,  or  amaurosis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 272 

parasites  affecting,  description  of  different  kinds 273 

watering,  or  obstruction  of  lachrymal  apparatus,  description  and  remedies  261 

Eyeball,  descrii>tion;  tumors  affecting 251,272 

Eyelid- 
diseases,  description  of  different  kinds 255 

inflammation,  causes  and  treatment 257 

inversion  and  eversion,  or  entropion  and  ectropion,  causes  and  treatment.  259 

sty,  or  furuncle  (boil),  affecting,  description  and  treatment 259 

torn,  or  wounds  affecting,  description  and  treatment 260 

warts  and  tumors  affecting,  description  and  treatment 260 

Face  bones,  fractures,  description  and  treatment 311 

Facial  paralysis,  cause  and  symptoms 209 

Fainting,  or  syncope,  symptoms  and  treatment 237 

Farcy — 

and  glanders,  definition,  causes,  etc 531-537 

chronic,  symptoms 537 

or  cutaneous  glanders,  horsepox,  and  anthrax,  reference 447 

Fatty  degeneration  of  heart,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 239 

Favus,  or  honeycomb  ringworm,  description  and  treatment 450 

Feces,  impaction  of  rectum 1G9 

Feet,  interfering,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 373 

Femur,  fracture,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 323 

Fetlock— 

and  ankle  skin,  note 371 

and  foot  bones,  description 369 

ankle,  and  foot,  diseases,  chapter  by  A.  A.  Holconibe 3(39-430 

joint,  description 370 

knuckling,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 347 

sprain,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 376 

Fetus- 
adherent  to  walls  of  womb,  description,  cause,  and  treatment 171 

excessi  ve  size 1 171 

general  dropsy,  description  and  treatment 173 

or  foal,  prolonged  retention,  cause  and  treatment 160 

swelling  with  gas,  or  em{)hysema,  description  and  treatment 173 

tumors,  or  inclosed  ovum,  description  and  treatment ]  73 

Fever,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 4^)3-408 

Fibrous  bands  constricting  and  crossing  neck  of  womb,  description  and  treat- 
ment  -. 170 


INDEX.  583 

Page. 

Fibrous  constriction  of  vagina  or  vulva,  cause  and  treatment 170 

F'daria — 

conjunctiva,  parasite  of  eye 273 

equina,  parasite  of  ej^e 273 

hemorrhagica,  threadworm  causing  skin  disease 441 

irritans,  parasite  causing  summer  sores,  description  and  treatment 442 

muttipapillosa,  threadworm  causing  bleeding  skin  eruptions 441 

palpehralis,  parasite  of  eye 273 

Fistulas,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 477-481 

Fits,  falling,  or  epilepsy,  symptoms  and  treatment 207 

Flatfoot,  description '. 372 

Flatulent  colic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

Flea,  or  pulex,  prevention  and  treatment  of  bite 454 

Flesh  fiy  {Sarcophaga  camaria),  note 453 

Flexor — 

metatarsis,  rupture,  description,  cause,  sj'miitoms,  and  treatment 352 

pedis  pei'forans,  description 371 

pedis  perforatus,  description 371 

tendons  or  their  sheath,  and  suspensory  ligaments,  sprains,  cause,  symp- 
toms, and  treatment 345 

Flies,  method  of  attacking  horses,  prevention  and  treatment  for  bite 453 

Flooding,  or  bleeding  from  womb,  treatment 184 

Flyblow,  or  grubs  in  skin,  description  and  treatment 453 

Foal- 
contractions  of  muscles,  description  and  treatment 173 

monstrosities,  description  of  kinds,  causes,  and  treatment 174 

natural  presentation 1G4 

prolonged  retention,  cause  and  treatment 160 

water  in  head,  or  hydrocephalus,  description  and  treatment 171 

Foals,  newborn,  cyanosis  affecting,  description 240 

Food- 
kinds  to  give 36 

musty  and  moldy,  effect  on  digestive  organs 38 

preparation 41 

Foot.      {See  also  Hoof. ) 

anatomical  review 369 

and  fetlock  bones,  description 369 

canker,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 392 

conformation,  faults 372 

fetlock,  and  ankle,  diseases,  chapter  by  A.  A.  Holcombe 369-430 

gross  anatomy 552 

mange,  description  and  treatment 452 

punctured  wounds,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 400 

sand-cracks,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 405 

sole,  description 371 

Forage  poisoning,  or  cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  symptoms  and  treatment 216-218 

Forearm,  fracture,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 321 

Founder,  or  laminitis — 

acute,  subacute,  and  chronic,  description 421 

complications 422 

curative  measures 428 

description  and  causes 414 

following  parturition,  cause 188 

seque.l    t  superpurgatiou 64 


584  INDEX. 

Founder — Continued.  p.^gg 

symptoms 417 

treatment  and  prevention 426 

Fractures — 

causes  and  symptoms 297 

description  of  different  kinds 297 

of  different  bones,  description 310 

prognosis  and  treatment 303 

Frog- 
bruises,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 399 

description -. 371 

Frostbites,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 379 

Furuncle — 

or  boil,  description  and  treatment 439 

or  sty  ( boil ) ,  of  eyelid,  description  and  treatment 259 

Galls,  harness,  or  sitfasts,  description  and  treatment 470 

Gallstones,  or  biliary  calculi,  symptoms  and  treatment 74 

Gamarus  pteroptoides  and  cheylefus,  animal  parasites  of  skin 452 

Gangrene — 

or  mortification,  causes 135 

or  mortification,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 473 

Gas,  swelling  of  fetus,  or  emphysema,  description  and  treatment 173 

Gastritis,  definition 50 

G astro-enteritis,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment G5 

Gastro-intestinal  catarrh,  or  indigestion,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 61 

Generative  organs,  diseases  affecting,  chapter  by  James  Law 142-189 

Genito-urinary  passages,  method  of  medication 33 

Gestation,  extra-uterine,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 157 

Glanders — 

acute,  symptoms 540 

and  farcy,  definition,  causes,  etc 531-537 

chronic,  symptoms 539 

cutaneous,  or  farcy,  reference 447 

treatment 542 

Glands- 
lymphatic,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 249 

sebaceous,  description 433 

sweat,  description 434 

Gleet- 
inflammation  of  urethra,  of  urethritis,  symptoms  and  treatment 93 

nasal,  chronic  catarrh,  or  collection  in  sinuses,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 108 

Glossitis,  description  and  treatment 45 

Glottis,  spasm,  description  and  treatment 205 

Glycosuria,  saccharine  diabetes,  diabetes  mellitus,  or  inosuria,  causes,  symp- 
toms, and  treatment 80 

Grains  for  feeding 39 

Grasses,  important  feed 41 

Gravel — 

urinary  calculi,  or  stone,  causes 97 

urinary  calculi,  or  stone,  description 94 

Grease,  or  canker,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 444 

Grubs— 

or  flyblow,  description  and  treatment 453 

under  the  skin,  description  and  treatment 453 


INDEX.  585 

Page. 

Grunting,  testing 118- 

Gullet,  or  esophagug,  treatment  for  foreign  bodies 46 

Gunshot  wounds,  description  and  treatment 469- 

Gut-tie,  volvulus,  or  twisting  of  bowels,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 56- 

Guttural  pouches,  description  and  treatment 128 

Hairs  on  skin,  description 433- 

Harbaugh,  W.  H.,  chapter  on  "  Diseases  of  respiratory  organs  " 104-141 

Harness  galls,  or  sitfasts,  description  and  treatment 470 

Harvest  bug,  larvee  of  Troinhkllum,  Leplus  americanus,  jigger  (chigeo),  animal 

parasite  of  skin 452' 

Haw- 
tumor,  or  caries  of  cartilage,  description  and  treatment 261 

winking  cartilage,  or  cartilago  nictitans,  description 253^ 

Hay,  kinds  for  feeding 38- 

Heart- 
adventitious  growths,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 235 

anatomy  and  physiology 225 

and  blood  vessels,  diseases,  remarks 228 

blood  vessels,  and  lymphatics,  diseases,  chapter  by  M.  R.  Trumbower..  225-250 

circulation  of  blood,  description 226- 

congestion,  description  and  symptoms 240 

dilatation,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 238 

fatty  degeneration,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 239- 

hypertrophy,  or  cardiac  enlargement,  description,  symptoms,  and  treat- 
ment    237 

inflammation   of  lining  membrane,   or  endocarditis,  cause,  description, 

symptoms,  and  treatment 230- 

inflammation  of  muscular  structure,  or  myocarditis,  symptoms,  alterations, 

and  treatment 229 

inflammation  of  sac  inclosing,  or  pericarditis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treat- 
ment    233 

inflammatory  diseases,  description  and  treatment 229 

palpitation,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 236 

rupture,  description  and  cause 240' 

valvular  disease,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 235 

weakness,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 240 

Heat  exhaustion,  sunstroke,  or  heat  stroke,  symptoms,  pathology,  treatment, 

and  prevention 199' 

Heaves,  broken  wind,  or  asthma,  definitions,  symptoms,  and  treatment 136 

Heels- 
contracted,  or  hoof-bound,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment.  403^ 
cracked,  scratcheSf  or  chaps  on  knee  and  hock,  description,   causes,  and 

treatment 443 

inflammation,  with  sebaceous  secretion,  grease,  or  canker,  description, 

causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment . .'. 444 

Hematuria,  or  bloody  urine,  cause  and  treatment 82 

Hemiplegia,  or  paralysis  of  one  side,  or  half  the  body,  description  and  symp- 
toms   --.- 208 

Hemoglobinuria,  azoturia,  azotemia,   poisoning  by  albuminoids,  symptoms, 

prevention,  and  treatment 82 

Hemoptysis,  or  bleeding  from  lungs,  causes,  description,  and  treatment 135 

Hemorrhage — 

process  of  healing  and  method  of  treatment 461 

spinal,  symptoms  and  treatment 214 


586  INDEX. 

Page. 

Hemorrhoids,  or  piles,  description  and  treatment 66 

Hemostasia,  description  and  treatment 460 

Hepatitis,  or  inflammation  of  liver,  symptoms,  causes,  and  treatment 12 

Hernia — 

congenital  scrotal,  description  and  treatment 67 

diaphragmatic,  description 70 

inguinal,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 67 

of  womb,  description  and  treatment 167 

or  rupture,  description  of  different  kinds 67 

scrotal,  cause 67 

umbilical,  description  and  treatment 69 

ventral,  description  and  treatment 68 

Herpes,  description  and  treatment 441 

High  blowing,  description 118 

Hip- 
bone, or  OS  innominatum,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 317 

bones,  fractured,  causes 167 

joint,  luxation,  description  and  treatment 338 

lameness,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 344 

Hock— 

and  knee,  chaps  or  scratches,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 443 

capped,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 359 

curb   cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 349 

fractures,  note 325 

Holcombe,  A.  A.,  chapter  on  "Diseases  of  ankle,  fetlock,  and  foot" 369—130 

Honeycomb  ringworm,  or  favus,  description  and  treatment 450 

Hoof.     {See  also  Foot. ) 

-bound,  or  contracted    heels,    description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treat- 
ment   *. 403 

description 371 

growth 557 

healthy,  characteristics 559 

physiological  movements 556 

preparation  for  the  shoe 565 

Hoofs — 

unshod,  care 558 

various  forms 560 

Hornets,  bees,  and  wasps,  treatment  for  stings 454 

Horny  sloughs  (sitfasts),  or  sloughing  callosities,  description  and  treatment..  448 

Horsepox — 

or  equine  variola,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 523-527 

reference 447 

Horses,  anatomy,  description 276 

Horseshoe.     (*St'<?  Shoe. ) 

Horse,  f-ick — 

attitude  and  general  condition  iudic^i  ve  of  disease 10 

conformation  and  constitution 12 

examination,  chapter  by  Leonard  Pearson 9-27 

history  of  diseases  necessary  in  examination 10 

Huidekoper,  Rush  Shippen,  chapter  on  "General  diseases " 482-545 

H umerus,  fractures,  symptoms  and  tre^tineut 320 

Hydrocele,  or  dropsy  of  scrotum,  symptoms  and  treatment 144 

Hydrocephalus — 

or  dropsy  of  brain,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 203 

or  water  hi  head  of  foal-,  description  and  treatment 171 


INDEX.  587 

Hydrophobia.     (»Sce  Rabies.)-  Page. 

Hj'drothorax,  treatment 13-1 

Hypertrophy  of  heart,  or  cardiac  enlargement,  description,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 237 

Hypoderma — 

bovls,  note 453 

cilcnus,  note 453 

Icterus,  jaundice,  or  yellows,  description  and  treatment 73 

Impaction  of  large  intestine,  cause  of  obstruction  colic,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment    52 

Indigestion,  or  gastro-intestinal    catarrh,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 61 

Inflammation — • 

acute,  of  kidneys,  or  acute  nephritis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment...  84 

and  abscess  of  lymphatic  glands,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment..  249 

and  congestion  of  skin,  description  of  kinds 434 

and  congestion  of  teats  and  udder,  symptoms  and  treatment 188 

and  congestion  of  testicles,  or  orchitis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment..  142 

chronic,  of  kidneys,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 86 

description,  symptoms,  termination,  and  treatment 487-493 

local,  and  abscess  of  lymphatic  glands,  description,  symptoms,  treatment.  249 

of  bladder,  cystitis,  or  urocystitis,  symptoms  and  treatment 90 

of  brain  and  its  membranes,  description 192, 193 

of  eyelids,  causes  and  treatment 257 

of  heels,  with  sebaceous  secretion,  grease,  or  canker,  description,  causes, 

symptoms,  and  treatment 444 

of  lining  membrane  of  heart,  or  endocarditis,  cause,  description,  symp- 
toms, and  treatment 230 

of  liver,  or  hepatitis,  symptoms,  causes,  and  treatment 72 

of  membranes,  a  complication  of  influenza 505 

of  membranes  of  spinal  cord,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 211 

of  muscular  structure  of  heart,  or  myocarditis,  symptoms,  alterations,  and 

treatment -. 229 

of  nerve,  or  neuritis,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 215 

of  pharynx,  description 112 

of  sac  inclosing  heart,  or  pericarditis,  causes,  symptoms,  pathology,  and 

treatment 233 

of  substance  of  spinal  cord,  or  myelitis,  causes,  symptoms,   pathology, 

and  treatment 212 

of  urethra,  urethritis,  or  gleet,  symptoms,  and  treatment 93 

of  womb  and  peritoneum,  symptoms  and  treatment 187 

with  blisters,  or  eczema,  description  and  treatment 437 

with  pustules,  description  and  treatment 438 

Inflammatory  diseases  of  the  heart,  description  and  treatment 229 

Influenza,  definition,  symptoms,  termination,  complications,  and  treatment.  498-508 

Inguinal  hernia,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 67 

Inhalation,  manner  of  administering  medicines 31 

Injections,  methods  of  administering  medicines 31 

Inosuria,  saccharine  diabetes,  diabetes  mellitus,  orglyeosuria,  causes,  symptoms, 

and  treatment 80 

InsufHation,  description 31 

Interfering — 

and  speedy  cuts,  description,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 362 

of  feet,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 373 


588  INDEX. 

Intestinal —  Page. 

paralysis,  cause 210 

worm,  or  Ascaris  equornm,  note 60 

Intestines — 

and  stomach,  diseases,  remarks 49 

calculi,  or  stones,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 55 

large,  impaction,  cause  of  obstruction  colic,  symptoms  and  treatment 52 

paralysis,  description  and  treatment 56 

spasms - 205 

Intussusception,  or  invagination,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 56 

Invagination,  or  intussusception,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 56 

Iritis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 265 

Irritation,  nervous,  of  skin,  or  pruritus,  description  and  treatment 441 

Jaundice,  icterus,  or  yellows,  description  and  treatment 73 

Jaw,  lower,  fracture,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 312 

Jigger,  or  chigoe,  Leptiis  americamis,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

Joint — 

hip,  luxation,  description  and  treatment 337 

shoulder,  displacement,  description  and  treatment 337 

Joints — 

diseases,  note 329 

open,  cause,  prognosis,  and  treatment 332 

Kidneys — 

acute  inflammation,  or  acute  nephwtis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment.  84 

chronic  inflammation,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 86 

bladder  worm  and  roundv\-orm  affecting 87 

tumors,  note 87 

Knee — 

broken,  cause,  prognosis  and  treatment 332 

capped,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 357 

fracture,  cause,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 322 

or  hock,  chaps,  scratches,  or  cracked  heels,  description,  causes,  and  treat- 
ment   1 443 

Knees,  sprung,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 348 

Knuckling — 

of  fetlock,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 347 

or  cocked  ankles,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 374 

Labor  pains,  premature,  cause  and  treatment 166 

Lachrymal  apparatus — 

description  254 

obstruction,  or  watering  eye,  description  and  remedy 261 

Lamenefs — 

definition ;  physiology  and  description 279 

how  to  detect  the  seat 283 

how  to  discover 280 

its  causes  and  treatment,  chapter  by  A.  A.  Liautard 274-368 

of  hip,  description,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 344 

of  shoulder,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 340 

Laminse,  sensitive,  description 372 

Laminitis,  or  founder.     {See  Founder,  or  laminitis. ) 

Lampas,  description  and  treatment 44 

Laryngismus  paralyticus,  or  roaring,  description 209 

Laryngitis,  or  sore  throat,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 112 

Larynx,  spasms,  description  and  treatment 116 


INDEX.  589 

Law,  James —  Page. 

chapter  on  "Diseases  of  the  eye" 251-273 

chapter  on.  ' '  Diseases  of  the  generative  organs  " 142-189 

chapter  on  "Diseases  of  the  skin" 431-458 

chapter  on  ' '  Diseases  of  the  urinary  organs  " 75-103 

Lead  poisoning,  or  plumbism,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 222 

Leptus  americanus,  or  harvest  bug,  animal  parasite  of  skin 452 

Leucorrhea,  description  and  treatment 187 

Liautard,  A.,  chapter  on  "Lameness:  Its  causes  and  treatment" 274-368 

Lice,  or  pedicuh,  description  and  treatment  for  bite 454 

Ligament — 

suspensory,  descrijition 370 

suspensory,  rupture,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 377 

Ligaments — 

description  and  functions 278 

suspensory,  sprains,  causes,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 345 

Limbs — 

hind,  cramp,  cause  and  treatment 159 

perineum,  and  abdomen,  dropsy,  description  and  treatment 159 

Linseed,  ground,  value  as  laxative 40 

Liver — 

diseases,  remarks 71 

inflammation,  or  hepatitis,  symptoms,  causes,  and  treatment 72 

rupture,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 73 

Lockjaw,  or  tetanus,  causes,  symptoms,  prevention,  and  treatment 219 

Locomotor  ataxia,  or  incoordination  of  movement,  description 209 

Loins,  sprains,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 367 

Lucilin  cxsar,  or  bluebottle,  and  L.  hominivorax,  or  screw-worm  fly,  note 453 

Lung- 
abscess,  and  suppuration,  symptoms 135 

fever,  or  pneumonia,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 122 

Lungs — 

bleeding,  or  hemoptysis,  causes,  description,  and  treatment 135 

congestion,  description  and  treatment 120 

description 119 

Luxations  and  dislocations  of  bones,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 336 

Lymphangitis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 250 

Lymphatic — 

glands,  local  inflammation,  and  abscess  affecting,  description,  symptoms, 

and  treatment 249- 

system,  diseases,  description 248 

Lymphatics,  heart,  and  blood  vessels,  diseases,  chapter  by  M.  R.  Trumbower.  225-250 

Madness,  rabies,  or  hydrophobia,  cause,  symptoms,  treatment,  and  prevention.  221 

Maize,  or  corn,  how  to  feed 40 

Maladie  du  coit,  or  dourine,  description  and  treatment 146 

Mange — 

autumn,  and  mange  of  foot,  description  and  treatment 452 

or  acariasis,  note 450 

Mare- 
castration,  method 151 

pregnant,  hygiene 150 

sterility,  causes  and  treatment 152 

Masturbation,  or  self-abuse,  remedy 146 

Meat  fly,  or  Musca  vomiioria,  note 453 


590  INDEX. 

Page. 

Medicines,  methods  of  administering,  chapter  by  Ch.  B.  Michener 28-33 

Megrims,  or  congestion  of  brain,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc.  197 

Melanosis,  or  black  pigment  tumor,  description  and  treatment 449 

Membrane — 

lining,  of  heart,  inflammation,  or  endocarditis,  cau?e,  description,  symj)- 

toras,  and  treatment [  230 

of  nose,  thickening,  symptoms  and  treatment HO 

i\Ieiubranes — 

inflammation,  a  complication  of  influenza 505 

mucous,  visible,  and  skin  may  indicate  disease 13 

of  brain,  inflammation,  description 192  193 

of  spinal  cord,  inflammation,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 211 

Meningitis — 

causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment I93 

spinal,  causes,  symptoms,  pathology,  and  treatment 211 

Metatarsi,  flexor,  rupture,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 352 

Michener,  Ch.  B. — 

chapter  on  "  Diseases  of  the  digestive  organs " 34-t4 

chapter  on  ' '  Methods  of  administering  medicines  " 28-33 

chapter  on  "Wounds  and  their  treatment" 459-481 

Microscopic  furfur,  vegetable  parasite  of  skin 450 

Moles,  or  anidian  monsters,  description 15- 

Mole,  vesicular,  or  cystic  disease  of  walls  of  womb,  description  and  treatment.  158 

Monstrosities  in  foal,  description  of  kinds,  causes,  and  treatment 1 75 

Moon  blindness,  or  periodic  ophthalmia,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment 268 

Mortification,  or  gangrene —     (See  Gangrene.) 

Mouth,  diseases,  remarks j  1 

Mucous  membranes,  visible,  and  skin  may  indicate  disease 13 

Musca  vomitoria,  or  meat  fly,  note 453 

Muscles — 

and  tendons,  diseases '  ;;40 

contraction  in  foal,  description  and  treatment 173 

of  elbow,  sprain,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 343 

of  eye,  description 253 

one  system  of  locomotion 275  276 

Myelitis,  or  inflammation  of  substance  of  spinal  cord,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment "  _  219 

Myocarditis,  or  inflammation  of  muscular  structure  of  heart,  symptoms,  alter- 
ations, and  treatment " 099 

Nasal — 

catarrh,  or  cold  in  head,  symptoms  and  treatment 107 

douche,  used  in  administering  medicines 31 

gleet,  chronic  catarrh,  or  collection  in  sinuses,   causes,  symptoms,   and 


treatment . 


108 


polypus,  description  and  treatment 1 10 

Navel- 
discharge  of  urine,  or  persistent  urachus,  description  and  treatment 92 

string,  constriction  of  a  niember,  description 171 

Navicular — 

bone,  description _  -^-q 

disease,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 408 

Neck  of  womb,  twisting,  description  and  treatment 1 68 

Nephritis,  acute,  or  acute  inflammation  of  kidneys,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

i 84 


treatment. 


INDEX.  591 

Page. 

Nerve,  inflammation,  or  neuritis,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 215 

Nerves — 

injuries,  description  and  treatment 216 

spinal,  designations 1 92 

Nervous  system — 

and  brain,  anatomy  and  physiology 190 

diseases  affecting,  chapter  by  M.  R.  Trumbower 190-22-1 

examination 24 

Nettlerash,  surfeit,  or  urticaria,  description  and  treatment 440 

Neuritis,  or  inflammation  of  a  nerve,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 215 

Neuroma,  or  tumor  of  a  nerve,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 215 

Nose — 

bleeding,  causes  and  treatment Ill 

membrane,  thickening,  symptoms  and  treatment 1 10 

Nostrils- 
tumors  and  wounds,  treatment 106 

Obstruction  colic,  cause 52 

Open  joints —     (&«  Joints.) 
Ophthalmia — ■ 

external,  or  conjunctivitis,  description,  causes,  symiitoms,  and  treatment.  262 

internal,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 265 

periodic,  or  moonblindness,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 268 

Optic  nerve,  paralysis,  or  amaurosis,  cause 210 

Orchitis,  or  congestion  and  inflammation  of  testicles,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 142 

Os  innominatum,  or  fracture  of  hip  bone,  description,  symptoms,  treatment. .  317 

Os  pedis,  or  third  phalanx,  fractures,  cause  and  treatment 327 

Ostitis,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 284 

Overreach ,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 378 

Ovum,  inclosed,  or  tumors  of  fetus,  description  and  treatment 173 

Palpitation  of  heart,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 236 

Palsy— 

of  nerve  of  sight,  or  amaurosis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 272 

or  paralysis,  description  and  causes 207 

Pancreas  and  spleen,  diseases,  remarks 74 

Papilloma,  epithelioma,  or  degeneration  of  penis 145 

Papules,  or  congestion  of  skin  with  small  pimples,  description  and  treatment .  436 
Paralysis — 

facial,  symptoms  and  cause ;  local  paralysis 209 

general,  cause 208 

of  bladder,  description  and  cause 89,  2iO 

of  hind  legs,  cause  and  treatment 1(0 

of  intestines,  cause 56,  210 

of  one  side  or  half  the  body,  or  hemiplegia,  description  and  symptoms. . .  £03 

of  optic  nerve,  or  amaurosis,  cause 210 

of  penis,  cause  and  treatment 1-15 

of  pharynx,  description  and  treatment 46 

of  rectum  and  tail,  cause, •. 209 

or  palsy,  description  and  causes 207 

transverse,  of  hind  extremities,  or  paraplegia,  description  and  symptoms.  209 

treatment 210 

Paraphymosis  and  phymosis,  description  and  treatment 150 

Paraplegia,  or  transverse  paralysis  of  hind  extremities,  cause  and  treatment . .  208 


592  INDEX. 

Parasites —  Page. 

animal,  of  skin,  description  of  kinds 450 

in  eye,  description  of  kinds 273 

specific  kinds  affecting  urinary  organs 87 

vegetable,  of  skin,  description  of  kinds,  symptoms,  and  treatment 449 

Parasitic  pityriasis,  description  and  treatment 450 

Parturition — 

different  presentations 1 76 

difficult,  from  narrow  pelvis,  cause  and  treatment 165, 166 

symptoms 163 

Pastern  joint,  description 370 

Pastes,  or  electuaries,  description  and  manner  of  administeiing 29 

Patella- 
fracture,  description 324 

pseudoluxations,  description,  symptoms,  cause,  and  treatment 338 

Peareon,  Leonard,  chapter  on  "  Examination  of  a  sick  horse  " 9-27 

Pediculi,  or  lice,  description  and  treatment  for  bite 454 

Pelvis — 

and  vagina,  tumors  affecting,  description  and  treatment 167 

bones,  fracture,  different  kinds 316 

narrow,  cause  of  difficult  parturition,  cause  and  treatment 166 

Penis — 

degeneration,  papilloma,  or  epithelioma 145 

extravasation  of  blood  and  paralysis,  causes  and  treatment 1-^5 

sheath,  and  abdomen,  swelling,  cause  and  treatment 150 

warts,  treatment 145 

Pericarditis — 

a  complication  of  influenza 505 

or  inflammation  of  sac  inclosing  the  heart,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment..  233 

Perineum,  limbs,  and  abdomen,  dropsy,  description  and  treatment .•  159 

Periostitis,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 284 

Peritoneum  and  womb,  inflammation,  symptoms,  and  treatment 187 

Peritonitis — 

a  complication  of  influenza 505 

description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 70 

Phalanx,  first,  second,  and  third,  fracture,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment.  326,  327 

Pharyngeal  polypus,  description  and  treatment Ill 

Pharyngitis,  description  and  treatment 45 

Pharynx — 

inflammation,  description 112 

paralysis,  description  and  treatment 46 

Phlebitis,  or  diseases  of  veins,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment..  246 

Phymosis  and  paraphymosis,  description  and  treatment 150 

Physiology  and  anatomy  of  brain  and  nervous  system  190 

Piles,  or  hemorrhoids,  description  and  treatment 66 

Pills,  or  balls,  description  and  manner  of  administering 28 

Pimples,  small,  or  congestion  of  skin,  description  and  treatment 436 

Pityriasis,  or  scaly  skin  disease,  description  and  treatment 440 

Plantar  cushion,  description •. 372 

Pleurisy — 

a  complication  of  influenza 505 

description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 131 

Pleuro-dynia,  symptoms  and  treatment 139 

Pleuro-pneumonia,  description  and  treatment 134 


593 


Page. 

999 


Plumbism,  or  lead  poisoning,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 

Plyalism,  or  salivation,  description  and  treatment -15 

Pneumonia — 

edematous,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 519-523 

or  lung  fever,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 122 

Poisoning — 

albuminoid,  or  azotemia,  symptoms,  prevention,  and  treatment 82 

forage,  or  cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment..  216,  218 

lead,  or  plumbism,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 222 

Polypus — 

nasal,  description  and  treatment 1 10 

pharyngeal,  description  and  treatment Ill 

Polyuria,  diuresis,  diabetes  insipidus,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 77 

Pouches,  guttural,  description  and  treatment 128 

Poultry  acariasis,  description  and  treatment -152 

Powders,  manner  of  administering 28 

Pregnancy — 

duration l'^5 

mare,  hygiene 156 

medication 154 

Premaxillary  bone,  fracture,  description  and  treatment 312 

Preputial  calculus,  calculus  in  sheath,  description  and  treatment 103 

Pruritis,  or  nervous  irritation  of  skin,  description  and  treatment 441 

Pseudoluxations  of  patella,  description,  symptoms,  cause,  and  treatment 338 

Psoroptes  eqid,  animal  parasite  of  skin 451 

Psoroptic  acariasis,  description  and  treatment 451 

Pulex— 

or  flea,  prevention  and  treatment  for  bite 454 

j^enetrans,  or  chigoe,  bite,  treatment 454 

Pulse,  how  to  count -  15 

Purpura  hemorrhagica — 

description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 247 

or  anasarca,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 508 

Pustules,  inflammation,  description  and  treatment 43S 

Quittor,  description  of  different  kinds 380 

Rabies,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 221 ,  543-545 

Rectum — 

and  tail,  paralysis,  cause 209 

impaction  with  feces - 169 

method  of  administering  medicines 32 

Red  efflorescence,  or  erythema,  description  and  treatment 434 

Renal  calculi,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 98 

Respiratory  organs — 

description 104 

diseases,  chapter  by  W.  H.  Harbaugh 104-141 

methods  of  examination 17 

Retinitis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 265 

Ribs,  fractures,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 315 

Ridglings,  or  cryptorchids,  castration,  method 148 

Ringbone,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 289, 412 

Ringworm — 

circinate,  or  Tinea  tonsurans,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 449 

honeycomb,  or  favus,  description  and  treatment 450 

14384—03 38 


5'J-i  INDEX. 

Roaring —  I'age. 

and  thick  wind,  descriiition  and  treatment IIG 

or  laryngismus  paralyticus,  description 209 

Koundworm  of  the  kidney 87 

Rubber  pad,  uses 509 

Rupture — 

of  an  artery,  descrijition,  symptoms,  and  treatment 244 

of  diaphragm,  causes  ami  symptoms 141 

of  flexor  metatarsi,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 352 

of  heart,  descrii)tion  and  cause 240 

of  liver,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 7o 

of  stomach,  result  of  engorgement  colic,  symptoms  and  treatment 51 ,  52 

of  suspensory  ligament,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 377 

of  vagina,  description  and  treatment ISG 

or  hernia,  description  of  different  kinds 67 

or  laceration  of  Avomb,  causes  and  treatment 186 

Saccharine  diabetes,  diabetes  mellitus,  glycosuria,  or  inosuria,  causes,  symptoms, 

and  treatment 80 

Sacrum,  fractures,  description  and  treatment 316 

St.  Vitus  dance,  or  chorea,  description  and  treatment 206 

Salivation,  or  plyalisra,  description  and  treatment 45 

Sand-cracks  of  foot,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 405 

Sarcocele,  description  and  treatment 143 

Sarcophaga  carnaria,  or  flesh  fly,  note 453 

Sarcopies — 

mutans,  animal  parasite  of  skin 451 

scahiel  equi,  animal  parasite  of  skin 450 

Sarcoptic  acariasis — 

description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 450 

of  fowls,  description  and  treatment 451 

Scalds  and  burns,  treatment 455,  471 

Scalma,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 515-518 

Scaly  skin  disease,  or  pityriasis,  description  and  treatment 440 

Scapula,  fracture,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 319 

Scorpion  and  tarantula,  treatment  for  sting  or  bite 455 

Scratches,  or  chaps  on  knee  and  hock,  or  cracked  heels,  causes  and  treatment.  443 

Screw-worm  fly,  or  LuclUa  hom'inivorax,  note 453 

Scrotal  or  congenital  hernia,  cause,  description,  and  treatment 67 

Scrotum,  dropsy,  or  hydrocele,  symptoms  and  treatment 1 44 

Sebaceous  glands,  description 433 

Self-abuse,  or  masturbation,  remedy 146 

Sesamoid  bones,  fracture,  cause,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 328 

Sesamoid  sheath,  inflammation,  or  navicular  disease,  description,  symptoms, 

and  treatment 408 

Sesamoids,  description 369 

Sexual  and  urinary  organs,  examination 26 

Sheath- 
calculus,  or  bilocular  cavity,  or  preputial  calculus,  description,  treatment- .  103 

of  flexor  tendons,  sprains,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 345 

penis,  and  abdomen,  swelling,  cause  and  treatment 150 

Shoe^ 

bar,  uses 569 

detailed  description 565 

hot  fitting 569 


INDEX.  595 

Siioeing — •  I'ase. 

chapter  by  John  W.  Adams 552-574 

preliminary  examination 562 

Slices,  special  peculiarities  of  chief  classes 567 

Shoulder — 

-    joint,  displacement,  description  and  treatment 337 

lameness,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 340 

Sick  horse.     {See  Horse,  sick.) 

Sidebones,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 291,  411 

Sinuses,  collection  in,  chronic  catarrh,  or  nasal  gleet,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment 108 

Sitfasts — 

or  harness  galls,  description  and  treatment 470 

horny  sloughs,  or  sloughing  callosities,  description  and  treatment 448 

Skin— 

and  visible  mucous  membranes  may  indicate  disease 13 

animal  parasites  affecting,  description  of  kinds 450 

bleeding  eruptions,  descri2:)tion  and  treatment 441 

congestion,  red  efflorescence,  or  erythema,  description  and  treatment 434 

disease,  scaly,  or  pityriasis,  description  and  treatment 440 

diseases,  chapter  by  James  Law 431-458 

grubs  under,  description  and  treatment 453 

hairs,  description 433 

inflammation  and  congestion,  description  of  kinds 434 

nervous  irritation,  or  pruritis,  description  and  treatment 441 

of  fetlock  and  ankle,  note 371 

structure,  divisions 432 

true,  or  dermis,  description 432 

vegetable  parasites,  description  of  kinds,  symptoms  and  treatment 449 

wounds,  description  of  different  kinds  and  treatment 456 

Sloughs,  horny,  sitfasts,  or  sloughing  callosities,  description  and  treatment...  448 

Snake  bites,  treatment 455 

Sole  of  foot,  description 371 

Sores,  summer,  caused  by  F'daria  irrUaits,  treatment 441,  442 

Sore  throat,  or  laryngitis,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 112 

Spasmodic  or  cramp  colic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 58 

Spasm— 

of  diaphragm,  or  thumjis,  description  and  treatment 140,  205 

of  glottis  or  intestines,  description  and  treatment 205 

of  larynx,  description  and  treatment 116 

of  neck  of  bladder,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 87,  205 

of  neck  of  womb,  description  and  treatment 1 70 

of  thigh,  or  cramp  of  hind  limb,  description  and  treatment 205 

Spasms,  or  cramps,  causes 204 

Spavin — • 

blood,  bog  spavin,  and  thoroughpin,  description  and  treiUment 331 

description,  cause,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 293 

Speedy  cuts  and  interfering,  description,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 362 

Spermatic  cord — 

strangulated,  cause  and  treatment 149 

tumors,  causes  and  treatment 150 

Spinal — 

anemia,  symptoms  and  treatment , 213 

compression  and  concussion,  cause,  description,  and  treatment 214 


5'J(3  INDEX. 

Si)inal — Continued.  Page. 

congestion,  cause,  Hvniptonis,  and  treatment 213 

cord,  description 192 

cord,  inflammation  of  membranes,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 211 

cord,  inflammation  of  substance,  or  myelitis,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment.  212 

hemorrhage,  symptom,  and  treatment 214 

meningitis,  causes,  symptoms,  pathology,  and  treatment 211 

nerves,  designation 192 

tu.nors,  symptoms  and  treatment 215 

Spleen  and  pancreas,  diseases,  remarks 74 

Splint,  description,  symptoms,  cause,  and  treatment 286 

Sprain — 

of  elbow  muscles,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 843 

of  fetlock,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 376 

Sjjrains — 

description  and  treatment ^ 340 

of  loins,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 367 

of  suspensory  ligaments  and  of  flexor  tendons  or  their  sheath,  cause,  symi)- 

toms,  and  treatment 345 

Sprung  knees,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 348 

Staphyloma,  description  and  treatment 272 

Stallion — 

castration,  methods 147 

sterility,  cause  and  treatment 152 

Sterility  in  mare  and  stallion,  cause  and  treatment 152 

Stiles,  Ch.  Wardell,  chapter  on  "  Surra  " 546-551 

Stomach — 

and  intestines,  diseases,  remarks 49 

calculi,  or  stones,  symptoms  and  treatment 54 

rupture,  result  of  engorgement  colic,  symptoms  and  treatment 51,  52 

Stomatitis,  descrij)tion  and  treatment 45 

Stone — 

in  bladder,  vesical  calculus,  or  cystic  calculus,  description,  sym2)toms,  and 

treatment 100 

in  urethra,  or  urethral  calculus,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 102 

or  calculus,  and  tumor  in  bladder 169 

urinary  calculi,  or  gravel,  description 94, 97 

Stones — 

or  calculi,  in  intestines,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 55 

or  calculi,  in  stomach,  symptoms  and  treatment 54 

Strangles,  definition,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 51 2-515 

Strangulated  spermatic  cord,  cause  and  treatment 149 

Stricture — 

of  esophagus,  description  and  treatment 49 

of  urethra,  description  and  treatment 94 

Stringhalt,  description,  cause,  and  treatment 206,  364 

Strongylua — 

armalu.s,  worm  causing  one  form  of  aneurism 243 

equinum,  parasite  of  kidney 87 

equinus,  intestinal  worm 60 

Sty,  furuncle,  or  boil  of  eyelid,  description  and  treatment 259 

Suffraginis,  description 370 

Summer  sores,  caused  by  Filaria  irritmii^,  description  and  trenlment 442 

Sunstroke,  heat  stroke,  or  heat  exhaustion,  symptoms,  treatment,  etc 199 


INDEX.  597 

Page. 

Superpur^ration,  description  and  treatment 63 

Suppositories,  description  and  uses 32 

Suppuration  and  abscess  in  lung,  symptoms 135 

Surfeit,  nettlerash,  or  urticaria,  description  and  treatment 440 

Surra — 

chapter  by  Ch.  Wardell  Stiles 546-551 

climatic  conditions;  animals  affected ;  and  letliality 546 

diagnosis  and  treatment ^. 551 

method  of  infection,  symjitoms 547 

Suspensory  ligament — 

and  flexor  tendons  or  their  sheaths,  sprains,  cause,  symptoms,  treatment.  345 

description 370 

rupture,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 377 

Sutures,  description  and  uses 461 

Sweat  glands,  description ..i. . . .  434 

Si/mbiotcs  equi,  Dermntophagus  equi,  or  Chorioptes  spaih'iferus,  animal  parasite  of 

skin 452 

Syncope,  or  fainting,  symptoms  and  treatment 237 

Synovial — 

dropsies,  remarks 3oO' 

sacs,  diseases,  description 330 

Synovitis,  cause,  prognosis,  and  treatment 332 

Tail  and  rectum,  paralysis,  cause 209 

Tarantula  and  scorpion,  treatment  for  bite  and  sting 455 

Teats— 

and  udder,  congestion  and  inflammation,  symptoms  and  treatment 188 

sore,  scabs,  cracks,  warts,  cause  and  treatment 189 

Teeth- 
diseases;  period  of  dentition 42 

irregularities,  remedies 43 

Temperament  of  horse 12 

Temperature,  method  of  determining 17 

Tendon  sheaths,  wounds,  description  and  treatment 468 

Tendons— 

and  muscles,  diseases 340 

flexor,  or  their  sheath,  sprains,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 345 

functions 277 

lacerated,  cause,  symptoms,  prognosis,  and  treatment 350 

of  foot,  function 370 

Testicles — 

abnormal  number;  causes  of  degeneration 144 

or  orchitis,  congestion  and  inflammation,  causes,  symptoms,  treatment  ..  142 

Tetanus,  or  lockjaw,  causes,  symptoms,  prevention,  and  treatment 219 

Thick  wind  and  roaring,  description  and  treatment 116 

Tliigh,  spasm,  or  cramp  of  hind  limb,  description  and  trtatment 205 

Thoracic  choke,  description  and  treatment 47,  49 

Thoroughpin,  blood  spavin,  and  bog  spavin,  description  and  treatment 331 

Tlireadworms  causing  bleeding  skin  eruptions 441 

Tliroat— 

abscesses  affecting,  treatment  . .  ■. 46 

sore,  or  laryngitis,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 112 

Thrombosis,  description,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 365 

Thrombus  and  embolism,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 244 


598  INDEX. 

Page. 

Thrush,  description,  causes,  syinptouis,  and  treatment 392 

Thumps,  or  spasm  of  diaphragm,  description  and  treatment 140,  205 

Tibia,  fractures,  symptoms  and  treatment 324 

Ticks,  description  aucj^treatment 452 

Timothy,  best  hay  for  feeding 38 

Tinea  tousurans,  or  circinate  ringworm,  description  anil  treatment 449 

Tissues,  description 482 

Toothache,  how  to  determine  and  treat ^ 43 

Trichiasis,  description  and  treatment 260 

Tricluiphyion  tonmrans,  vegetable  parasite  of  skin 449 

Trumbower,  M.  R. — 

chapter  on  "Diseases  of  heart,  blood  vessels,  and  1\  inphatics" 225-250 

chapter  on  ' '  Diseases  of  nervous  system " 190-224 

Tuberculosis,  or  consumption,  note 136 

Tumor—  - 

and  calculus,  or  stone  in  bladder 169 

of  haw,  or  caries  of  cartilege,  description  and  treatment 201 

of  nerve,  or  neuroma,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 215 

on  spermatic  cord,  causes  and  treatment 150 

Tumors — 

and  warts  of  eyelids,  description  and  treatment 260 

black  pigment,  or  melanosis,  description  and  treatment 449 

in  nostrils,  treatment 106 

in  vagina  and  pelvis,  description  and  treatment 167 

of  eyeball,  remarks 272 

of  fetus,  or  inclosed  ovum,  description  and  treatment 173 

of  kidneys,  note 87 

of  spine,  symptoms  and  treatment 215 

of  udder,  cause  and  treatment 189 

or  abnormal  growths,  cause  of  colic 57 

within  cranium,  description  of  kinds 204 

Twins,  remarks 175 

Tympanitic  colic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

Udder— 

and  teats,  congestion  and  inflammation,  symptoms  and  treatment 1S8 

tumors,  cause  and  treatment 189 

Ulceration,  description,  causes,  and  treatment 474 

Ulcers  on  cornea,  treatment 265 

Umbilical  hernia,  description  and  treatment 69 

Urachus,  persistent,  or  discharge  of  urine  by  navel,  description  and  treatment.  92 

Uremia,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 223 

Urethra — 

iiiflammation,  urethritis,  or  gleet,  sym))toniH  and  treatinent - . .  93 

stone,  or  urethral  calculus,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 102 

stricture,  description  and  treatment 94 

Urethral  calculus,  or  stone  in  urethra,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment.  102 

Urethritis,  inflammation  of  urethra,  or  gleet,  sj'mptoms  and  treatment 93 

Uretral  calculi,  description  and  treatment 99 

Urinary — 

and  sexual  organs,  examination 26 

calculi,  classification 98 

calculi,  stone,  or  gravel,  description  and  causers 94, 97 

disorders,  causes 75 


INDEX.  599 

Urinary — Continued.  Page. 

organs,  diseases,  chapter  by  James  Law 75-103 

organs,  parasites  affecting 87 

organs,  symptoms  of  disease 77 

organs,  uses ? 75 

Urine — 

analysis 95 

bloody,  or  hematuria,  cause  and  treatment 82 

discharg^by  navel,  or  persistent  urachus,  description  and  treatment 92 

excessive  secretion,  diuresis,  polyuria,  diabetes  insipidus,  causes,  symp- 
toms, and  treatment 79 

how  to  examine 77 

of  healthy  horse,  description 27 

Urocystitis,  intiammation  of  bladder,  or  cystitis,  symptoms  and  treatment...  90 

Urticaria,  nettlerash,  or  surfeit,  description  and  treatment 440 

Vagina — 

and  pelvis,  tumors  affecting,  description  and  treatment 167 

of  vulva,  fibrous  constriction,  cause  and  treatment 170 

rupture,  description  and  treatment 1 86 

walls,  blood  clots  affecting 187 

Vaginal  walls,  effusion  of  blood 1 69 

Valvular  disease  of  heart,  symptoms  and  treatment 2c  5 

Varicocele,  description  and  treatment 144 

Varicose  veins,  varix,  or  dilatation  of  veins,  causes  and  treatment 246 

Variola,  equine,  or  horsepox,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 523-527 

Veins — 

air,  or  air  embolism,  note 247 

description 228 

dilatation,  varicose  veins,  or  varix,  cau.ses  and  treatment 246 

diseases,  or  .phlebitis,  causes,  symptom?,  and  treatment 246 

Vegetable  parasites  of  skin,  description  of  kinds,  symptoms,  and  treatment  . .  449 

Ventral  hernia,  description  and  treatment 68 

Vertebne,  fractures,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 313 

Vesical  calculus,  stone  in  bladder,  or  cystic  calculus,  descrii^tion,  symptoms 

and  treatment 100 

Vesicular  mole,  or  cystic  disease  of  walls  of  womb,  description  and  treatment.  158 

Volvulus,  gut-tie,  or  twisting  of  bowels,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 56 

Vulva,  or  vagina,  fibrous  constriction  cau.se,  and  treatment 170 

AVarts— 

and  tumors  of  eyelids,  description  a.nd  treatment 260 

description  and  treatment 448 

on  penis,  treatment 145 

"Wasps,  bees,  and  hornets,  stings,  treatment 454 

AYater — 

impure,  cause  of  disease;  time  to  give 34 

in  head,  or  hydrocephalus  of  foal,  description  and  treatment 171 

"Watering  eye,  or  obstruction  of  lachrymal  apparatus,  description  and  remedy.  261 

Whistling,  description 119 

V\'ind— 

broken,  heaves,  or  asthma,  definition,  symptoms,  and  treatment 136 

colic,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 57 

"Windgalls,  description,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 330,  375 

Windpipe,  description 127 

"\Mnking  cartilage,  or  cartilago  nictitans,  description 253 


600  INDEX. 

"Womb —                                                                                                                               -  Pago. 

and  peritoneum,  inflammation,  symptoms,  and  treatment 187 

bleeding,  or  flooding,  treatment 184 

dropsy,  cause,  symptoms,  and  treatment 158 

eversion,  description  and  meth(jd  of  treatment 184 

hernia,  description  and  treatment 1 07 

laceration,  or  rupture,  causes  and  treatment 186 

neck,  fibrous  bands  constricting  or  crossing,  descrijjtion  and  treatment. ..  170 

neck,  twisting,  description  and  treatment 168 

walls,  cystic  disease,  or  vesicular  mole,  descrii>tion  and  treatment 158 

walls,  fetus  adherent,  description,  cause,  and  treatment 171 

Worm,  intestinal,  or  Ascaris  equorum,  note 60 

Worms^ 

bladder,  affecting  kidneys 87 

colic,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 59 

Wounds — 

and  their  treatment,  chapter  l>y  Ch.  B.  Michener 459-481 

descrij)tion 459 

gunshot,  description  and  treatment 469 

healing  under  a  scab,  treatment 462 

in  nostrils,  cause  and  treatment 106 

lacerated  and  contused,  description  and  treatment 463 

of  joints,  punctured,  or  open  joints,  description  and  treatment 467 

of  skin,  description  of  different  kinds  and  treatment 456 

of  tendon  sheaths,  description  and  treatment 468 

penetrating  walls  of  chest,  description  and  treatment 139 

poisoned,  description  and  treatment 470 

punctured,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 465 

punctured,  of  foot,  description,  symptoms,  and  treatment 400 

Yellows,  jaundice,  or  icterus,  descriiition  and  treatment  .. ...............  73 


♦'e 


FEB  2  5  2002 
JAN  14  2003 
JUL  3  i  2003 


SF951  United  States.  Bureau  of 
U53   Animal  Industry. 
1903   Special  report  on  diseases  of 
the  horse 


ISSUED  TO 


SF95I  United  States.  Bureau  of  Ani>;ial 
U53   Industry. 

IQO'^'   Special  report  on  diseases  of  the 
horse 


^ 


JUL  82 

N.  MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA  46962 


